Do you still read books?

[Cameroni]

Just now, Harrisfan said:

3,000 is impressive. Hardcovers are the best. Mini hard covers now to travel with.

 

Yes, there's nothing like a real hardcover book. A digital version gets the job done, but it's not as enjoyable.

 

 

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Seems to be a dying art. I read a bit here and there but not much.

 

 

Yeah, I read, but mostly when I need to learn something or get insight in different strategies. So, most boring fact books for me. 🙂 

[doctormann]

I used to be an avid reader, with catholic tastes.  Then my eyes started to give up and reading became difficult so I moved on to audio books.  i got my cataracts fixed and my eyes are now fine but, sadly, I've not got back into the habit of reading actual hardware books.  So much stuff available on the internet now - and mostly free - that it's hardly worthwhile keeping the bulky 'real' books around.  I must admit though that there is something about the experience of reading a 'real' book that you just don't get from reading on a monitor or phone or Kindle.

[sidjameson]

32 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 I really miss my 3000 books library, as I prefer hardcover books, but I've built up an almost bigger digital library now, as I found an amazing website to download books.

 

I read them on my Samsung tablet or my kindle, but mostly the Samsung.

 

It's not as much fun as reading a hard cover, but it will do.

What percentage of those 6000ish books have you actually read?

[Cameroni]

17 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

What percentage of those 6000ish books have you actually read?

 

Very few, I'd say 20%. For me it was more about having the option, if I wanted to read the collected works of Nietzsche, Freud, Jung, Wagner, Ortega y Gasset, Shakespeare, sociology, anthropology, history, then I could so if I so chose. Of course I ended up reading Jack Reacher more...

[Yagoda]

https://archive.org/

 

Use a tablet, kindle or pad.

[JAG]

Yes, fiction and (mainly) non fiction.

[TedG]

Do audio books count?

[Baht Simpson]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Not too much.

I used to have boxes and boxes of books.

But starting moving around too much, so got rid of them. 

Also, Youtube has exploded in the last 10 years and podcasts take up most of my free time now. 

If I ever settle down again into one place for life, I will start collecting books again.

It's not only about reading them, but having a substantial physical library in the home is a beautiful sight to behold and inspiring. 

 

 

 

When I left the U.K. for Thailand 20 years ago I did much the same thing, giving away all my art and uni books. I brought just 8 or so books I couldn't bear parting with. 

 

I've got a little library now and have augmented it with some newer ones. My most recent purchase was a Sherlock Holmes collection with all the wonderful, original Sidney Paget illustrations from the Strand Magazine.

 

Regarding reading them all, I agree with you, and Umberto Eco put it thus:

 

"It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.

 

"There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion.

 

"If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the 'medicine closet' and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That's why you should always have a nutrition choice!

 

"Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity."

 

 

 

 

[connda]

Yep.  Currently working on a Philip K. Dick collection.

[unblocktheplanet]

Hope you all support Dasa Books, best secondhand bookshop in Bangkok.

[kickstart]

Yes, I read most days with my morning coffee. I am now reading one of my favorite authors, Ian McEwan. I just finished an Orwell; one I have not read, Coming up for air,  next I think will be the king of airport junk, Ken Follett.

These e-books do not appeal to me, like the feel of a real book, turning pages, to me, just like looking at a computer.

P.S. Does anyone still read books at an airport.

[Mark Nothing]

Books are the antidote to illiteracy. By arming yourself with knowledge you are less susceptable to being taken advantage of, leading to a more fulfilling life.

 

You can improve every aspect of your life via reading.  Most books I read are the culmination of a lifetime of work by the author.  In just a few hours you can learn what might have taken the author decades.

 

Here are some examples of how I corrected lack of knowledge with books.  I didn't know anything about viruses or vaccines except what experts recommended. Reading antivaccine books was like being in an episode of the twilight zone.  Heads became tails.  Up became down.  Following an experts opinion became like jumping over a cliff into the abyss.  Antivaccination books detail that viruses don't exist, so vaccines are unecessary.  And the true causes are explained for each ailment.

 

Natural health books discuss how to maintain your immune system on both a physical level and ethereal level.  Making the "experts" theories, that most bow down to, irrelevent.  It is great waking up each day knowing that your body will function, but even better is knowing how to fix an ailment yourself.

 

This strategy is valid for every aspect of life.  Money, professional, health, investing, travel, retirement, relationship.  Just search for books on whatever topic you are interested in and start reading.  And the cream will quickly rise to the top and with knowledge, enjoyment increases and worries disappear.

 

 

[Lacessit]

The library in my house was about 2000 books.

 

Kindles and smartphones have been a godsend. Jeff Bezos must love me, 760 books on the Kindle.

 

I read 2-3 books a week, some new, some old favorites.

 

 

[connda]

1 hour ago, kickstart said:

These e-books do not appeal to me, like the feel of a real book, turning pages, to me, just like looking at a computer.

P.S. Does anyone still read books at an airport.

I actually bought a tablet computer to read books.  I can see the text much better with the tablet.  Declining eyesight is an issue with age, but the tablet is better than a book inho - at least for me now.  When eyesight wasn't a problem?  Yeah, I liked books.

[connda]

53 minutes ago, Mark Nothing said:

Books are the antidote to illiteracy. By arming yourself with knowledge you are less susceptable to being taken advantage of, leading to a more fulfilling life.

 

You can improve every aspect of your life via reading.  Most books I read are the culmination of a lifetime of work by the author.  In just a few hours you can learn what might have taken the author decades.

 

Here are some examples of how I corrected lack of knowledge with books.  I didn't know anything about viruses or vaccines except what experts recommended. Reading antivaccine books was like being in an episode of the twilight zone.  Heads became tails.  Up became down.  Following an experts opinion became like jumping over a cliff into the abyss.  Antivaccination books detail that viruses don't exist, so vaccines are unecessary.  And the true causes are explained for each ailment.

 

Natural health books discuss how to maintain your immune system on both a physical level and ethereal level.  Making the "experts" theories, that most bow down to, irrelevent.  It is great waking up each day knowing that your body will function, but even better is knowing how to fix an ailment yourself.

 

This strategy is valid for every aspect of life.  Money, professional, health, investing, travel, retirement, relationship.  Just search for books on whatever topic you are interested in and start reading.  And the cream will quickly rise to the top and with knowledge, enjoyment increases and worries disappear.

 

 

The vast majority of my reading is fiction.  Non-fiction reading that I do is usually history.

[connda]

3 hours ago, doctormann said:

I used to be an avid reader, with catholic tastes.  Then my eyes started to give up and reading became difficult so I moved on to audio books. 

I also do audio books for the same reason.  Ageing eyes.  It's a problem. 

[proton]

JFK and the unspeakable by James Douglas

[fondue zoo]

Yes, I once owned many leatherbound books smelling of rich mahogany but now it's ebooks.

[still kicking]

I stopped for a while, but since AN went down the drain, I started again.

[daveAustin]

11 hours ago, KhunLA said:

NO, only use to read (pre TH) when I was bored at work, to speed time along.

 

Prefer to experience life, not read about it, with exception of anything financial, or as a learning experience.

 

11 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Heavy Textbooks.

 

Fiction is for fools.

Tat, both of you. ‘Experiencing life’…? what’s that; sitting on a barstool getting pissed everyday and boring everyone to tears? 😂

You don’t know what you’re missing. What about Great Expectations, Gamma, or some of Crichton’s stuff?For me, a good book will smash a good movie into Smithereens, and I’m a moviegoer. Fiction, non-fiction, whatever.
 

Each to their own of course, books are not for everyone (some really struggle to open up that world inside), but I do pity those that cannot handle Lord of the Rings for example. Have done it and Hobbit many times. All of A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones works) etc, other series multiple times.

Not a bookworm; probably get through on average one a month, sometimes one a week or a captivating novel in one sitting. But will go through long periods of not picking up a book, and feel all the dumber for it. Stephen King reads at least one a week, sometimes two. If you’re a Shining buff btw, and haven’t read Dr Sleep, please do so. 

[daveAustin]

9 hours ago, kickstart said:

 

These e-books do not appeal to me, like the feel of a real book, turning pages, to me, just like looking at a computer.

P.S. Does anyone still read books at an airport.

This is more an older gen thing. While I also like physical books, it’s all about the content for me so doesn’t matter. Have read dozens on my phone even. I can read when and wherever I want. 

[daveAustin]

7 hours ago, proton said:

JFK and the unspeakable by James Douglas

Haven’t done it yet but realise he’s a brilliant author. 
Another JFK must is Mary’s Mosaic. Very eye opening and meticulously researched. 

[gamb00ler]

12 hours ago, Negita43 said:

At least we know it's fiction and are not fooled by so called "facts"

 

12 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

So then, you mean facts are for fools?

 

He has probably confused ill-informed opinions with "facts" and doesn't realize that non-fiction books generally contain the data supporting the facts.

[quake]

Used to read all the time working offshore.

Retired 11 years ago , not read one book since then.

To much beer to drink and porn to surf.

[fredwiggy]

12 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

I'm the same. Books don't actually make you smarter anyway. But I did enjoy some books in the past.

 

12 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

I'm the same. Books don't actually make you smarter anyway. But I did enjoy some books in the past.

Books don't make you smarter but reading them does. Reading does increase your knowledge on subjects, just as listening to a good teacher does. If you stop reading after high school, your learning is only by what you see and hear, much of which is just opinions and not factual. Fiction reading also expands the mind, as using your imagination increases your problem solving skills. This is some of what reading does........https://www.healthline.com/health/does-reading-make-you-smarter#empathy.

[fredwiggy]

13 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Heavy Textbooks.

 

Fiction is for fools.

 

Fiction, like movies that are, is for entertainment. Any reading helps your mind and problem solving skills. It increases your comprehension and lowers stress. A step away from reality into fantasy just like smoking weed and having a few beers or wine. Watching Jurassic Park, Alien movies, Terminator, or any others takes you away from the stresses of life, at least for awhile. The same with reading fiction.

[jerrymahoney]

For years I read lots of books mostly academic texts right down to the punctuation because of this. Now my most favorite read is PDF screenplays.

 

[thesetat]

when i take holiday, I usually bring a book with me that I have downloaded as an Ebook and printed at home and made into a book style. otherwise I use Ebooks and sometimes use the text to voice option to read whilst I read along with it. I have thousands of Ebooks downloaded and never lack finding something I want to read. 

[jacnl2000]

I’m about to leave my library behind, to begin the autumn of my life. It’s painful to let go of the books—the pages filled with distant worlds and quiet thoughts.

 

But who needs pages, when life speaks first?

 

Here in my village, I’ve learned to sleep beneath the loudspeakers of our phu yaa baan—the village headman. (ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน) Every morning, before the first light settles on the rice fields, his voice fills the air. Lost cattle, community announcements, wedding invitations, and warnings roll through the tin roof above my head. And before the announcements begin, there’s always his favorite morlam—the soulful traditional Isaan folk music, echoing through the village like a heartbeat.

 

It’s not the silence of a library, but a living story—raw, loud, and unfiltered allowing my tired eyes to get their deserved rest.

 

Life reads itself aloud here, in a language older than words on paper. No bookmark needed.