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But seriously, I've thought about this a lot and it's true. We like what we get when we read; we like the story, or the information we get, or obtaining the news, but just to read for reading's sake? Not really. If I give you a college textbook on a subject that you have no interest in, how likely are you to read it? I'm betting that you'll go find something else to do. Has anyone else ever thought of it this way or am I just weird?
What I enjoy is when I find a book I don't think I'll like, give it a try, and am pleasantly surprised. I mean, yes, there are standard authors that I pick up when I want to read something I think will have a high success rate of enjoyment, but those ones I picked up on a lark or which were suggested to me by a friend which I couldn't put down? Priceless.
I think the same could be said about anything one enjoys. We enjoy what we get out of it. Think about a person who loves to walk. They love the physicality of it, the calories buring, the fresh air etc...Ask them to walk on a treadmill, inside a stuffy room with no windows or tv or anything to look at, loaded down with clothes heavy enough to impede the cardiovascular aspect of it etc. Will they still like walking, just for the sake of walking?
I think the same could be said about anything one enjoys. We enjoy what we get out of it. Think about a person who loves to walk. They love the physicality of it, the calories buring, the fresh air etc...Ask them to walk on a treadmill, inside a stuffy room with no windows or tv or anything to look at, loaded down with clothes heavy enough to impede the cardiovascular aspect of it etc. Will they still like walking, just for the sake of walking?
Well I must admit that I do like walking on a treadmill, but that's b/c I can read my book while I do.
But seriously, I've thought about this a lot and it's true. We like what we get when we read; we like the story, or the information we get, or obtaining the news, but just to read for reading's sake? Not really. If I give you a college textbook on a subject that you have no interest in, how likely are you to read it? I'm betting that you'll go find something else to do. Has anyone else ever thought of it this way or am I just weird?
Many times in the past I've picked things off a library shelf just because they didn't interest me - usually, with the notable exception of higher mathematics, I did find them interesting, once I gave them a fair trial, and that includes a lot of textbooks. That's how I finally read The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and Durant's Story of Civilization (all of the voumes).
But then, I was one of those kids who would read the list of ingredients on the cereal box if nothing else was available.
I guess you're saying that we're driven by interest in the topic or genre, as opposed to the act of reading. I think that's true to a point. But I do think reading and a sense of curiosity go hand in hand- I think it's hard to otherwise satisfy that curiosity. There are documentaries, etc. but I don't know if they provide the kind of nuance and detail you can get from a book.
But seriously, I've thought about this a lot and it's true. We like what we get when we read; we like the story, or the information we get, or obtaining the news, but just to read for reading's sake? Not really. If I give you a college textbook on a subject that you have no interest in, how likely are you to read it? I'm betting that you'll go find something else to do. Has anyone else ever thought of it this way or am I just weird?
I'm addicted. It's kind of an OCD thing . If I don't have something I enjoy reading on hand, I'll read cereal boxes or instruction manuals; even the Public Notices in the newspaper.
I've read the owner's manual from my car from cover to cover. I just bought a new washer and plan to do the same with that. Sometimes I even take a swing at languages other than English (French, Italian, Spanish....).
Great topic for a thread though! Rep points for you.
OK plaidmom and karibear--stepka throws up hands--there really are people who just like to read, no matter what. I used to read cereal boxes, but I moved on to beer cans.
I'm SO glad I'm not the only one that reads cereal packets if there's nothing else (heck I've even been reduced to reading the labels on bathroom products)
I'm SO glad I'm not the only one that reads cereal packets if there's nothing else (heck I've even been reduced to reading the labels on bathroom products)
Of course one could attribute it to boredom and the kind of restless mind that sucks up any kind of information.
Here's the thing though--I hate sports with a passion. Probably b/c I was an awkward kid and always chosen last for teams, which was hurtful. But, if I was faced with several hours of nothing to do but play sports or read something of absolutely no interest to me, I'd probably play the sport. I"d be more likely to play the sport than to read the sports pages. Fortunately for me, I'm never exposed to choices like that--I can always go take a walk if I want exercise.
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. If I don't have something I enjoy reading on hand, I'll read cereal boxes or instruction manuals; even the Public Notices in the newspaper.
