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Stop what you're doing and read this
by
Carmen Callil,
Mark Haddon, Michael Rosen, Zadie Smith, Jeanette Winterson, Blake Morrison, Maryanne Wolf, Tim Parks
,
more…
In any 24 hours there might be sleeping, eating, kids, parents, friends, lovers, work, school, travel, deadlines, emails, phone calls, Facebook, Twitter, the news, the TV, Playstation, music, movies, sport, responsibilities, passions, desires, dreams.
Why should you stop what you're doing and read a book?
People have always needed stories. We need literature - novels, poetry...more
Why should you stop what you're doing and read a book?
People have always needed stories. We need literature - novels, poetry...more
Paperback, 190 pages
Published
December 26th 2011
by Vintage books
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May 22, 2013
Bookguide
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Librarians, Teachers and people interested in promoting reading
Essays by leading authors and researchers and promoters of reading about the importance of reading and books. I would probably not have bought this if it hadn't been for the bookless state I was in, facing a two-hour train journey, and totally uninspired by the selection of books at the station bookshop. There seemed to be a choice between thrillers, romance and Dutch literature which I will probably borrow from the library or stumble across at a BookCrossing meeting. As a BookCrosser, when you'...more
Not bad - an interesting collection of essays on the art and act of reading, and on the necessity of literature. If it's meant to convince you that reading is essential, it's preaching to the choir: I don't know that many of the people who read this book would be inclined to disagree with the pronouncements.
I had to smile and shake my head at Carmen Callil's vehement disapproval of the ebook.
"Reading a book on a Kindle or an Ipad is all very well - in fact it is better than all very well, it i...more
I had to smile and shake my head at Carmen Callil's vehement disapproval of the ebook.
"Reading a book on a Kindle or an Ipad is all very well - in fact it is better than all very well, it i...more
3 likes · like · see review
view 2 comments
Jan 13, 2012
Bettie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Brazilliant Laura et al
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Apr 09, 2013
Danielle
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reading-at-book-club,
read-agin
I had to read this book for book club, and its a book that I wouldn't pick up and read myself.
Its a book of short stories, and when I looked at the contents and saw Mark Haddon and Michael Rosan I skipped all the other authors to read their oppinion of reading.
Also it take's me a while to get to like a new author sometimes I like their writing style and carry on reading it, or sometimes I dont like their writing style and just give up.
The interesting remark people was questioning at book club...more
Its a book of short stories, and when I looked at the contents and saw Mark Haddon and Michael Rosan I skipped all the other authors to read their oppinion of reading.
Also it take's me a while to get to like a new author sometimes I like their writing style and carry on reading it, or sometimes I dont like their writing style and just give up.
The interesting remark people was questioning at book club...more
This book was a collection of essays about the importance of reading. Several of the essays focused on the ideas of reader-response theory, assuming that books are special because of the ways they engage each reader's individual imagination. One thoughtful essay speculated that we are on the verge of a paradigm shift as momentous as the historical shift from oral tradition to literacy in the transition to the digital age. Mostly, these essays felt like curiosities to me. I agree that reading is...more
I really enjoyed these essays overall! Some of them were absolutely WONDERFUL, and the rest ranged from middlingly good to pretty damn great. That said: there was way too much fearmongering about the digitization of the book publishing industry in the latter half of this book. The final essay redeemed that point a bit, by pointing out that nobody can know how digitized novels will affect future generations until it happens, but a few other essays had a biiiit too much "NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO THE...more
This is a book of essay extolling the virtues of reading. They are by writers, publishers and scientists writing about their personal experiences with books, of their beliefs about the benefits of reading, and of the scientific evidence about what the act of reading does to our brains. The introduction says that;
This year (2011) we learnt that there are many thousands of children across Britain who cannot read competently, that there are thousands who leave primary school unable to put together...more
This year (2011) we learnt that there are many thousands of children across Britain who cannot read competently, that there are thousands who leave primary school unable to put together...more
2 likes · like · see review
Jan 04, 2013
Chris
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Chris by:
Kats
Shelves:
2013-reads,
non-fiction
A book of 10 British authors and their essays on the experience and love of reading. Some of these were quite good (Zadie Smith, Mark Haddon, Jeanette Winterson), some were terribly scientific and boring.
Throughout the book, though, I found little nuggets that I could relate to, and realize there are others who feel the same way I do when I read. I would love to say that reading possessed some of the special powers it is often claimed to possess, not least the ability to soothe the troubled min...more
Throughout the book, though, I found little nuggets that I could relate to, and realize there are others who feel the same way I do when I read. I would love to say that reading possessed some of the special powers it is often claimed to possess, not least the ability to soothe the troubled min...more
1 like · like · see review
This book contains ten essays by authors, publishers and other passionate advocates of reading, all giving reasons why reading is important - if not essential - in our lives. It talks about the thousands of children in our country who cannot read and write with competence and those who rarely read outside of the classroom. The parents who do not read to their children, the homes which do not have books. Assuming you are browsing books on goodreads suggests you are a reader, whether devoted or ca...more
The most illuminating essays in this collection explore the personal, emotional and magical effects of reading, by the likes of Tim Park and Mark Haddon. The colder, more academic entries, while at times interesting, do not satisfy or indeed seem to answer any of the questions they set out to ask. It's a shame too that there is little in the way of polemical argument present here; a little contention occasionally would have broken up the repetitive feel as you reach the latter half.
Jan 29, 2012
Geraldine Allien
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
i-own-this-book
I absolutely love this book. It is nicely written and has so many stories from different great people. It really made me think about the first book I read, how reading makes me feel and why I am reading. I think that books are a great gift to the human race and think that books are the way to escape the cruel world and go to a different place for a few hours. Just a great book and I recommend it to everyone, no matter if you like reading or not.
At the start I loved this book, reading about other peoples' experiences of reading was interesting but it did grow a little tiresome and repetitive towards the end. There was a lot of references to and advocates of Reader Response Theory which in themselves didn't bother me but I think the way those particular essays were clumped together in the middle of the book made it a hard slog in parts. Some real gems though and beautifully poignant quotes about books and literature. Maybe I'll give it 4...more
A good companion read to The Library Book - and with the same Zadie Smith piece in common - but not quite on the same level. There is considerable talk of the science of reading in 'Stop What You're Doing...!' which, though interesting, is not really my bag. Still, a great little collection of essays, especially for the £4.99 cover price (even better if you get it for less!).
I liked it. Essays about reading. It tells me nothing I don t know about the importance of it but sometimes is nice to read perceptions from other people that thinks literature is a way of life.
One quote: This is what books - the best books - give us: a lifeline, a reason to believe, a way to breathe more freely".
One quote: This is what books - the best books - give us: a lifeline, a reason to believe, a way to breathe more freely".
Loved this book!
It really is an awesome collection about the experience of reading and why it is important for everyone. The best part is that the writers do not attempt to over-intellectualise their essays, choosing instead to connect with the readers on a more emotive level.
Must-read for all!
It really is an awesome collection about the experience of reading and why it is important for everyone. The best part is that the writers do not attempt to over-intellectualise their essays, choosing instead to connect with the readers on a more emotive level.
Must-read for all!
An excellent selection of essays on reading. The 1st one by Zadie Smith on the importance of libraries should be nailed to the forehead of every Tory politician and their so-called "Liberal" partners in crime.
I enjoy Tim Parks' essay on reading. Once in a while, readers and non- readers alike need a reminder to go back to basics of picking up a book. This is especially so in the age of so many distractions. Not all essays interest me but there are good ones that I can relate to.
An inspiring collection of essays from an eclectic range of authors, passionate about the power of reading. Tim Pears' essay on mindful reading was thought provoking. Highly recommended.
The concept of the book is fantastic, this is a book that non-reader & reader should read. As a book lover & on a personal level this was a sublime read in many ways. A very well crafted joyous exposision of what it is to read and loose yourself in a world of words.
A collection of essays by various authors, some brilliant and insightful, others dull or even infuriating.
My full review: http://www.noseinabook.co.uk/?p=2090
My full review: http://www.noseinabook.co.uk/?p=2090
A very interesting and engaging collection of essays - great for reminding me why I became an English teacher!
Probably a bit of preaching to the converted, but still a nice bit of easy reading about ... reading!
Stop what you're doing and read this very entertaining collection of essays and find out some more reasons you can use as a (more than good) excuse to be an enthusiastic lover of reading books.
Although this essays are written and collected with the purpose to bring more people to the act of reading, this book will reach booklovers in the first place. And it raises no doubt that the writers of these essays already knew this.
Although this essays are written and collected with the purpose to bring more people to the act of reading, this book will reach booklovers in the first place. And it raises no doubt that the writers of these essays already knew this.
Jan 13, 2012
Laura
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Laura by:
Bettie
From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history.
Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history.
An excellent read about reading... Particularly like Mark Haddon and Jeanette Winterson's essays.
A good collection of thoughtful essays about the practice and pleasures of reading, and particularly its future in a digital society. Take the time to reflect as you read.
This is so nice. It reminds you of what makes reading so great and important and in moments of doubt I've picked this up and been completely convinced that I need to read more - and I think I'm actually one of tha ones who do read a lot.
That's the only sad part, I don't think it acutally reaches the ones that don't read which is what it's mostly intended for..
But other than that there are some really interesting essays about reading and the experiences and significance reading has.
So yeah, sto...more
That's the only sad part, I don't think it acutally reaches the ones that don't read which is what it's mostly intended for..
But other than that there are some really interesting essays about reading and the experiences and significance reading has.
So yeah, sto...more
some essays really interesting, others pretty odd/boring.
I didn't need any more convincing about the joy of reading but loved it anyway.
Strong polemic on reading and how dislocation from it is a problem for society,beefed up with a bit of neuroscience and a bit of good-old fashioned promotion. Difficult to disagree with a word of it.
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Carmen Thérèse Callil is a publisher, writer and critic. She founded Virago Press in 1973.
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“Reading is primarily a symptom. Of a healthy imagination, of our interest in this and other worlds, of our ability to be still and quiet, of our ability to dream during daylight.”
—
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