There is More to Life than Reading
I consider myself to be an avid reader. On average, I read three books per month.
I am a 72-year-old widower and have been retired for the past 19 years. Prior to that, my job and responsibilities as a husband and father left very little time for reading.
The number of books that some Goodreads members have rated and/or reviewed amazes and concerns me.
Based upon the age of one member, the number of ratings posted by them indicates that they have read two books per week, assuming they began seriously reading at ten years of age. Presuming they have not posted a rating for every book read, the number is even higher.
Reading is wonderful. That said; there are so many other wonderful things to do in life and so little time in which to do them. There are people to meet, activities to experience, and places to visit. If physically able, do not squander the opportunity to do so.
I am a 72-year-old widower and have been retired for the past 19 years. Prior to that, my job and responsibilities as a husband and father left very little time for reading.
The number of books that some Goodreads members have rated and/or reviewed amazes and concerns me.
Based upon the age of one member, the number of ratings posted by them indicates that they have read two books per week, assuming they began seriously reading at ten years of age. Presuming they have not posted a rating for every book read, the number is even higher.
Reading is wonderful. That said; there are so many other wonderful things to do in life and so little time in which to do them. There are people to meet, activities to experience, and places to visit. If physically able, do not squander the opportunity to do so.
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[deleted user]
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May 24, 2020 04:33AM
I remember back in college, I was doing a study of the Chinese Revolution, and reading, reading, reading. My tutor wrote me to say "stop reading and start writing. If you can't write about it you don't understand it." I took that as one of the gems I was given, and ask myself if I understand what I have just read, or if I'm just "adding page counts" to some kind of internal competition I'm having with myself.
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Charles wrote: "I remember back in college, I was doing a study of the Chinese Revolution, and reading, reading, reading. My tutor wrote me to say "stop reading and start writing. If you can't write about it you d..."Charles,
Thank you for taking the time to post a comment. I am glad your professor's advice led to your decision to spend a little less time reading and dedicate more time to your writing. I am sure your followers and fans would agree.
Your personal concern that one might eventually begin to approach their reading volume as a competition is quite valid. It doesn't matter how many books one reads. It's the quality of the material read.
Jim
