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Book Simulator: The Reader's Guide to Not Reading
The Reader's Guide to Not Reading Learn how to convince your friends that you’re an avid reader without reading a single word. Utilize techniques like page turning, eye movement, and note taking. Book Simulator includes interactive exercises that allow you to practice. Impress your friends and master the art of book simulation. Looking for humor, comedy, laughs, jokes, and all other forms of funny? Book Simulator is a humorous take on the conventions of a traditional book. While it pokes fun at various aspects of reading, it also celebrates the spirit of storytelling and encourages the exploration of future stories to come. For extensive coaching in the very serious field of pretend reading, download Book Simulator today.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2016
21 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 16, 2018
What is book simulation? Book simulation is a multi-step process which creates the illusion of book reading.This is a strange book, but refreshingly so. I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure to expect from this book based on the synopsis other than the promise of humor and that the first page had me more than a little dubious on whether this book would be for me… by page six I was rolling in laughter, terrifying my cat in the process. If you play video games, reading Book Simulator reminds me of playing The Stanley Parable (which I am going to play once finishing this review).
I love the irony of reading a book that is supposed to teach you how to pretend to read to give the impression that you are a reader. An intellectual. From discussing the pros and cons of book simulation at various times of the day to discussing basic book simulation techniques, Yee maintains a humorous voice that reads as almost motivational. You too can simulate reading with just these easy steps!
If you do not get enough rest, you risk the possibility of falling asleep mid-simulation. Chances are you’ll drop that book right on your face and suffocate in your sleep. Your tombstone will claim that you died doing what you loved, wearing a book mask.This has happened to me. Not the dead bit, but the dropping-a-book-on-your-face bit. Book Simulator really discusses what it is to be an avid reader, poking fun at some of the habits we book addicts have, but for me it was a celebration of storytelling and a love story for all readers.
With imaginative descriptions such as unicorns on stilts (think about that for a bit!) and a flying rhinoceros with chicken legs in a pink skirt, you will be entertained and dazzled by a truly unique method of storytelling. I personally enjoyed the chapter on note-taking because I am a heathen and write in my books. I know what you are thinking. But no, I see it as my way of having a conversation with the author. But this isn’t about me. This is about how much I loved that chapter because even I have issues writing in books and that chapter resonated.
Things… shift around the mid-point of the book that I am not going to discuss because spoilers, but suffice it to say that this book keeps the reader guessing at its true objective and is incredibly clever. If you play video games, reading this book is similar to playing The Stanley Parable. This is precisely my sense of humor, but it may not be for everyone – all I can say is it does kind of serve a purpose.
Take risks. Aim high. Be the cashew!Overall I was pleasantly surprised with this book and thoroughly enjoyed this read. If you decide to pick this up, I urge you to stick with it until the end (it’s only 122 pages!); it’s a great, fast read – or one that you can easily come in and out of – for any reading slump or lazy day where you don’t have the mental focus for something heavier. And I have to say how much I LOVED the epilogue.
I read the print version and am definitely interested to see how different the ebook format is to the process of book simulation. Many thanks to the author Chris Yee for sending me a free print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and I nabbed the eBook from Amazon to compare the versions!
On an unrelated note…I want to be known as the Read Genie. Can we make that happen?
June 23, 2018
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Oh my goodness this is such a fab book!!
It is a really different read and I will admit that I wasn't actually sure what I would be getting after reading the blurb, but I saw the cover and loved that so thought why not give it a go! And I am so glad I did!!
It isn't one I feel I can really review without giving away too much but I will definitely say that I highly recommend it - its only a short read but it is very sweet and fun too- it is a really refreshing read!
A really different read, its a bit quirky and I absolutely loved it for that - 5 stars!!!
Oh my goodness this is such a fab book!!
It is a really different read and I will admit that I wasn't actually sure what I would be getting after reading the blurb, but I saw the cover and loved that so thought why not give it a go! And I am so glad I did!!
It isn't one I feel I can really review without giving away too much but I will definitely say that I highly recommend it - its only a short read but it is very sweet and fun too- it is a really refreshing read!
A really different read, its a bit quirky and I absolutely loved it for that - 5 stars!!!
March 11, 2019
Filling a long-standing blank space in literature, Book Simulator by Chris Yee has finally landed. At long last Faux readers will be able to follow a well-crafted training plan that will allow them to fake out their more erudite well-read brethren. BookSi gives the impression that Faux readers are reading when in fact they are visualizing cashews on trolleys (Kindle location 118). This book has already made an impact at the highest levels of government. It is a coffee table book in most apartments at Swamp Towers.
This book can be valuable for all age and occupational groups from Parents to The Illiterate and many groups in between (to include robots in disguise). (Kindle location 15). While simulated reading can take place any time of the day, this manual has sections recommending optimal times. This is a superior social interaction avoidance device (SIAD) to the handphone. And it looks more intelligent.
Don’t be confused by occasional blank pages. They are provided so the readers can visualize freely. Exercises provide prompts that should stimulate reader abilities to fill the blank pages with hordes of imaginary creatures and situations. If you are some sort of a sick perv, everything is still SFW because all the crude stuff is only in your mind. Nothing appears on the non-existent page.
The enemy of all Faux readers are People Watchers (actual readers). These are to be avoided because ReadrSims end up in needless physical competition with Actual Readers and ReaderSims must flee. People Watchers may be training for the Olympics and ReaderSims won’t have a chance to outrun them. People watchers are dangerous literates jealous of the amount of money ReaderSims are saving by Simulation Reading. Follow the instructions in this book and never get caught. Practice eye contact, eye movement, page-turning itself as well as the timing of page turning. All of this can be done without reading one word. The best part is, it works in all languages.
Starting at 35% point of this book, the reader will proceed to advanced simulation. Readers may choose to be ranked as to competence by submitting validation credentials to the author of this book. The author may not accept the credentials or even acknowledge their submission in any way. Think of it like submitting a complaint to Facebook.
At some point in this book, two named characters will emerge. There is BookSi (Book Simulation Intelligence) and the Narrator. The narrator believes that books should have stories, characters, conflicts, and context. The Narrator is omniscient. BookSi, the presenter of this book from the beginning and the overall instructor up to the appearance of the Narrator, believes in no structure. One of them will disappear (die) at the end of this work.
This 132-page novel is fun. I found it in Amazon at the great price of USD0.00. This was a purchase price, not a KU read. It is clever, funny, and witty for any reader up to the point of the introduction of the Narrator. From that point, there is additionally a lot of subtle humor for authors and would-be authors. This gets five Amazon stars for creativity. Watch out for BookSi which will claim that there are many typos to be found throughout the work and will challenge the reader to find them.
BookSi lies.
This book can be valuable for all age and occupational groups from Parents to The Illiterate and many groups in between (to include robots in disguise). (Kindle location 15). While simulated reading can take place any time of the day, this manual has sections recommending optimal times. This is a superior social interaction avoidance device (SIAD) to the handphone. And it looks more intelligent.
Don’t be confused by occasional blank pages. They are provided so the readers can visualize freely. Exercises provide prompts that should stimulate reader abilities to fill the blank pages with hordes of imaginary creatures and situations. If you are some sort of a sick perv, everything is still SFW because all the crude stuff is only in your mind. Nothing appears on the non-existent page.
The enemy of all Faux readers are People Watchers (actual readers). These are to be avoided because ReadrSims end up in needless physical competition with Actual Readers and ReaderSims must flee. People Watchers may be training for the Olympics and ReaderSims won’t have a chance to outrun them. People watchers are dangerous literates jealous of the amount of money ReaderSims are saving by Simulation Reading. Follow the instructions in this book and never get caught. Practice eye contact, eye movement, page-turning itself as well as the timing of page turning. All of this can be done without reading one word. The best part is, it works in all languages.
Starting at 35% point of this book, the reader will proceed to advanced simulation. Readers may choose to be ranked as to competence by submitting validation credentials to the author of this book. The author may not accept the credentials or even acknowledge their submission in any way. Think of it like submitting a complaint to Facebook.
At some point in this book, two named characters will emerge. There is BookSi (Book Simulation Intelligence) and the Narrator. The narrator believes that books should have stories, characters, conflicts, and context. The Narrator is omniscient. BookSi, the presenter of this book from the beginning and the overall instructor up to the appearance of the Narrator, believes in no structure. One of them will disappear (die) at the end of this work.
This 132-page novel is fun. I found it in Amazon at the great price of USD0.00. This was a purchase price, not a KU read. It is clever, funny, and witty for any reader up to the point of the introduction of the Narrator. From that point, there is additionally a lot of subtle humor for authors and would-be authors. This gets five Amazon stars for creativity. Watch out for BookSi which will claim that there are many typos to be found throughout the work and will challenge the reader to find them.
BookSi lies.
September 23, 2017
I stumbled across this book when the author mentionned it on a Bizarro-themed forum, wondering if other members would think it fell under this specific genre. Now, i didn't keep an eye on the thread, so i may never know the answer, but i figured Book Simulator might be a fun quick read, and a non-expensive one on top of it!
It's hard to say much about this book without spoiling it, but the first handful of chapters in particular really made me smile. Videogames fans might be reminded of The Stanley Parable a little, in the best sort of way. And then halfway through... well, i can't say without spoiling. But in the end, what you have is a neat little book about humans's love of stories, and that sort of thing always hits me right in the feels.
I personally bought the ebook version, and it's super interesting that significant changes had to be made so the book would work in this specific format! Might have to pick up a printed copy just see what the differences are. :D
It's hard to say much about this book without spoiling it, but the first handful of chapters in particular really made me smile. Videogames fans might be reminded of The Stanley Parable a little, in the best sort of way. And then halfway through... well, i can't say without spoiling. But in the end, what you have is a neat little book about humans's love of stories, and that sort of thing always hits me right in the feels.
I personally bought the ebook version, and it's super interesting that significant changes had to be made so the book would work in this specific format! Might have to pick up a printed copy just see what the differences are. :D
December 6, 2016
Its good.
It is a good book that you should read. It keeps you guessing throughout and is interesting. My only complaint is that it is a little short.
It is a good book that you should read. It keeps you guessing throughout and is interesting. My only complaint is that it is a little short.
May 30, 2018
I think this book wins the title of the oddest thing I have ever read! If you enjoyed “Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”(Douglas Adams) you may well enjoy this. On the surface it is a book for people who don’t like to read but would like to give the impression that they do (if that makes sense). There are simulated pages so you can practice turning, and imagining things on the pages- which there are instructions for. A trolley riding cashew is one suggestion (I thought supermarket trolley- how wrong was I ) There are dot to dots and guides on things from eye movement to note taking. All done with tongue in cheek. I think this would make an excellent gift and is best in the paperback form to enjoy the experience of turning etc. It is certainly a unique read and one that will bring a smile.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
August 16, 2019
Odd Little Book!
I am a voracious reader, so I don't need a book simulator to make it look like I'm reading. Because I am actually usually… reading. The first part of the blurb made me almost give a pass to this book, but a line in the second part made me decide to give it a try. “While it pokes fun at various aspects of reading, it also celebrates the spirit of storytelling and encourages the exploration of future stories to come.” As someone who loves to read, I thought I would see how this book would celebrate storytelling with humor. The book is definitely tongue-in-cheek and makes attempts at humor, but for me, these fell flat. I didn't really see any evidence about how this book celebrated anything, whether reading or storytelling. The book is certainly quirky and unusual, but it didn't quite do it for me.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I am a voracious reader, so I don't need a book simulator to make it look like I'm reading. Because I am actually usually… reading. The first part of the blurb made me almost give a pass to this book, but a line in the second part made me decide to give it a try. “While it pokes fun at various aspects of reading, it also celebrates the spirit of storytelling and encourages the exploration of future stories to come.” As someone who loves to read, I thought I would see how this book would celebrate storytelling with humor. The book is definitely tongue-in-cheek and makes attempts at humor, but for me, these fell flat. I didn't really see any evidence about how this book celebrated anything, whether reading or storytelling. The book is certainly quirky and unusual, but it didn't quite do it for me.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
October 16, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a silly as I’m sure it was meant to be. If you’re going into it looking for serious subject matter, you will be disappointed. But if you can keep it light and have a sense a humor, you will be amused.
Want to get out of an uncomfortable situation? Stuck at a family gathering and don’t want to talk to anyone? You need to read this book. You can learn to look like a busy intellectual without actually being one. This book is full of tips and tricks on how to look like you’re reading without having to undertake the mind-numbing chore of ACTUALLY reading. Of course, the irony is that you have to read a book to find out how to fake reading a book.
I’m giving this book 4 stars just for it’s innovativeness and the fact that it made me chuckle. Check it out for yourself, if you can handle actually reading a book 😉
This book was a silly as I’m sure it was meant to be. If you’re going into it looking for serious subject matter, you will be disappointed. But if you can keep it light and have a sense a humor, you will be amused.
Want to get out of an uncomfortable situation? Stuck at a family gathering and don’t want to talk to anyone? You need to read this book. You can learn to look like a busy intellectual without actually being one. This book is full of tips and tricks on how to look like you’re reading without having to undertake the mind-numbing chore of ACTUALLY reading. Of course, the irony is that you have to read a book to find out how to fake reading a book.
I’m giving this book 4 stars just for it’s innovativeness and the fact that it made me chuckle. Check it out for yourself, if you can handle actually reading a book 😉
July 22, 2025
I did not know what to expect coming into this book and honestly the irony of reading a book teaching you how to simulate reading while reading had me snorting with laughter at times. The cashew riding a trolly had completely different connotations for me as someone from the UK (read the book if you want to understand). The way the book changed after the perfect page had me slowly becoming more invested in the book as well as thinking more about what reading means to me... yeh weird considering the book wasn't about that. A really fun use of techniques as well which I can't really go into without spoilers.... honestly give the simulator a try!
March 29, 2019
Can't you see I'm pretending to read here?!
In a world full of fakers with their screens in-situ this tongue-in-cheek read really made me smile. It isn't a story, I'm not sure what to call it! Funny though! I'm not sure that pretending to read would ever work though, in my experience, reading or writing is something that (frustratingly) others think can be interrupted at any time. If I had to say anything, this book need not have been as long as it was, yes, I know that was part of the joke but that's my observation.
In a world full of fakers with their screens in-situ this tongue-in-cheek read really made me smile. It isn't a story, I'm not sure what to call it! Funny though! I'm not sure that pretending to read would ever work though, in my experience, reading or writing is something that (frustratingly) others think can be interrupted at any time. If I had to say anything, this book need not have been as long as it was, yes, I know that was part of the joke but that's my observation.
November 1, 2020
New Never Read Anythjng Like it!
Intelligent Funny and creative.. even interactive! I did complete the dot to dots but the last one tripped me up and I’d love to see the original! I think we defeated Booksi, but there was so much more than that! This is a book to read over and over and discover new things, to think deeply about the world and how stories are made. Even question AI. I thought this was a book for kids, like “Charlie Jackson’s guide to not reading”. It wasn’t and I was in for a HUGE surprise.. maybe Booksi did read if..more people read this and I recommend they should because it will give your brain a Spark!
Intelligent Funny and creative.. even interactive! I did complete the dot to dots but the last one tripped me up and I’d love to see the original! I think we defeated Booksi, but there was so much more than that! This is a book to read over and over and discover new things, to think deeply about the world and how stories are made. Even question AI. I thought this was a book for kids, like “Charlie Jackson’s guide to not reading”. It wasn’t and I was in for a HUGE surprise.. maybe Booksi did read if..more people read this and I recommend they should because it will give your brain a Spark!
May 18, 2021
This may be the most unusual book I have read in a long time. I may even add tags to it later as I think about it. I'm not really able to not spoil the book in a review it is that confusing. Now I also can say I liked it. I just don't know that I understand it. I mean that in a good way. Not all books have you thinking about them and for a nice short book this one did. Remember that there are versions for e-book and physical books. I read the e-book version. It's not long and deserves a chance. I liked it better than that but not sure I have better words to explain it.
May 16, 2021
This is definitely a niche piece of humor.
I failed to find enjoyable humor and after reading about four pages, I started to skim to see if the format changed. To my mind, this would have been a good chuckle if it were just a few pages long but not at the length published.
This should not be taken as a negative review of the author's writing skill. It is simply the case that this offering was not for me.
I failed to find enjoyable humor and after reading about four pages, I started to skim to see if the format changed. To my mind, this would have been a good chuckle if it were just a few pages long but not at the length published.
This should not be taken as a negative review of the author's writing skill. It is simply the case that this offering was not for me.
August 24, 2019
I loved this book. As an avid reader, I found this to be a hoot and I enjoyed the game the author plays. I thought that the game ,might go on too long but it did not. It was perfect. This book is for the young at heart who knows how to enjoy a good book and a good laugh.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 13, 2024
I found it to be somewhat funny, but like most meta-fiction, it seems to get so caught up in the question of what story can we still tell outside the bounds of a story while still being a story. I think ergotic books are a far better means of meta-storytelling in my opinion, so I wasn’t the biggest fan.
June 7, 2019
?
It's supposed to be funny. I stopped reading at around 20% having yet to be amused so if you make the effort you can safely start reading after that point without missing anything.
It's supposed to be funny. I stopped reading at around 20% having yet to be amused so if you make the effort you can safely start reading after that point without missing anything.
February 26, 2019
Fun book that is not what it seems. If you like dry humour, this book has it by the bucketload.
October 31, 2019
This book was short, quick and hilarious. If you're looking for something serious, this is not the book for you.
I received a review copy from Hidden Gems for an honest review.
I received a review copy from Hidden Gems for an honest review.
February 20, 2017
The book breaks a lot of conventions, which makes it hard to review without spoiling. It plays at being a couple of different things, mostly successfully.
It is indeed short, but it's as long as it needs to be. I read it in about an hour, and felt it sufficient. Totally worth it. Can't tell you why, though. Sorry.
It is indeed short, but it's as long as it needs to be. I read it in about an hour, and felt it sufficient. Totally worth it. Can't tell you why, though. Sorry.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews