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How do you read/how much do you read a week/do you avoid tv? Various questions
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Ed
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Dec 27, 2008 09:11PM
How much do you read a day? I'm always fascinated by people who love books...want to consume them and live in their worlds..how much time each day they are able to read? Do you go for a book a week or more or less?
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One of the only upsides to having ongoing back problems is that I have a lot of reading time. I've always been an avid reader, as well as a fast reader. It depends on the length, subject matter and complexity of a book. Some books I can read in a day, others require up to a week. Speed reading is great for research, but I wish I could turn it off when reading for pleasure. I'd say my husband and I watch a moderate amount of television. We always watch the evening news (local and national) and follow some programs. And of course, Steeler football! We watch a lot of movies and other programming on dvd.When I was working, I loved to read on the bus, especially on the way home. It was a great way to decompress.
One thing I've been wondering, in light of a recent discussion of publishing and print media - how many people still read print newspapers? I'm sad to say that, at some point, I converted to online news reading. The Daily Beast is now my fave paper.
I still read the newspaper but with the comments you can read after the articles online...I think the future of print newspapers is probably bleak. On the other hand, I wonder whether newspapers will continue to provide online access for free.
How much I read depends on where I am. If I'm at my house, I'm usually in my room, so I read a lot more. But at my parents' house, I read less because I feel like I should spend time with them and they always have the TV on, which I'm not good at blocking out. Basically, if there are people that I know and/or the TV on, I don't do so well.I try to watch as little TV as possible mainly because there's nothing good on and I get the news from the internet. I actually check the NY Daily News site a few times a day. But over the summer, when I was going to Starbucks every day, I'd grab the NY Times. Sadly, they don't sell the Time in my hick college town in OK.
Lori wrote: "How much I read depends on where I am. If I'm at my house, I'm usually in my room, so I read a lot more. But at my parents' house, I read less because I feel like I should spend time with them an..."Lori - I think the Times has a weekend subscription that's pretty reasonable, don't know it they have it in small town OK, as they'd have to get a distribution center near there. Where are you going to school? I was born in Clinton, but we moved to CA when I was five. I have one aunt still living there.
How much I am able to read sadly depends upon how much else there is going on in my life. During the last.. let's say, 3 years (that were my sophomore, junior, and now senior year in high school), I was not able to fit in very much reading during the school year.
Since last summer, I didn't even have time to read much during the holidays as I had SAT and TOEFL prep going on during the summer and had to study for exams, get my college applications together and write my senior thesis during fall and now Christmas break. When I've got classes, I only get to do assignment readings (for which I am actually very grateful, because I wouldn't read at all if I didn't have those assignments).
I squeeze in some news update every day, I subscribed to the New York Times online newsletter and to the Le Monde one, plus I subscribed a printed weekly newspaper, but sadly I hardly ever get around to reading them.
I am looking forward to this summer after my graduation as I won't have anything to do apart from jobbing and reading : )
Oh yes, and to January 30th.. That's the due date for my Senior thesis and the exams will be over for the semester which means that I'll spent that weekend reading.
Since last summer, I didn't even have time to read much during the holidays as I had SAT and TOEFL prep going on during the summer and had to study for exams, get my college applications together and write my senior thesis during fall and now Christmas break. When I've got classes, I only get to do assignment readings (for which I am actually very grateful, because I wouldn't read at all if I didn't have those assignments).
I squeeze in some news update every day, I subscribed to the New York Times online newsletter and to the Le Monde one, plus I subscribed a printed weekly newspaper, but sadly I hardly ever get around to reading them.
I am looking forward to this summer after my graduation as I won't have anything to do apart from jobbing and reading : )
Oh yes, and to January 30th.. That's the due date for my Senior thesis and the exams will be over for the semester which means that I'll spent that weekend reading.
Deborah, I'm going to OSU. I was born and raised in Tulsa, which is still relatively small, but a heck of a lot bigger than Stillwater. Tulsa gets their Times from St. Louis, but the truck doesn't make it to Stillwater, which is a total bummer. But I guess it's good because I'm not spending $1.25 a day for a paper.
The amount of reading I get to do during the day depends on how well I can entertain my toddler. Somedays are better than others. I always have an audio book in the car though.
I need to turn the tv off and I think then my reading will increase. I hope to pick a week in January to turn the tube off. :) Let me know if anyone is interested in picking a particular week in January and we can share our thoughts.
Since I'm in college I don't get to read as much as I want to. When I read a book that is not for school I feel guilty that I'm not reading for school. So a lot of time I end up watching tv. Then when I go home for breaks from school that's when I read a lot.
Michelle, I'm kind of like that. I don't get to read as much as I want during school and I do feel guilty sometimes. But I don't take some time for me, I go crazy. And I put my health (mental and physical) above my schoolwork. And most of the time I don't like what we're reading for school, so it's easy to talk myself into stopping the schoolwork. :-)
Message #3, I read the newspaper everyday front to back. I find it kinda sad that most people don't read newspapers anymore. They get their news online or from the TV. Plus the ads and the coupons on Sunday are the best. And if you use the coupons sometimes it pays for the paper. Also Ed about your challenge in January.... I am willing to do it. I think it would be interesting to get a group to do it and see what they think. But I am wondering if I am allowed to still TIVO my shows and watch them later or am I supposed to skip an episode (no can do)! :)
You're probably right about the newspaper, Angie, but unfortunately, I never was that kind of person who likes reading depressing news on paper, cause like many bibliophil people I want to read for fun and to relax! That's why I read everyday and in every kind of normal day situation: the tram, waiting rooms and so on! Of course the only undisturbed time for my reading is at night when my five year old son sleeps deep and well, wink! A good book will only last about three days with me (an exeption was the glassbooks of the dreameaters which I had to read in about two weeks but I just couldn't put it away- it was amazing)- so I read about 8-10 books a month. Call me nuts but an average person watches TV for ca. 30hours a week! That means over 1500 hours in one year! And I'm no average person, lol, I lke it better to read in these hours!!!
Ed, I'd also be in for a week without TV. I'm not sure if I really count for that challenge, though, because I hardly ever watch TV anyway.
Christina, I guess reading a newspaper is not about reading depressing news.. It's about being informed about what's going on in the world, or at least in your country.
That's why, although I'd prefer to read a printed newspaper, I subscribed to online newsletters by newspapers.
Christina, I guess reading a newspaper is not about reading depressing news.. It's about being informed about what's going on in the world, or at least in your country.
That's why, although I'd prefer to read a printed newspaper, I subscribed to online newsletters by newspapers.
Christina, my local paper has great sections that don't have depressing news. Once a week they publish a section called "Out There" which tells of all the going ons around Colorado Springs, and every week has a new hike listed (I love outdoors). They do a Metro section about news in the area, and a Your Hub where readers write that section and it is all good news about people in the community. I learn a lot about Colorado Springs through the news paper which I wouldn't learn so much on the web (the local news websites don't provide that much information). I also read as much as you do! Though December I didn't get in as many books as usual. :(
Angie wrote: "Christina, my local paper has great sections that don't have depressing news. Once a week they publish a section called "Out There" which tells of all the going ons around Colorado Springs, and ev..."There's a lot about a good print newspaper that I miss, especially Op Ed. Remember when you had to write well to express a public opinion?
But, as I enter late middle age, I miss a lot. Change happens, and it's usually never completely good or completely bad. I miss vinyl records, but I love my i pod.
I am going to opt out of the TV boycott (while thoroughly supporting it). For one thing, I have almost too much reading time. And, the Steelers are in the play-offs, and I live in Pittsburgh, and some things never change!;D
Well, It's hard to gauge how much I read it also varies day to day. I have a four year old. Which is why as of late more of my book are for younger readers than adults. I love to read so much though If I don't get my fix I get very grumpy. So during the day when I'm doing laundry, dishes, sewing, knitting, picking up the house, I try to listen to my audio books. I've become a big fan of those! At night I read for about 2-3 hours, then watch 1-2 hours of t.v. which I tend to watch movies, or other things I have record. I try not to watch to much t.v. anymore. My daughter & I will spend the whole day in front of the boob tube if I don't make the effort to keep it off most of the day. So I would say about 2 to 2 1/2 hours during the day.Sorry I tend to ramble when I'm not talk to are about kids.
Marion, please don't get me wrong: I didn't want to say I don't watch news every day! It would be ignorant and stupid not to know what's going on in my country and as well in the whole world! I just watch news on TV or online because printed words should be for pure fun in my opinion! Angie, we also get a well done local paper twice a week which I like to read very much because there are always people mentioned who I know for a very long time and it has a lot of interesting programs for leisure time with my son! I really didn't want to say that I don't read newspapers at all, it's just that I choose different ways of information for different topics ;)!
Where I go to college, the campus paper is a joke (and they really don't print the news, so I don't read it) and the local city paper is also a joke (but I'm not surprised). Therefore, my best place for news is online. But I'd do almost anything to have a copy of the NY Times given to me every day, even though it takes me about 2 hours to read the entire thing.
Lori, you really frighten me with your college stories. That really sounds like all the mediocre German colleges I am trying to evade by applying to American colleges.. Hopefully my selections don't only read good in the view books.
Marion, Please don't be scared. I'm just not going to school in one of the more educated parts of the country. I don't know what your financial situation is like, but private schools (maybe) and ivy leagues are much better. I would would venture to guess that schools in New England might be better, but I've never been up there, so I don't know.
I am applying to private colleges, but unfortunately, my parents aren't rich, which means that I won't be able to attend any of those schools if I won't get financial aid. I still hope I'll get in somewhere and also get an adequate fin aid package : )
Hi Marion! Hope you got my answer about newspapers? And I'd like to know from which part of Germany are you? I'm from Hanover. We could write in German if you like to exchange privat messages but it's not polite to do so here :)! I just ask because not ALL German colleges are that bad! A few friends of mine and even my uncle visited a decent one! And it's a lot easier to get financial aid here- or so everyone wants me to believe...
Hey Christina, yes, I got your message about newspapers. I am from Bavaria/Lake Constance. You are right that German universities aren't bad in general - most are pretty decent, actually, but there are aspects about the German educational system that I don't like that much in comparison with the American one. I know that everyone who needs financial aid gets it here - I am still trying to get into an American college as that has been a life-long childhood dream of mine. If I won't get in over there (something I don't hope), I've still got plenty of time to apply to a college here.
Good luck Marion! One thing I found with applying to the University of Tulsa (a smaller, private school) was that the admissions counselor was more than willing to find more money to get me to go there. I am absolutely ashamed at how I acted towards her and my parents regarding the college issue, but I let me boyfriend at the time (who was 2 years younger and had no clue) dictate what I did. I'm kicking myself for it now because I think about all of the opportunities that I could have had if I had done there. But I have to believe that I'll still get where I need to be having gone down this other path.
One thing about some newspapers is that they can be expensive. I have always wanted to get USA Today but that is an expensive paper to get. So I only get it in airports!
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As far as reading a paper now, I must confess I only read the hockey articles in the Sports page of the local paper. But I read them like my life depended on it!
I got really disillusioned with news in general, but most specifically on the telly, here in the states after living abroad. The international coverage, if they even have it, is pathetic at best. It's nonsensical to me things being as they are now. When I lived in DC, it was a bit better, but only just. Even New York and Los Angeles doesn't do well with it.
I think it'd be really cool to be able to subscribe to the news you want... that you'd get a personalized paper delivered to you each day. How great would that be??? My sports page would so TOTALLY rock! And I'd really know what was going on in the world for once... Heh!
As for the rest of the discussion, eh. I'm out of work and have been sick off and on, so loads of TV but also quite a bit of reading. Honestly, though, I read less now because I feel guilty about it. When I'm working, I read in every nook and cranny of my day - commuting, breaks, etc. But now I feel like I shouldn't get that pleasure without the work. Does that make sense? Plus, I always feel like I should be accomplishing something, and with the telly I can be multitasking like a madwoman. I kind of hate it. Especially with network broadcasting being what it is... thank God for cable! BBCAmerica, USA Network, and TNT have me hooked up - that and the movie stations (particularly TCM). LOL!
whichwaydidshego?, I know what you mean about feeling guilty because I feel really guilty reading outside of school. But, trust me, you deserve some time to read.
Michele wrote:I got really disillusioned with news in general, but most specifically on the telly, here in the states after living abroad. The international coverage, if they even have it, is pathetic at best. It's nonsensical to me things being as they are now. When I lived in DC, it was a bit better, but only just. Even New York and Los Angeles doesn't do well with it. Boy, do I relate to that! I think our news media via TV are quite sad all around.
And, Michele, it was very hard being abroad when the events of September 11, 2001 took place, wasn't it? Our Belgian friends and colleagues hardly knew what to say or how to be of help either. Everyone was quite good but it was simply unexplored territory as far as etiquette and how-to respond properly. I had also lost a young cousin to cancer just five days prior to that and was already grieving that personal loss. Quite a time that was and it is indelibly etched in my mind's eye and ear.
Lori, Michelle, I'm very similar as that I'm in college and don't get as much time to read as I wish. I'm in the middle of nursing school right now and I have lots of reading every week for all of my classes. I was fortunately enough to get to take one last general education class, a British Literature class, and I loved it so much. We read Atonement, Jane Eyre, and Wide Sargasso Sea amongst other poetry and prose selections. I tend to read a bunch on my breaks because I'm so happy to have the down time when I'm not studying or working. I used to have a schedule where I would work out and read every day and that 30 minutes to an hour (depending on how ambitions I was) would be my time set apart to read. I have kind of got caught up with school and stopped working out... but since it's the New Year... perhaps I'll start again. That's what revolutions are for, after all..... :)
oh, one last thing: TV.... I find that I go on TV kicks. I'll go several weeks without watching more than maybe an hour of a show that I really like, but I'll be mostly studying and writing papers instead of watching TV. But then I'll have like one weekend where I let Friday and Saturday night be taken over by TV... I'll do my laundry and watch TV all night. My family takes a vacation with our cousins every two years. The cabin that we rent does not have a TV and I have to say that I am always amazed at how much I don't miss it. Once I get over the initial bit of figuring out what else to do, I forget about it and enjoy feeling like I have accomplished things in my day. So, Ed, if you are thinking about a tv-less week.... good for you! And good luck. I hope you enjoy all the time you have on hand. :) I would be willing to join... though my comments would probably be on how much studying I got done. :)
I wish my family went to a cabin like that. My ex and his family go to somewhere in Colorado and there's no TV, computer, or even cell phone reception. It seems so nice to me and made me want somewhere like that. So I decided to create a Walden-esque getaway in this room that can only be accessed through my room (I call it my office). I still have a bunch of work to do because it's become a bit of a storage room for when I come home on breaks. I hope to finish it in time to use it this summer.
Oh yes, a place in the middle of nowhere without TV, Internet, or any other connection to the outside world sounds really great. I wish I could go to a place like that for a week a year.. I would get so much reading done and would have so much time to think.
I know! Thoreau had Walden. Hemingway had his lake house. I'm not saying that I aspire to be a great writer, but I could get a lot of thinking and reading and searching and journal writing done. It would be lovely!
Yeah.... I really love going away for vacation. The wonderful thing about having no TV in our vacation spot is that we really focus on talking and catching up with the rest of my family. The house is on the Oregon coast, and we all go on long walks on the beach (cliche I know... but so beautiful) and talk and talk and talk. Plus, because of a 2 hour time change (I always end up getting up early), I also gets lots of reading done. :) I might start actually enforcing the no TV thing except on weekends that someone was talking about in the resolutions section... I think I would be happier with what I get done.
Just an aside to Hannah -- have you read or did you participate in the Rory Gilmore Book Club's Jane Eyre discussion along with Wide Sargasso Sea and The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde? If not, I really recommend that you check those discussions out down in the monthly books folder.
I may have to start a no TV policy except for watching Secret Life of the American Teenager (a very guilty pleasure) on Mondays. Unfortunately my roommate has a TV on all the time, so I won't be able to escape it entirely. I do have the occasional all day TV binge. But last semester, all I wanted to do was read when I had the time.
whichwaydidshego? wrote: "Angie, HAHAHA! That was funny about the airports. I like when you get them for free at hotels! When the September 11th tragedy happened, I was living abroad. I bought the USA Today and when ava..."Michele - in 2003, after I'd been living with a chronic illness for about a year, I started seeing a therapist who really changed my life. She taught me to conserve my energy, to live a life and not an illness, to indulge in "little luxuries," and a very important strategy for recognizing self worth. When I go to bed at night, I never think about what I didn't accomplish. Instead, I make a little list of what I did accomplish. There have been times when going to the bathroom by myself was my big accomplishment for the day. More often than not, I find that I do more than I think I do. And reading is accomplishing something. Posting wry, inspiring comments that make your goodreads friends smile is accomplishing something.
Dottie... actually I haven't posted yet on those discussions but I have to say that I looked over them and read many parts of them while I was reading it for my class. I found that so many of the things we talked about it class you guys picked up on your own. I have since comforted myself that even though I can't take another Literature class, I can read and gain insight with the book club. Thanks for reminding me... i'll have to finish reading those discussions.
For those of you in college: one thing I did in order to read fun stuff was find the class descriptions in the English department, and select a class that covered books I wanted to read and--here's the key--had NO OUTSIDE WRITING. I was always a pretty good impromtu writer, and it was important to me to not have to write a time-consuming paper. Usually, I could read the books before the term started, then just the good parts during the term.
It depends... at schooldays I read an about 350-pages book (when there aren't too many tests ahead, of course) in about a week and a half, but now that it's summer I hope to finish all my summer homework this week and then I could for real something!
I commute on public transportation everyday, so I read 30 minutes on the way to work and 30 on the way back. I also try to read for 30 minutes during my lunch. In addition, I wake up early to read for an hour as I start my day, and I spend at least an hour in the afternoon. That's three and a half hours per day, which sounds about right.I don't have cable anymore (just an antenna), so that curbs my tv quite a bit. I do have favorite shows, but I usually catch up on them during the weekends.
I usually start the day with a chapter (mostly in the weekends) if I've some transport time to kill I read there, then I spend a few hours at home reading as well and by the end of the day, just before I go to bed, I read some more.
I'm a tv addicted and that is always getting in the way of my reading assiduity, no matter how great the book is. Because of that everyday i try to turn off tv, phone and radio to really immerge myself into the story. On my best i read a 400 pages(more or less)-book a week, i don't have any reading routine for that, though.
I've been trying to have the best of both worlds. It's easier to accomplish during the weekend when I can easily read for a few hours while my boyfriend is still sleeping. But during the week, he pretty much has the TV on all day. I try to limit myself to a couple of episodes of the TV show we're watching (currently Friday Night Lights) and read while he watches something else or plays video games. I just feel like I'm wasting my time when I watch hours upon hours of TV. I have so much more I'd rather accomplish.
Lori wrote: " I just feel like I'm wasting my time when I watch hours upon hours of TV. I have so much more I'd rather accomplish. "I feel the same way, but i just can't help it. Well,I've been trying to improve my ability to just ignore the tv :D
