Background:

I’m in my 40s and I’ve always sort of beaten myself up over not being an avid reader. I go through phases where I read a bunch, sometimes I’ll finish a book in a months time, sometimes start a book and forget it, sometimes it seems like I go literally years without really getting into any book at all. But I still accumulate them.

Because of how important reading is and now I “fail” to prioritize it, I’ve always found myself in a poor relationship with reading. I feel this artificial pressure to read things that are only important and will somehow make me more useful. I feel this artificial pressure to start one book and read it to the end. I feel this artificial pressure to become a changed person by fully investing every bit of info from every book.

I’ve been learning that these pressures are untenable.

I’ve also noticed that I partake in all kinds of things without the same expectations: tv shows, games, podcasts, media and news outlets, social media, etc.

Right now I have 6 books that I am actively reading, and I am trying to remember that it’s for enjoyment and not some high level goal. Someone told me if I read 10 pages a day I would finish about 10 books a year. I found this so encouraging.

Taking the pressure off of reading has really helped me get more productive at reading, and I think it will help me convert my habit into a truly fruitful one.

So now I ask you:

  • What are your reading habits like?
  • What do you like to read?
  • What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it?
  • Have you made any changes, positive or negative, to your reading habits?
  • What else?
  • QDgwZjQYdfbnMdMNQ@lemmy.cafe
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    15 hours ago

    I tend to go through phases in which whenever I find a bunch of books I’m really interested in, I’ll read a ton. But, once I finish those, I’ll read less for a while. I think my top speed if I’m really invested in what I’m reading is around 800 pages a day, but I never sustain that for long because I run out of book.

    I pretty much exclusively read fantasy, with a focus on books with hard magic systems, progression elements, and/or some sort of cultivation (which itself is a progression element).

    When I was a kid, I struggled with reading for years because I wasn’t interested in anything I read at school. I only really started reading a ton when I found books I was interested in (fantasy), which in turn made me a lot better at reading from all the practice.

    Somewhat more recently, I’ve started reading webnovels in between traditionally published books, which is nice because you get a continuous drip of content. I also generally just read on my phone, as it’s very convenient to pop out a book wherever I am. I like physical books too, but I don’t tend to get through them as fast because I can’t fit them in my pocket and take them with me everywhere.

    My experience is that if you want to develop a habit of reading a lot, you should focus on finding something you enjoy, as it’s a lot easier to make a habit of doing something you like than something you don’t like.

  • Corr@lemm.ee
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    15 hours ago
    • What are your reading habits like? I try to read at a minimum a chapter a night. That said I read a lot thanks to my commute to and from work 3x per week. I seem to read about a book a week. I do it for pleasure and I’ve gotten better about not finishing books. Though I will probably finish a book even I’m not loving it. It has to be bad for me to not finish.
      In being an avid reader I think it’s important and valuable in reading some stuff that isn’t as fun (mostly classics). That said I think people who don’t read much can steer clear easily. It’s a hobby and do whatever you like doing the most.

    • What do you like to read? Mostly fantasy or SciFi. Ive been branching out into more traditional fiction genres and I’ll read some historical things from time to time. I’m not tied down to a genre but I find poorly written fantasy can get carried by cool concepts or world building.

    • What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it? I just started my career and I’ve been reading all my life. My mum made sure I would read since I was quite young and I liked it. I’ve had ups and downs ans I definitely read more now than I did in high school and university thanks to my long commute.

    • What else? I’ll reiterate, do what you like even if it is to not read. Live life your way. That said, if you wanna get into reading, setting yourself a page or chapter target daily is a good place to start. Don’t worry about how many books you read in a period. Sit back and find enjoyment in what you are reading or did read, not stress in what you didn’t read.

    I’ll throw you a book recommendation because it’s always gotten me out of a reading slump: the Scorpio races by Maggie stiefvater. It’s targeted at younger folks but I think it’s an extremely enjoyable read still and has plenty to Enjoy for anyone

  • Mr_Blott@feddit.uk
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    22 hours ago

    I love books

    My biggest recommendation is to avoid asking for recommendations online, particularly in reading - centric communities.

    People love to pretend their favourite books are classical just through sheer pretentiousness

    The most genuine people you’ll find in life are the ones that are perfectly happy to admit they fucking love a trashy thriller

  • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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    20 hours ago

    I just read because I enjoy it. Around 20-30 per year. This year it’s looking out to be around 25. I wouldn’t read if I didn’t like doing it. I don’t think it makes much sense to force yourself into it. Sometimes I read historical stuff but usually it’s fiction of some sort. Historical fiction, fantasy, scifi. I’m a student so I suppose that helps.

    What helped me read more was getting an e-reader. It’s just so much more pleasant than regular books and the selection is much larger.

  • nimble@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    21 hours ago
    • i read fairly regularly. 60-120 minutes per day
    • i like reading mostly nonfiction, generally textbooks or other learning material. I’ll also read whatever books my SO recommends, and whatever the current book is for a book club im in.
    • I’m young enough that ill be working the rest of my life and this means I’m just trying to learn new skills and hopefully be able to retire someday
    • I’ve gotten better over time. I set aside a dedicated block of time for distraction free reading. I make use of pomodoro timers to help stay focused.
    • economics 101: time is a scarce resource. It is limited in supply and everyone wants more. Be very intentional with your time. How you spend time naturally shows what you currently value. Maybe that means you will value reading, but maybe that means you will value something else. Think about what you spend time on says about you, and if you don’t like what something says then fix it.
  • ECB@feddit.org
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    1 day ago

    My sleep-routine is that I read (usually my kindle) in bed at night.

    It’s kind of great both because I like reading, but also because it makes me fall asleep.

  • ulterno@programming.dev
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    21 hours ago
    • “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov is one of the only 3 novels I have read, that are were not part of my school course.
    • Another one was some romance novel that I got as a prize for some competition I can’t remember and I managed to force myself to read it until the end. Needless to say, I didn’t like it. The setting was probably Victorian Era.
    • The third is an English translation of the Light Novel “Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei”, which I am not sure when I intend on completing.

    I am a very sloow reader. Foundation was a pretty thin book and I took months. I tend to read a little, imagine it, dream on it and have fun that way and this one turned out to work really well for that. I thought of checking out the Prelude and other parts in the series, but never went ahead with it.

    I have seen myself getting intrigued by the thought the writer (may/may not have) put into the worldbuilding aspect and find myself exploring the same in my mind.

    My habits: I read what I feel like, when I feel like it. I remember having borrowed picture encyclopedias from school libraries as a child and just leisurely reading them. Those things were pretty fun too.

    • Allero@lemmy.today
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      39 minutes ago

      Seconding “Foundation” soooooo much. One of my teen favorites. Also full of references to other Asimov’s books, so many will get much more familiar after reading this.

  • PonyOfWar@pawb.social
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    1 day ago

    I read books for personal enjoyment, basically never for learning or self-improvement or anything like that. I only ever read one book at a time and mostly in the evening before going to sleep.

    I’m in my early thirties. My reading speed varies quite a lot based on the book and my mood, but I’ve definitely noticed that I’ve become “worse” at reading in recent years. Too many digital distractions I guess. That said, if I do manage to read for 2 hours before going to sleep, I sleep so much better than if I watch a movie or doomscroll on Lemmy or whatever.

    I mostly read sci-fi and fantasy, sometimes historical novels. I think this year I’ve finished 4 books so far, and dropped one quarter-way through. There were definitely years where I’ve managed way more.

    • kratoz29@lemm.ee
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      1 day ago

      if I watch a movie or doomscroll on Lemmy

      Are you telling me we really made Lemmy that good to be as good bad as Reddit? 🤯

  • KyuubiNoKitsune@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 day ago

    I read my first book in 11 years, I finished it 2 weeks ago. It’s The Expanse. I loved the series and someone gifted me the first book.

    My trick? I commute by train and have my book with me everywhere I go. If there’s waiting to be done, there’s reading time.

  • LoganNineFingers@lemmy.ca
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    1 day ago

    Got to around 30 yrs old

    I realized that I, on paper, really like non-fiction books. In practice, I really only like fantasy and space operas (different than sci-fi)

    Every night before bed, I read 10 pages or a chapter. Whichever comes first. Can always read more, but not less.

    So to answer,

    Almost every night Fantasy / space opera Mid 30s, father I’ve added audiobooks to my commute The most important part (I think) is figuring out what you like, and then setting a small but achievable routine

  • iii@mander.xyz
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    2 days ago

    I finish maybe 5 books a year. The library makes it so there’s a “deadline”, that helps.

    I also don’t mind picking up a book, and returning it after a few chapters if I realise I don’t like it.

    It shouldn’t feel like a chore.

  • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️@yiffit.net
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    1 day ago

    I will be 40 in February. I read daily. But what I read daily is this shit. Posts and comments. Memes and news articles. Maybe someone’s fanfic on Tumblr.

    Been getting into furry focused visual novels after getting bored and checking out Adastra since I had heard of it years ago and never actually played it, and I just haven’t been able to get enough of Howlie’s work since (finish The Smoke Room so you can get back on Khemia, please! 😩)

    I like sci-fi and romance. Adastra was both and has been the best fucking thing I’ve ever read.

    I haven’t read an honest to God book since Ready Player One initially came out.

  • sntx@lemm.ee
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    1 day ago

    What are your reading habits like?

    When I pick up a book I typically get hooked after ten to fifteen pages and then complete it on the same day (think ~100s of pages in hours, ~1000s pages in days). This often results in me semi-self-destructively finishing the book and then not touching a book for at least a few days as I have to deal with the things I neglected while reading.

    What do you like to read?

    Mostly Novels

    What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it?

    Have you made any changes, positive or negative, to your reading habits?

    I went from physical books to reading a lot on my phone. This allows me to read easily and blend in better while in public. It comes with the advantage that I break up big monolouthic reading sessions with small micro breaks.

    What else?

    Even though it’s somewhat obvious: I also like to get books that aren’t in my native tongue, I find that reading teaches you a lot about the application of a language.

  • socsa@piefed.social
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    1 day ago

    I would read like 60 or 70 books a year as a kid. I have the BOOK IT records to prove it. These days it’s like 10. I don’t think there is any shame in not reading per-se as long as you are pursuing other intellectual activities or hobbies.

    I think people put too much emphasis on reading as some idealized time sink. There are lots of productive ways to spend free time and reading is one of them. When you are a kid you have fewer options but as an adult cooking or wood working or gardening can be a fine form of intellectual stimulation.

    • MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca
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      1 day ago

      One counterpoint I would have to those other hobbies (I enjoy all of them, so no disrespect to them or practitioners of them) is they don’t expose a person to new ideas as easily. Reading is great for getting a potential new perspective on something, or just absorbing new ideas in general.

      You can always combine both by reading up on another hobby you have, best of both worlds so to speak.

  • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 day ago

    Because of how important reading is

    Reading itself isn’t what’s important, it’s mental stimulation that is. And more importantly stimulating different parts of the brain.

    • vividspecter@lemm.ee
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      1 day ago

      Reading itself isn’t what’s important, it’s mental stimulation that is. And more importantly stimulating different parts of the brain.

      It’s important if you want to understand how the world works on a deeper level. There’s a reason that all scientific research is primarily presented in the written form.

      Although I assume OP is talking about fiction which is a different matter.