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?
  • iii@mander.xyz
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    12 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.

    • andyortlieb@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
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      12 days ago

      Utilizing the library is a good idea, I should really do they more. I know in the US they need our support too.

  • Mister Neon@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago
    1. My reading habits are like everyone of my hobbies, I’m obsessed for a week then move on to a new pursuit then come back to reading several months later.
    2. I read text books about Aztec history.
    3. I’m a year away from 40 and I’m coming to terms with being alone for the rest of my life (which is exactly the same leading up to this point).
    4. I bought a book stand I can adjust and wheel around.
    5. Stop caring what other people think and just read when you feel like it. You’re overthinking this.
  • FourPacketsOfPeanuts@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    For me getting an alarm clock made a difference. Because that nullified my brains weak excuse that I needed my phone by my bed “for an alarm”. No I didn’t. People have woken up perfectly reliably for years before smartphones. So I got an alarm clock. And that made it easier to turn going to bed into calm reading time instead of doom scrolling (by leaving my phone charging in other room). And that’s made a big difference, not only to quality of reading but also general mood.

    • SassyRamen@lemmy.world
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      12 days ago

      Wow! That’s it, tomorrow I’m buying an alarm clock! Reading your comment made me realize how unhealthy it is to doom scroll myself to sleep! Thanks for the wake up!

      • andyortlieb@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
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        12 days ago

        Lately I have been trying to notice my doom scrolling actually using it as a cue to convert that energy into reading something I’m interested in.

        I’m trying to quit scrolling like I quit smoking decades ago: with intentional anger for being controlled and then redirection.

  • Droggelbecher@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    To preface, you are not a worse person if you don’t like to read. There’s so many different ways to learn or grow nowadays, you don’t need to force yourself to do it through a medium you don’t enjoy.

    That said, I’m a person who DOES enjoy reading, but struggles to do it anyway for some reason. If that’s you as well, I get you. And I’d say it’s worth it.

    In general, figuring out WHY you want to read will impact how to best work it into your life. Is it for entertainment, mindfulness, to get a better attention span, to chill out, etc. I do it for calming down mixed with enjoyment, and that impacts how I work it into my day.

    What helped me was working it into my routine. I read at night. I don’t have a set schedule, I teach night school some nights, and I’m working on a masters thesis.

    My fixed point every day: some time when I feel ready (a fixed time would stress me out), I turn off my laptop, text my partner good night, and put my phone away. I get ready for bed. What follows is designated reading time. I read for as long as I enjoy it, am not too tired, and can still focus. If I’m not getting tired, I’ll dim the lights at some point. Sometimes, I read one page, sometimes 50. If you force it, it won’t be enjoyable.

    I also always carry the book and try to read while I’m on the tram or train. Especially for somewhat longer journeys, which I take somewhat regularly, I get a lot of chill reading done like that. But that’s pretty specific to my situation as I’m a public transport commuter and have a partner that lives 4 train hours away.

    • andyortlieb@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
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      12 days ago

      I have, on a few occasions, rebooted my reading habit from traveling by airplane.

      I have found that if I do everything I can to feel as good as possible before a flight, and bring a book in my carry on, it’s one of the rare situations that there is nothing pulling me away from reading. I went somewhere for work last month and I finished 2 books on that trip. That made me really happy and motivated to keep it alive.

  • Mr_Blott@feddit.uk
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    12 days 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

  • sntx@lemm.ee
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    12 days 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.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    I read for work and fun.

    I like a number of different genres, historical novels, fantasy, SciFi, thriller, and many more. No crimes or romances, and biographies are a waste of paper 99% of the time.

    I’m married with adult kids, and having a family and work curbs my reading time.

    I started reading digital books a few decades ago, and have roughly the same amount of real and digital books, both in the five digits range.

    I’m a fast reader. As a kid, I read a few novels a day. All libraries within bike range knew me, and I rarely needed a library pass. I still read faster than others, and I switched to reading English books (English is not my native language) to intentionally cut down my reading speed to 100 to 200 pages per hour. I currently proof read and edit English books for fun.

  • Lvxferre@mander.xyz
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    12 days ago

    I spend most of my day reading, as a translator. But it’s almost always stuff that I wouldn’t read, if not being paid to.

    If counting only books that I read for fun, I guess it’s ~2 books/month? Typically fantasy light novels. I also read a fair bit of manga (~5 chapters/day).

    Beyond those LNs I think that the last book I’ve read was in September; Um Copo de Cólera (lit. “a glass of rage”), from Raduan Nassar. Short but good first person story.

    I’m almost 40. I’m… tired. I don’t read stuff to feel myself cultured; I read stuff when I need to (because of my job) or when I feel in the mood to do so.

  • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠@slrpnk.net
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    12 days ago

    I read on the toilet, on the bus, while doing dishes. I read while falling asleep at night and whenever I have five minutes alone during the day. I read three or more books at a time, so when I’m not in the mood for one there’s two more options to engage with.

    But that’s me.

    You’ll read a lot more if you give yourself permission to read things you enjoy. Maybe start with some Terry Pratchett.

  • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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    11 days 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.

  • SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    I used to be an avid reader but as I got older and busier I just couldn’t find the time.

    Then when I did have time there was always distractions, or other things I could be doing.

    So now I read primarily via audiobooks through Libby and my library.

    I read 130 books or so last year that way.

    Mowing the yard? Audiobook.

    Long drive? Audiobook.

    Waiting at the doctors? Audiobook.

    Dishes? Audiobook.

    And then when I’m really invested I’ll relax by playing some mindless game while I listen. Think match 3 or bejeweled.

    Just engaging enough to keep me from getting bored while listening but not so much that I can’t do both.

    Balatro, BABA is you? Bad candidates for playing and listening.

    The last couple of years I burned through the wheel of time series, all of Brandon Sanderson’s books (except skyward which I haven’t gotten to), a lot of Adrian Tchaikovsky, and others.

  • Sonor@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    I read before i go to sleep each day. I have been for more than 10 years now. I have read fantasy for quite a while, but after reading mistborn and stormlight archive back to back, i can’t bring myself to read anything fantasy anymore.

    I mostly read about topics i would like to know more about. Physics, life, philosophy, anything that i come across and think “cool”.

    Mind you, english is my second language, so since i mostly read in english, it helps with that, but now i can enjoy books in swedish as well, which also motivates me to keep reading.

  • Donebrach@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    I don’t read much for entertainment. Never have. The focus on “reading is super important” is honestly pretty stupid in my opinion. 99% of the shit people are reading is probably trashier than any other form of entertainment but people act like its a mark of a superior intellect because they are flipping through pages of a book.

    I also find the physical act of reading a book to be incredibly distracting from consuming the information therein. I read much more efficiently and enjoyably using digital platforms than I ever did with printed media. I’m in my mid 30’s and probably an outlier for my age group in regards to how I feel about books.

    Its just another form of entertainment, should not be put on a pedestal, and is really just as valid (or invalid) as any other form of entertainment—if you don’t find yourself drawn to it then don’t beat yourself up about it. No one is going around belittling people for not watching enough movies during a given annum; why treat reading a book like it’s some great and noble act?

    • dingus@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      I’m with you on that. I’ve never really understood why books are supposed to be seen as somehow the superior and more intelligent medium.

      Why do people praise books as some weird superiority over other media? Is it literally just because they are older? There are deep, thought provoking, intelligent books, sure, but there are also plenty of brainrot books. The same can honestly be said for things like movies and TV shows and podcasts/radio shows.

      What gives?

      • Donebrach@lemmy.world
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        10 days ago

        Sing it! I read a lot—webcomics, manga, ebooks, video game text boxes, subtitles, internet content in general. Just not _ printed physical books_ which seems to be 90% of people’s definition of reading.

  • QDgwZjQYdfbnMdMNQ@lemmy.cafe
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    11 days 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.

    • heatofignition@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      You just described my reading habits pretty precisely…quick, give me a new series to read that fits those descriptions

      • QDgwZjQYdfbnMdMNQ@lemmy.cafe
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        3 days ago

        Well, it’s a bit late to be considered quick, but here’s some of my favorite series that I’ve read recently:

        • Firebrand by Quill - magic school story about a boy who lives in a Roman inspired setting. The story also extends a few books after his graduation from school, which I liked.
        • Mother of Learning by nobody103 - also takes place in a magic school, but in a very different setting. It’s also a time loop story and one of the best series I’ve ever read.
        • Ave Xia Rem Y by Mat Haz - pretty standard Xianxia story, but very well written. It’s still ongoing, but it’s older, so there’s a lot of free chapters already out and arcs finished.
        • Mage Errant by John Bierce - another magic school type story (evidently I really like those), with a really interesting magic system and world building. John Bierce also has a patreon with a bunch of short stories, which I enjoy, and all his books have a bunch of recommendations for other stories at the end, which I’ve used to find good stuff in the past.
        • Weirkey Chronicles by Sarah Lin - This story focuses a bit more of character development than I usually prefer, but the combat, characters, setting, and magic are all great. It has a unique take on cultivation, where your power is built as a “soulhome” inside your soul, and the construction of that home gives various advantages and disadvantages along with your powers.
        • Paranoid Mage by InadvisablyCompelled - this is one of the few urban fantasy books that I’ve really liked. The protagonist finds out he’s a mage at like 30 or something, but the magical government is even more tyranical than the non-magical one, so he goes on the run and tries to fight back however he can. He often makes do by making clever use of his space magic.
        • The Iron Teeth by Clear Madness - This story has a goblin protagonist, and it does a good job of showing how he thinks differently from a human. I also really like the worldbuilding and how the magic systems work and are limited.