How often do you read a book?

India
August 27, 2009 7:28am CST
I am trying to read a book written by an Indian author. I was wondering how many of you read a book. If you read a book, do you read it for pleasure? Or do you read a book as a habit? Do you feel it is a good habit to read? Does it keep your brain cells active? What do you think?
23 responses
• Philippines
27 Aug 09
Hmm. I read a book, whenever I feel like it.. or when I see a good book... I usually visit a bookstore once a month, just browse through the books, and if there's something good, i'll buy it... I came from a family of readers so our house is filled with books.. I don't know if reading is a habit or pleasure. .. Anyway, I enjoy it.. so it must be for pleasure
• India
28 Aug 09
Hi! I feel reading is a habit that gives pleasure. For me it is pure exhilaration. I have a mini library at home and feel odd/uneasy if people borrow books from me and dont return it. I have several book stores in my area and I visit them as often I can. I try to buy my books whenever I can. Sometimes some books are very expensive so I borrow them from the library. I am also a member of a few libraries.
• Philippines
30 Aug 09
I never tried borrowing books from the library, only because we don't really have good public libraries here in our country.. my family also have a mini library, though my dream and my sister's is to build a room for all the books... that would really be awesome.
@daliaj (5674)
• India
2 Sep 09
This is an interesting topic. I am embarassed to reveal the truth. When my husband left to another country as a part of his job, I thought that books were going to be my best friends and they will take me out of my loneliness. I bought three books a week earlier to his travel, but didn't comeplete reading even a single one after 5 months.
• India
11 Sep 09
Oh Daliaj, That was so touching! :) I think you should just begin the journey one fine day, maybe this weekend. Then once you start, you must keep up the tempo. Atleast read a few lines a day before going to bed. ;) In fact if you are suffering from stress, this would be a great idea to destress. Else, if you have a lot of work at office, you could read a book to chase the blues away. :)
• Canada
29 Aug 09
I read practically every day !It is an ingrained habit , as natural as breathing to me. I do read mostly for pleasure , but there are some books that I read for information and education.Yes, I think it keeps our brain cells active. I like quote that I saw on a bookmark " Outside of a dog books are a mans best friend, inside of a dog , it is too hard to see "
• India
31 Aug 09
Thanks! That is a nice quote you shared. :) LoL. I agree that my books are my best friends. I always grab a book whenever I feel like escaping this world atleast mentally. I love to lose myself in the characters and scenes in the story. Novels are more of my type but I read non-fiction, travelogues too. I have also read a coupl of spiritual books. I decided to give them a break and have returned to novellas and complete fictional books. Happy mylotting. :)
• China
31 Aug 09
hello, i am also interested in reading books. I hardly read a book many yeas ago,i can't find interest in that. But when i begin to work, it is the best way to keep your mind calm and forget something sadly. Now i keep reading a book every month. It covered many items. These days i try to read a book about Chinese history. I like reading now.. If you like you can recommand some books thank you~
• India
31 Aug 09
Hey! Thanks for your response. :) You can start by reading some simple novels. Maybe thrillers if you like. Harry Potter is quite famous/popular with many people. I havent read the series myself. If you have an inclination towards crime and investigation, you can try reading all these Agatha Christie type of books. Try your hand at various authors until you get a foothold. One day you will find a niche and you will fit in. :)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I like reading books but lately I haven't had the attention and focus to be able to read much. I just read a book last week and enjoyed it. I think that reading is a good habit. I read for both pleasure and habit, but haven't really made the time for it like I used to.
• India
31 Aug 09
Thanks a lot for your response. :)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I am constantly reading. It usually takes me three days to a week at the most to read a book, depending on the size of the book. If it is a paperback, take about three days, hardback a bit longer. I read for pleasure. I love to read, it is a passion of mine. If you get into the habit of reading, you will find out so many things about yourself. Your imagination can go into overdrive if you read a really good book. You can visit places in the books that you normally would not visit. So I read for pleasure and because I love it.
• India
31 Aug 09
That is a great response. Thanks! I completely agree with your views and share your feelings regarding books and reading. I also simply love the feel of the book in my hand, the feel of getting drawn into the dark realms mentioned in the story. I just love the escape! :)
@dld999 (118)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I love fiction books. If I don't have 1 or 2 new books waiting to be read, I start to get anxious. The authors I like to read don't write fast enough! As I get older, I enjoy non-fiction more, things like travelogues and ways to help transform our lives to a greener lifestyle. And a more friendly international sense of cooperation among nations and people.
• India
31 Aug 09
Oh wow! That is very exciting dld999. :) Please do keep up your reading spirit and do encourage others to read more books. I normally read fiction and non-fiction. I actually enjoy the act of reading and the very fact that there is so much to gather from books. Books from authors all over the world interest me. :)
@Gladyk (9)
• Canada
28 Aug 09
Hi tutor, I read as many books as I can. I love reading and we have a libery book sale here every fall. Needless to say I am the first one there.I read a chapter or two every night when I go to bed and if it is really interesting sometimes till the wee hrs. of the morning.I read mostly paper backs. Looking forwards to reading Nancy Grace's Book The Eleventh victim.
• India
31 Aug 09
Oh Great! Thats a nice thing. I also look forward to reading a page/chapter or two at night. Every night without fail I try to move ahead in my book. :)
@KupoSin (680)
• United States
27 Aug 09
i mainly read books for school. school always seems to give me so much stuff to read. id ont really have a good habit for reading books. i dont usually casually read on my own time. its certainly good for the brain, keepingi t thinking and active.
• India
28 Aug 09
I understand. Yeah, schools do load you with lots of books and they expect you to devour it in no time. If you are a bit slow in reading you may find it very difficult to cope up with the pressure. The reading habit becomes interesting if you read something that captures your imagination. Something that lets you go free. :)
@ami2007 (221)
• China
28 Aug 09
it depends.novels never fail to fasinate me.i just finished 3 novels in three days .i enjoyed it very much.as for me, reading books is sort of a relaxion.i'll do it as long as i find time.who would refuse to relax,by the way?huhuh!i feel it as natural as breathing. hope you can find more time to read!
• India
31 Aug 09
Great! You have interests like me. I also love to read novels and was used to reading 1-2 books within 2 days. Earlier I had little work at home so I could devote all my time to reading. Nowadays I cant spend so much time. :)
• United States
27 Aug 09
I read everyday. Yet even though I do I don't really consider it a habit, though perhaps that's because I don't think there was ever a time I went without reading for very long. Though if it is a habit then I think it's one of the best ones to have. Since reading requires thinking I'm inclined to believe you make good use of your brain cells when engaged with a book. Especially if you're reading subject matters that get you thinking outside your normal ideas and subjects. I also think that your brain is engaged in different ways when you read a novel as compared to a short story or either of those compared to poetry. Same case when you're reading educational or instructional material.
• India
31 Aug 09
Hi! Thanks! You are right. When we read something that is light on our brains, it does not require a lot of active grey cells. If say you begin reading a book on Radioactive particles, you will activate more centers of the brain that you would normally do! Ditto for books on creative subjects. I agree with you. :)
• India
27 Aug 09
Well.I dont really like reading books.I not even read my subject books..hehe....I will try toread any ofbook by what i get is sleep so i quit reading.Sometimes i read once in 3-4 months..hehe
• India
31 Aug 09
Hey vkprincedark, Oh! You must start reading books. Start doing it slowly. Maybe you should try some fun stuff first so that you get hooked to it. Nothing is more escapist than a fictional book. Your brain can simply take off. :)
@maysya (84)
• Indonesia
28 Aug 09
i reading book as habbit, i like the world in the book that i read. i like to read novels, or religion book, and history. with that books, i can know how to handle my problem, or people problem that i meet. and i can information everything that i get from the book to my friends.
• India
31 Aug 09
Books have everything that you need to lead a life. A great man said this. Well, I think there is some truth in this. I have always felt that books can become your greatest source of inspiration. I gather a lot of energy and strength from the row of books that I have in my library. :)
• Iraq
27 Aug 09
I reed books from time to time but this month I'm reading one book most of the night
• India
28 Aug 09
I know that feeling. Even I am unable to read these days. I have so much work that its eating up into my reading time. By the time I get home I am so tired I just want to sleep and not see another printed word. :)
@divkris (1156)
• India
27 Aug 09
I don't have a specific timetable to read books. I love reading books as they give me information, and fictional books tickle my imaginative side. I pick a book when i hear rave reviews about it or when somebody motivates me to read a particular book. I'm not a voracious reader but i like reading books. Now that i get everything in the form of e-book i read when i feel there is nothing to do in the computer/internet :)
• India
28 Aug 09
Thanks for your response. :) I know Harry Potter kind of books give a lot of scope to escape reality. Surreal ideas and scripts are an instant hit amongst younger adults and children. :)
@mickly08 (769)
• China
27 Aug 09
Hi,tutor19us.It is a very difficult question for me .Once I have spare time ,I would read a book,that is Sherlock Holmes .I like this book very much .I think it can make my brain cells active ,because I would think about some questions by myself.
• India
28 Aug 09
Oh! wow! I have been a fan of the detective from childhood. I have this book called Complete Works. Have you seen it? You might find it in your local library. :) The more we read the more active our brain becomes because you then tend to internalize the ideas that you gathered while you were reading a book. :)
• India
27 Aug 09
Hi tutor, Once I used to be a what they call a book worm But nowadays I dont feel like reading books very often. But when I start reading a book I finish it at a stretch. But no specific time limit or interval because I wont maintain it. Happy mylotting
• India
28 Aug 09
Hi Shantha, Once a bookworm, always a bookworm. :) You should not curb your instincts when it comes to reading books or doing anything that pleases you. Take up something that gives you pleasure and make it a practice to stick to it. I know you must be busy, but try to read some book. :) I am sure you will relish the feeling.
@magickat (381)
27 Aug 09
I love reading and try to read everyday. I do most of my reading on the train to and from work and probably average one book every three weeks or so, depending how long they are. I definitely think reading helps to keep your brain active and it is also relaxing, providing some escapism from real life for a while. A great book can stay with you forever.
• India
28 Aug 09
Hi magickat, Thanks for your response. Oh, good that you have some time while you travel. I drive to work so I cant obviously read. :( I do most of my reading at home. After I complete my work for the day, just before hitting the sack is my "book time." :) I have personally felt that whenever I assimilate a lot of thoughts and comments after reading a book, I tend to become more sharper. Even my vocabulary goes up one notch. I truly feel people should try to read more often. And truly, books are my best friends. :)
@cloudi (330)
27 Aug 09
I try and read a bit everyday. They say that it helps to keep your mind active and I find that it really helps improve my vocabulary and grammar.
• India
28 Aug 09
Yes, you should read some thought provoking books in the evening. But try to read something light at night else your brain will wake up and your sleep will vanish! :)
• Indonesia
27 Aug 09
Books is another thing I love after music. I read a lot of books from various categories. I just love it very much. My mom and dad used to give their kids books as birthday present. And it made me and my sisters loves books. I have this idea on my mind that someday i'll have my own library and i'll make it public. So people could read books as much as i do. ^_^
• India
28 Aug 09
Oh! Thats wonderful bluedandelion. I have a small library at home. But it is not public. Well people who visit us do borrow a few books. But then some people do not maintain books well so we try to not let them borrow our books. I like to keep my books in a nice condition. I have got many books as gifts and prizes. My parents also bought me many books when I was a child. I was so hooked to the habit that it slowly became second nature. :)