Comments on: Reading: it’s not for fun anymore

By: John Madeira

John Madeira — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:37:05 +0000

I have often thought that there needed to be a better way to get information than reading printed words. How long has that technology been around? Yet last month Amazon came out with another printed word reader. Granted its better than unrolling scrolls, but it still requires a human to read printed words. The number of printed words being read per person is probably higher now than it ever was! Albeit, what is being read is not necessarily in book form. However, regardless of the medium, the art of expression can always be noticed and make a difference to the reader.

By: Siderite

Siderite — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:35:17 +0000

I agree that people read less and less, but there are lots of other media available now: music, movies, games and, more important, social networking. People that would have written poetry or novels a few decades ago now can tell people their ideas as they come, they can choose to write lyrics to rock songs, write movie scripts or create (interactive) game stories.

I personally use a PDA for reading. It sure beats carrying large volumes around or reading those awful travel pocket books. I download whatever I find interesting (after carefully reading a few reviews so I don’t totally waste my time) and I read while waiting in a queue, riding the bus or sitting in bed, revulsed by TV. But then I can watch TV, or better download a movie or play a game.

Reading is not just an action, but a state of mind. You need time, space and people to leave you alone in your own world so you can feel what the author intended, undistracted by every-boring-day life. But as we become more in number and remain the same in person, this state of mind becomes a luxury.

Face it: emotional gratification comes in so many flavours today that the main purpose of text media remains informative. It’s a lot easier and even more efficient to gobble down 1.8 hours of movie basic emotion, whether violence, sex or idle laughter, then Google for what you need to know.

By: celetus

celetus — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:34:58 +0000

Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.
-Ezra Pound

By: The Lemur

The Lemur — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:45:14 +0000

Interesting article but I beg to differ when it comes to the anxiety of loosing genuine readers. The phenomenon is nonetheless true and a bit deplorable, I agree. But what shall we do? Should we, the readers, make up some intricate plan to force down the simple-minded fools into red velvet armchairs in front of the crackling fireplace in “le salon littéraire” with the last Nobel laureate’s classical brick? Allow me to chuckle. It’s the stereotypical reaction from well-read people who are intimidated by the “foolish” minds. I say: let the dimwits enjoy their time, it won’t be too long as they can’t read the warning signs that say: Warning! Electrical devices may cause you damage in water!

But when Marion writes about “reading for fun”, does that mean we should promote the latest King, Grisham or Rowling book? Still a little more caring than I think is necessary.

But to get a little more serious here I think the reason is the fast, technological progress we have experienced the last 20 years in first of all, the computer sector. Reading isn’t as efficient as it used to be. You can get more information faster through the internet and other medias than from a book. I agree that, as horrible as it may sound, books are considered an old-fashioned thing (read non-electronic), while cellphones, computers and TV’s are not. It’s a tricky issue, but is it necessary to make an effort to “solve” it?