3 ms·

People who grew up reading a lot usually have these 10 unique traits

3 points by webmaven 3y ago

deodar 3y ago
This article feels too self-congratulatory. Love of reading by itself doesn't impart any special critical thinking or creative skills. At the extreme it can be another mode of passive consumption that hinders one from developing the creative muscles. Reading is just one part of an all rounded development.
NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
This is more or less a horoscope. I grew up reading a lot, but sort of ironically, I didn't exercise much discernment. I stayed mostly ignorant of the classics or Great Books. I suppose I've always had a short attention span, being more raised by TV than parents. I recall in Kindergarten that I was chosen to come up to 1st grade and do an advanced reading project with a partner girl. I always got into the little reading boxes, I believe they were "SRA Reading Labs" and those were a lot of fun. I had shelves full of books as a child, and I barely read them. I plowed through a lot of Choose Your Own Adventures, and some Encyclopedia Browns. The school library was good for Hardy Boys, which were sort of ridiculous even to 10-year-old me. I've already detailed here how I used to sneak into a dry bathtub to read after bedtime. I always read at breakfast. I would read the cereal boxes very carefully. Any nutrition panels on any food set before me was "food for thought". And it was traumatizing and dismaying! I knew we ate horrible food!!! We did every fad diet. My breakfast was cereal in lowfat. You know those commercials that say "part of this balanced breakfast" and they show OJ, fruit, toast, whatever? We got cereal in 2%, and GTFO it's time for school. By high school, I was practicing some mighty avoidance. I remember never reading "The Red Badge of Courage" or Shakespeare or anything else that was assigned. I had a shelf full of bumblebee-colored Cliff's Notes, and that was that. Sometimes I feel like I'd be happier if I were more ignorant. If I read less inquisitively and didn't burden myself with such knowledge. I have a lot of useless knowledge. Curiosity killed the cat. I know some people who are disciplined enough to pick and choose what they read. I offered magazines to a neighbor. "No thanks," she said, "I only read stuff related to my doctorate program." Now that's someone who doesn't mess around.

3 points by webmaven 3y ago

This article feels too self-congratulatory. Love of reading by itself doesn't impart any special critical thinking or creative skills. At the extreme it can be another mode of passive consumption that hinders one from developing the creative muscles. Reading is just one part of an all rounded development.

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago

This is more or less a horoscope. I grew up reading a lot, but sort of ironically, I didn't exercise much discernment. I stayed mostly ignorant of the classics or Great Books. I suppose I've always had a short attention span, being more raised by TV than parents. I recall in Kindergarten that I was chosen to come up to 1st grade and do an advanced reading project with a partner girl. I always got into the little reading boxes, I believe they were "SRA Reading Labs" and those were a lot of fun. I had shelves full of books as a child, and I barely read them. I plowed through a lot of Choose Your Own Adventures, and some Encyclopedia Browns. The school library was good for Hardy Boys, which were sort of ridiculous even to 10-year-old me. I've already detailed here how I used to sneak into a dry bathtub to read after bedtime. I always read at breakfast. I would read the cereal boxes very carefully. Any nutrition panels on any food set before me was "food for thought". And it was traumatizing and dismaying! I knew we ate horrible food!!! We did every fad diet. My breakfast was cereal in lowfat. You know those commercials that say "part of this balanced breakfast" and they show OJ, fruit, toast, whatever? We got cereal in 2%, and GTFO it's time for school. By high school, I was practicing some mighty avoidance. I remember never reading "The Red Badge of Courage" or Shakespeare or anything else that was assigned. I had a shelf full of bumblebee-colored Cliff's Notes, and that was that. Sometimes I feel like I'd be happier if I were more ignorant. If I read less inquisitively and didn't burden myself with such knowledge. I have a lot of useless knowledge. Curiosity killed the cat. I know some people who are disciplined enough to pick and choose what they read. I offered magazines to a neighbor. "No thanks," she said, "I only read stuff related to my doctorate program." Now that's someone who doesn't mess around.