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I have a hard time believing 54% did read a book. 18% of the U.S. population is functionally illiterate, and I don't know for you, I really don't feel like read
by maximus-decimus 3y ago
I have a hard time believing 54% did read a book. 18% of the U.S. population is functionally illiterate, and I don't know for you, I really don't feel like reading a book after I work the whole day at a computer.
- hiq 3y ago> I really don't feel like reading a book after I work the whole day at a computer. Have you tried before spending your whole day at your computer?
- brvsft 3y agoSame. As with all self-reported data, expected some lying shame-driven responses. I also found myself having a lot less time to read after having a child. I've only started again this year because I feel like doomscrolling in bed is not the best way to fall asleep.
- fifilura 3y agoSadly, I agree with you. Between work and kids it just has to go. I am also blessed with no sleeping problems which means that I fall asleep the moment i go to bed. I try to read at least one book per year during vacation. I read so much when I was younger. I am not certain I will get the habit back when I get older.
- mattlondon 3y agoSame. Can't say I miss it, either. Reading a book at this stage in my life (busy with kids) feels self-indulgent and selfish.
- pavel_lishin 3y agoAnd yet, you gotta take time for yourself, too, lest you burn out.
- therealdrag0 3y agoWhy not read with your kids?
- The_Colonel 3y agoDon't you allocate some time just for you? Labelling that as selfish seems very unhealthy.
- newaccount74 3y agoYet you are posting on HN :) I try to read some of the books my kids read, allows me to connect with them. They love talking about their books.
- dr_kiszonka 3y agoFor me, reading a book requires more time and focus than posting on HN.
- amenhotep 3y agoWhat a ridiculous and sad thing to post.
- Engineering-MD 3y agoOr could it could instil good habits in your children? Obviously looking after/active okay with kids is better, but I don’t see it being selfish to also enjoy yourself and encourage a valuable hobby in them too. It’s hard being a parent, make time for things you enjoy too!
- TheCleric 3y agoI need it even more after all day on a computer. I need an off ramp for my brain to wind down. I read before bed every night. I honestly don’t understand how some don’t.
- charonn0 3y ago> 18% of the U.S. population is functionally illiterate N.B. This stat appears to pertain to English language literacy, not literacy per se. Some of those 18%ers might be reading Dante in the original Italian or Shakespeare in the original Klingon.
- kvonhorn 3y ago> Shakespeare in the original Klingon citation needed
- LMYahooTFY 3y agoYes perhaps .001%, or even .002% of that 18% have probably done that.
- SoftTalker 3y agoI used to read quite often, in the days before YouTube and internet. I still read a lot online, but it's not the same experience as getting deeply absorbed in a book for a few hours. These days I'll often read a book or two on vacation, but not always.
- emj 3y agoI have a curated list of books from Gutenberg on my phone and read them when I have 20 min to spare. Works really well. Sure I also spend hours just reading every now and then, sure I do not read many books but a lot more than two per vacation. I've actively come back to this way of reading books the last 15 years, the key is to make it easy to read books and not having any notifications.
- pram 3y agoI’m pretty sure my father, a baby boomer, never read a SINGLE book after high school. Same with my mother. This is a perennial observation about general illiteracy in the US but who was even alive when this wasn’t the case? lol Fahrenheit 451 is a 70 year old book complaining about this exact problem.
- maximus-decimus 3y agoI was in a computer program in high-school which required good grades to be in and some teenagers would just pretend to read the books and get a synopsis online. I wouldn't be surprised if they literally never read a book in their whole life. And those were not dumb or illiterate people.
- simonklitj 3y agoI especially feel like reading a book after all day at the computer! That being said, there’s not always time for it.