Do You Read For Fun?

I was about to say, "the reason adults don't read as often is that they simply don't have the time." But then I remembered that I fall asleep in front of the TV every night. Although I make an effort to read 50 pages a day, when I get home from work I'm usually exhausted, and the TV requires much less energy than books. I probably spend about as much time playing video games as reading. They're just different forms of mental exercise to me.

By the way, I just discovered your blog by a link to the baby snow-leopard. It's nice to find a Scienceblogger who has something better to do than complain about religion all day. Consider yourself RSS'd.

I read every night before i go to bed. Every.

I've tracked all my reading for the past two years now, and though i was up to 1.2 books per week, i'm down around 0.8 now. I attribute that to the New Boyfriend Syndrome.

When i was a child, i was grounded not from tv or the phone or social activities, but from reading. Those were usually the most painful weeks of my life.

I certainly do. I pass the commute time reading, and I read in the evening and on weekends. I get through several books a week, fiction and non-. I don't read as many books as I used to, but that's because I'm reading blogs, and that should count, right?

I haven't turned on the TV to broadcast in probably ten years (I have free antenna access, and use the set for watching movies on DVD).

I read print books for fun: even trash like Dan Brown is fun when you're in the mood.

I read a lot on line, too. A secret (not any more) vice that Scholastic books probably won't be so happy with is Harry Potter slash fiction.

SciFi, Science, Mathematics, Poetry, History, Philosophy and some blogs.

Thanks to whoever invented e-books I can carry a library in my lap top; though I really prefer real books and can happily lose track of time curled up (or sitting on the beach) with a good book.

I have been known to read books on business processes/management but that is work so doesn't count.

i certainly read for fun, if not each and every day then darn close to it. my fiction is almost entirely science fiction. for non-fiction i tend toward science, evolution (not that evolution isn't science, but you know), theology, politics, and history. i also intentionally try to get at least one book "that i normally wouldn't read" each time i hit the library (it's often something autobiographical)

I read for pleasure most days, and usually spend several hours every weekend with a book. My usual genre is science fiction with some alternate history stuff thrown in. If I can find some Mark Twain I haven't read before or don't remember, I'll put that on the top of the list.

I read the first couple of Harry Potter books, and I have to admit that I just don't see the attraction some adults have for the series.

I think I mostly read blogs and message boards.

(Nine days! [Checks watch.] Still nine days! Is this thing on?)

From about the age of 4 to about 21 or so I probably spent 3-5 hours a day reading fiction (mostly fantasy and sf, but all other sorts as well), and another 1-2 hours a day reading non-fiction. When I started college I largely gave up fiction so that I could spend more time reading text books and related material (such as papers) those textbooks inspired me to read. (also, I worked full-time, or had two or more jobs all through college, resulting little time for entertainment). Also in college, I started spending most of my entertainment reading time reading online forums, most of which were either science oriented, or software development oriented. After that, I never read much fiction anymore - whenever my schedule relaxed, the time I spent reading online would expand, as would the time I spent reading non-fiction. I haven't read the Harry Potter books, except for few randomly-selected paragraphs I've read in bookstores and libraries. Based on that, I suspect that if I had encountered those books before I started college (chronologically impossible, but never mind that), I'd have devoured all that were available in a single sitting. But these days, fiction just won't hold my attention for more than a few paragraphs.

The best summer of my childhood was spent lost in Walter Farley's Black Stallion series. Reading was my security blanket, a way to escape from abuse.

I still find it hard to go anywhere without a book just in case I get the opportunity to read a few pages while waiting for an appointment or trapped in a line.

When I buy clothes I make sure the pockets are big enough to hold a paperback.

Every night I read a few pages from one of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series just so I can end the day with a smile.

I read about 80-100 books a year. Say 40% non fiction. That doesn't include my comics and magazines.

At anyone time I'll have 5 to 6 books in the process of being read.

Like Yttrai I read every night before turning out the light. Normally I read a book a week, unless the book is so compelling I devour it in a single session. I also like to read on vacation: science fiction, murder mysteries, lit fic, history, even the occasional chick lit. I can't imagine not reading for pleasure.

I read every day. If I am going anywhere, I always have a book for the bus or train. I read just about anything; usually anything that captures my interest (history, biography, fiction, etc.). I usually have at least 2 books and a magazine going at the same time. If I am planning a trip, then one book is about that country.

I read for pleasure each and every day, and one major form this reading takes is that of repeated visits to scienceblogs, including, of course, a delightful blog entitled "Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)." Surveys seems to consider only the reading of 'books'. If other forms of reading were considered, such as blogs, it might turn out that both children and adults read more than the surveyors give them credit for.

I definitely "read for fun," it is more like a lifestyle than a hobby, I think. I can never understand people who say they "don't read." I can't imagine what it is like to NOT be in the middle of a book. During the semester I average about two books a week, more like 4 or 5 (depending on the books) during breaks and summers. "Pleasure reading" isn't necessarily fiction, I enjoy novels but probably go about 75/25% as far as nonfiction vs fiction.

I do keep a very busy schedule, between work, volunteering, and activities with my dog on top of a full load of classes, and rarely actually sit down to do nothing but read a book: most of my pleasure reading is done either while working out (I'm an exercise freak and have mastered the art of juggling a book on the elliptical, stationary bike, while doing sit-ups, etc) or while eating meals (I live alone, so books are good dinnertime company).

I read for fun, mostly detective fiction (let me plug K. C. Constantine for anyone who likes the genre, or might) and, much less, political nonfiction. Pretty much every day.

I read for fun just about every day. Some days, lately, I've been too tired, but I do read for fun a lot. I like to read chick lit, regular lit, Hollywood bios, young adult books from time to time, history books (mostly American), historical fiction, mysteries by Jasper Fforde (Hedwig, if you've never read anything by him, I think you'd absolutely love him. Anyone who likes words and literature would!) and the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich -- the ultimate guilty pleasure.

I, too, have never understood these people who "don't have time to read." What are they doing with themselves, then? Watching TV, I'd imagine. I was without cable for two years and got a lot more reading done! I didn't miss the TV much. I had an antenna that I used to watch the Winter Olympics, and after work would chill out with old episodes of Scrubs, the Simpsons, and Everybody Loves Raymond. Once a week, I'd watch House. That did it for me! I didn't waste countless hours clicking around, and never fell into the black holes of cable reality TV marathons (ask me about the time I watched an entire season of Project Runway in one eyeball-scalding day!) Plus, I saved about $60 a month. Sometimes I felt a little out of it, but I didn't miss that "lifestyle" or lack thereof.

Surprise, surprise, I too read for pleasure. I rad all sorts of things - fiction, history, philosophy, popular science, unpopular science, history of science, politics etc. etc. The problem is that I spend a lot of my work reading (papers, manuscripts etc.), or sat staring at the computer, so I don't read as much as I'd like: I'm too knackered.

I even read a book about birds once.

Bob

I read cereal boxes when there is nothing else within reach! Yes, I read for fun, I have always read for fun (I am 64 by the way) and my two daughters are trained librarians, one is raising kids and writing time travel novels (sorry, not published yet) and the other is a distance learning, adult ed librarian at a university whose home is filled with books, both their homes are filled with books. My home growing up was filled with books, most of which now inhabit our family summer place in Maine, which includes my grandparents' books as well as my brother's.
I read stuff on the internet a lot as well, some magazines, newspapers on line, menus at restaurants, signs, I guess I am a compulsive reader, and I am so glad I am!

...I even read a book about birds once. Posted by: Bob O'H

"To Kill A Mockingbird", starring the Finches?

I read every single day online and read books several times a week. I've read 14 books so far this year, most this summer since spring semester homework took up too much time for pleasure reading. I read fiction books and get almost all my non-fiction online.

I, too, am eagerly awaiting Harry Potter.

I read for fun daily. Lunchtime, dinnertime (ex-wife's demands for mealtime attention are now five years in the past) and bedtime comprise my best opportunities. Current book: UNDER A GREEN SKY by Peter Ward. A pack consisting of SCIENCE, NATURE, NEW SCIENTIST and the NEW YORKER just arrived this week, too. I don't even know where my television (Sony Mega Watchman from 1990) is. The last time I watched it was during the Columbia Shuttle disaster. However, when I travel, I am likely to overdose on cable and in-room movie service.

I read by cutting into my sleep time, my housekeeping time, and so on. Brandon, if you're too tired to read after supper, could I suggest going for a walk? Unless you do physical labour at work, you'll probably feel more refreshed after some exercise. If you do physical labour, I'd suggest going straight to bed with a book as soon as the children (if any) are in bed. I can read a little on public transport but tend to get car-sick, so usually just people-watch.

I must join the chorus of people saying, I read EVERY day, I read everything (although, seriously, I've just never been able to get into Dan Brown books -- they just aren't that good, imo), and I don't and can't understand people who don't read for fun. I read constantly. I get twitchy if I don't have something always with me to read. I don't watch much TV -- weeks can go by without my even missing it, unless House is on -- but books have been my companions and comfort since I was four.

I suspect I read about 50/50 fiction and non-fiction, although that balance is probably tipping towards non-fiction these days. I just have too much technical information I need to absorb, and that skews my reading patterns. But, overall, you would probably get the picture if I say that insulation in our house is not a problem, the triple-stacked books around every wall makes a real difference.

Personally, I'm not so fussed about the Harry Potter movie, but I can hardly contain my impatience enough to concentrate on my work waiting for that last book! I have a £5 bet on with my husband, he thinks that Snape is really a good guy, I say, nope, he really is evil.