I devour books non-stop: fiction, non-fiction and everything in between. My nightmare is getting stuck somewhere without access to books.
As long as you have a fulfilling life, not reading is perfectly fine.

My SIL never reads. The only topic of conversation EVER is her life and her stepkids. It's a real drag.

Anonymous wrote:
Reading is my therapy, which is great because it's way cheaper and more flexible!

So I HAVE to read. I have different categories of texts for different needs - news at breakfast, New Yorker for lunch, soothing fiction favorites for bedtime (Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Isaac Azimov, Tolkien). And I cram in new books wherever I can.

16:18 here and I do the same type of thing. Rereading comfort fiction like Austen, Christie or Barbara Pym is like eating comfort food with no caloric intake. When the Kindle first came out DH bought me one because he was tired of me taking 5 or 6 books on vacation - even backpacking or camping But I never know what reading mood I will be in, so I want to make sure I have options all the time. Hell is being stuck somewhere with nothing to read.

I love to read fiction. Having lots of time to read is what I miss the most now that I have a young child. I still read after DD goes to bed, and I listen to audiobooks in the car. I read/listen to about 1 book each week, now that I'm back into it. That said, now that I have limited time as a parent, when I make time to read I am sacrificing time for other pursuits. Books have been my 'thing' since I was 4 years old, and I hope DD ends up sharing my interest.

I used to love reading, but hate the local libraries. So little stock and the hours are awful.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's funny that so many women judge you if you don't run or go to the gym but think it's fine to never read a book. I think taking care of your mind is as important if not more important than taking care of your body. I also think that being uninformed is worse than being fat.

Reading novels is not the only way to keep the mind engaged. And OP says she reads WSJ and Forbes, so she's not uninformed. Not everyone craves the kind of fantasy escape that fiction provides. I suspect OP can get satisfyingly lost in a heap of data.

Reading is my therapy, which is great because it's way cheaper and more flexible!

So I HAVE to read. I have different categories of texts for different needs - news at breakfast, New Yorker for lunch, soothing fiction favorites for bedtime (Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Isaac Azimov, Tolkien). And I cram in new books wherever I can.

Anonymous wrote:I read for pleasure constantly. When people tell me they don't read, I don't know how they live or how they spend their time.

Agree. We're all busy, but I refuse to give up reading.

Dh is like this. Never reads for pleasure. Only reads journals or research that pertains to his field.

I read lots of stuff online, but very rarely a book for pleasure. I do watch an outrageous amount of tv though.

I've never been a voracious reader but still usually have a book or two going at any given time. That said, it could take me a month or two to get through it! I mainly read when I'm stuck on mass transit for an extended period of time. It's nice to have a book to read while waiting for transfers too.

I read for pleasure constantly. When people tell me they don't read, I don't know how they live or how they spend their time.

I think it's funny that so many women judge you if you don't run or go to the gym but think it's fine to never read a book. I think taking care of your mind is as important if not more important than taking care of your body. I also think that being uninformed is worse than being fat.

Anonymous wrote:If I didn't have kids, I would be reading all the time. I sometimes read after they go to bed but I am so exhausted I end up falling asleep.

Same here.

I don't know anyone who doesn't read anything for pleasure. I'm probably the most voracious reader I know, but everyone I know reads at least a few books a year that they don't have to read for work.