I agree that the digital world (laptop, tablet, and phone) have decreased my attention span. I think human brains are going to evolve (devolve?) as a result.

As for reading, I read constantly as a child but as I got older, became a parent, and had to read for college and professional purposes, I had no time for fiction or non-fiction reading that wasn't work related. Once I was settled in my career and my child was grown I rediscovered reading for pleasure, and it was amazing. I had not realized how much I missed it.

A few years ago I started listing to audio books. That caused some decreased attention span on book books (as I call them now to differentiate from audio). If a book does not grab my attention and feels like a chore to read it, I give up.

One thing that might help those who want to return to reading is to listen to an audio book while also reading the same book book. That might help hold your attention, and it's nice to be able to flip back and forth in case you missed a detail in the audio.

Anonymous wrote:Consider the possibility that tiktok is frying your brain, and that your brain would be fine and you would have the time, patience and concentration to read if you scrolled less and held an actual book in your hands. Pick up a book. Read a few pages. Repeat this exercise daily until the book draws you in.

This. For all the endless posts about The Evils of The Phone/Tablet/Internet/Social Media by parents on DCUM, the parents themselves are addicted (my favorite was the recent one where OP told the kids the family was going to do a technology fast together, but then said “the parents sneak online after the kids go to bed”).

Yes, it is decreasing your attention span and ability to focus. Go into the settings on all of your devices and see how many hours of usage you have per day. It will be more than you think, or is healthy. People think that since it’s in bite sized fragments throughout the day, it’s “not so bad.”

Anonymous wrote:I’m a sahp to two little kids. I rarely get more than 30 seconds to myself, let alone enough time to read a whole book. During the first year I was able to read during night feedings, but now I try to sleep at night.

Audiobooks, tho, have sustained me through toddlerhood and the preschool years. I go through 3-4 a week.

Can I ask you a favor, PP? Claim your audiobooks as reading just as much as your eye-reading books. You read 3-4 books a week while having little kids! Go you! Dyslexic kids hear us adults talk dismissively about audiobooks, and then feel like they aren't "really" reading books because they use audiobooks, and they feel even worse about themselves than dyslexic kids already do. We can all help out these kids just a bit by not making a distinction between whether we ear-read or eye-read a book. They are all books, and it doesn't matter how they get in our heads, the important part is that they do.

Audible.

When I'm making dinner, gardening, exercising, etc. I love books but don't have time. This way I "read" a book a week.

Actual books these days are reserved for vacation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was an avid reader that really fell off the train with kids but audible got me back on board. I listen when I clean the kitchen, when I go to the store, while I drive, and sometimes I just go upstairs after the kids are in bed and lie in a dark room and listen. I would probably like to have a physical book in those times, and whenever I fly I ALWAYS buy a book to read, and very much love turning the pages. But I just don't have the time for it, and I tend to be a book binger. Once it gets going, I just cannot put it down, and listening helps me with that. I have just never been someone who can read for a half hour, I will look up and its been two hours!

And yes I gave up on reading whatever people say you are supposed to read and just read something that interests me. I forced myself through Malibu Rising recently because a bunch of people recommended it and I was like, meh, at the end (it was well written I was just not that into it for whatever reason)

OT: Malibu Rising just wasn't that good. You might consider her earlier books.

Ooh, read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It’s much better. One of them was Mick Riva.

PS - She has a new book coming out in August

Constantly

Yes, but not every day. I like to finish a book in one go, so I usually wait til I have a day with nothing happening to read. I probably manage about 25 books per year, but I’m a lot less patient with reading than I used to be - if it doesn’t have me hooked by the third chapter I’m out. Not going to waste time.

I do not read books now. Prefer Tv or Internet. Used to read before kids.

I used to be a constant reader - was always called bookworm in my youth and in sophomore year high school tested at a graduate school reading level. Went on to earn four degrees in English (BA, MA) political science (BA) and law (JD) so many thousands of hours of reading. All those years in academia and building my career I was always looking forward to when I would have time again for pleasure reading and continued adding books to the library for when that time came. I’ve had lots of time the last half decade or so and yet find it very hard to read anymore - my attention span has been seriously degraded since I began using smartphone and tablet.

I’m working hard on cutting way back on the digital device use and getting my brain back to longer periods of focus. I used to read 1-3 books weekly and it’s been 1-3 monthly if I’m lucky.

The Molly Shannon memoir is great

Anonymous wrote:I've been a lifelong reader, but the last few years I keep trying new books only to lose interest. I discovered I'm far more into audio books and, like others, have found recently how much more I enjoy cleaning and other chores if I'm listening to a book at the same time.

I mainly read digital books from the library and feel a little guilty that I'm looking forward to the new Jennifer Weiner on my holds list rather than more high-brow literature. But life is short, and I'm going to read what is easy and enjoyable for now. I'll go back to the deeper books at some point, I hope.

I alternate. If the non fiction isn’t holding me I toggle to something easier to take in. Fiction can be a nice vacation!

I have a FT job and three kids, but I read around 100 books a year. A lot of those books are just pure entertainment - the Bridgerton series, chic lit, NYT bestsellers, thrillers. I find that when I get out of the habit of reading or try to read too much heavy stuff, I end up zoning out and going back to social media/web surfing instead. I really love reading, and I honestly love literature, non-fiction, etc, but I'm so fried at the end of the day that most "serious" books don't hold my attention anymore. Now I just read whatever I want and don't care that it's not impressive to others!

I sometimes read instead of sleeping. Does that count? Also fall prey to the scroll entanglement. If I looked a books more than my phone would prob finish a few more a week.

I've been a lifelong reader, but the last few years I keep trying new books only to lose interest. I discovered I'm far more into audio books and, like others, have found recently how much more I enjoy cleaning and other chores if I'm listening to a book at the same time.

I mainly read digital books from the library and feel a little guilty that I'm looking forward to the new Jennifer Weiner on my holds list rather than more high-brow literature. But life is short, and I'm going to read what is easy and enjoyable for now. I'll go back to the deeper books at some point, I hope.

Anonymous wrote:I was an avid reader that really fell off the train with kids but audible got me back on board. I listen when I clean the kitchen, when I go to the store, while I drive, and sometimes I just go upstairs after the kids are in bed and lie in a dark room and listen. I would probably like to have a physical book in those times, and whenever I fly I ALWAYS buy a book to read, and very much love turning the pages. But I just don't have the time for it, and I tend to be a book binger. Once it gets going, I just cannot put it down, and listening helps me with that. I have just never been someone who can read for a half hour, I will look up and its been two hours!

And yes I gave up on reading whatever people say you are supposed to read and just read something that interests me. I forced myself through Malibu Rising recently because a bunch of people recommended it and I was like, meh, at the end (it was well written I was just not that into it for whatever reason)

OT: Malibu Rising just wasn't that good. You might consider her earlier books.