I guess I do judge. Almost all of human knowledge is in a book somewhere. I don't think fiction is the be-all-end-all - what about history, current events, memoir, science writing, religion, philosophy, hell, cookbooks and DIY too. Obviously, news, magazines and the web to some extent cover some of the bases too. But I don't see how anyone with any intellectual curiosity isn't reading *something*.

OP, people learn things from fiction too.

Anonymous wrote:It's weird how very proud of themselves fiction readers are. Congratulations, you have a hobby/preferred method of relaxation just like everyone else. Do you expect a cookie because it's books instead of Netflix? I really enjoy bike rides, Pilates, cooking, and historical non-fiction, but I don't cultivate an attitude of condescending pity towards people who don't enjoy these things because not sharing my hobbies <> missing out on what makes life worth living. JFC, get over yourselves.

You sound like a real jerk.

But a lot of people who like to run and bike and do Pilates do in fact have an attitude of condescending pity to other people who don't share their active lifestyle and hobbies.

I hate exercise but still force myself to go to the gym because it's not about having a hobby but about being healthy enough to be around for others, like my kids. Likewise, reading isn't about having a hobby but about exercising your mind and being informed about the world. It just seems strange that so many women and men give themselves a pass on growing intellectually once they graduate from college or professional school. These are usually the same people who don't give anyone a pass on not exercising. Read a book. No. It's not optional.

I love reading. reading is like breathing to me. I read everything and anything. I also love audio books. yes, I have less time now that I have children but I don't watch tv and I don't do crafts. I just surf the web (which is also reading as I don't watch videos on the web - just read news websites and FB).

I just do not understand people who do not like to read. To me, they are boring with a capital B. They are not curious or intellectual. they usually pay no attention to current events either. I have found that I do not make friends easily with people who don't read because I find them shallow and uninteresting. I mean, OP, aren't you interested in Stuff? Aren't you curious about stuff? I am curious about everything!

My husband used to never read for pleasure. HE would say he read, but I observed a lot of time spent with historical biographies splayed open on his chest while he snored. But even he would admit that he never read fiction. Although I'm a mathematician by trade, I'm a huge fiction reader and have thoroughly loved the Harry Potter book series. I encouraged him to give them a try, and he loved them. Totally out of his character, but he says they were the first books he really enjoyed reading since being a kid. JK Rowling really is a fantastic story teller. You should give them a whirl OP!

I USED to read all the time. Now I rarely do. Makes me sad.

My husband doesn't read books. He used to, but hasn't in years (although he does read magazines). One thing about him is that he has the ability to fall fast asleep as soon as he gets in bed. He also has very little down time, and is really into a few tv shows, and some sports, so that's the media he consumes when he has the time. But really, I think the fact that he can just say to himself "bedtime!" and almost immediately fall asleep is the main reason he doesn't read books. Me, I absolutely cannot do that, I have to read (or watch tv, if I don't have a book) in bed before falling asleep.

I was a huge fiction reader for much of my childhood and constantly had my nose buried in a book. Now as an adult I don't even know the last fiction book I read. I don't know if it's just that I no longer feel the need to scape my life, or if it's simply that I no longer have the uninterrupted time to immerse myself in a novel and it's not appealing without that.

That said I do read non fiction, although between kids and wasting time on DCUM it can take me a while to get through a book. But not biographies - I lean toward nature and or science non-fiction, plus some of the popular memoir type writers. Basically I have a niche area of topics that interest me, and outside of that I'm just not motivated to read books.

It's weird how very proud of themselves fiction readers are. Congratulations, you have a hobby/preferred method of relaxation just like everyone else. Do you expect a cookie because it's books instead of Netflix? I really enjoy bike rides, Pilates, cooking, and historical non-fiction, but I don't cultivate an attitude of condescending pity towards people who don't enjoy these things because not sharing my hobbies <> missing out on what makes life worth living. JFC, get over yourselves.

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.

+1

Well said.

I also think some people read as a way of ignoring other people, which is not healthy. I'm not talking about strangers, but people you might actually live with.

I think we'd all be reading a lot more if the internet doesn't exist. And Netflix. And all the other stuff that occupies our time now.

Pre-internet, it was either TV or reading for the bulk of indoor leisure time.

I used to read in college, then got married and didnt read for probably 15 years. Then I got a kindle and rediscovered reading. Bio-terror and medical thrillers- whoda thunk??

If you ever want to read again, its there for you. The key is you know how. Many people in the world do not.

I used to love reading, but now that my kid is in elementary and goes to bed later, the only books I read are kids' books with him.

I rarely read a book. Never interested. Only read with the kids.