How open minded are you in reading books?

United States
September 27, 2009 8:28am CST
I was wondering if people can be open minded about reading different types of books. I am currently reading The Shack and I find myself very interested in the contents of the book, but it is spiritual and has references to religious topics along a Western religious standpoint. The message is very broad thus I can relate to it even though I am not of that particular faith. I am not even sure what faith I am. My question is would you be willing to give a book a chance or would you assume it wasn't worth your time simply by the way a topic is depicted?
8 responses
28 Sep 09
I read an awful lot, about 3 books a week, andI will read anything, you have to when you read that much! I love thrillers and some chick lit, but I try to read things that teach me things as well, so Salman Rushdie is one of my favourites, and I love Khaled Hosseini. If anyone wants to recommend books I would love it. Things that make you think are great, it helps you learn about otehr people so you can understand people.
• United States
28 Sep 09
Hi LittleMrsSunshine, the book I originally posted about is called "The Shack" and for me, after reading it, helped me to understand a little of the Christian or maybe I should say Western religion, maybe that's not it either...I think it helped me understand the difference between religion and faith according to the author (Wm. Paul Young) but it also challenged me to think about my own beliefs. I read a lot as well and you are so right that all kinds of books are necessary when you read so much!
• United States
28 Sep 09
I think its very possible that you may be a Christian buddhist! A blending of the two philosophies seems to be an ideal way of life. The book I read does have a great point of view in my opinion. I like books that challenge thoughts and sometimes clarifies them as well.
28 Sep 09
I'll have a look and maybe read it too!! I am western and christian, but its always nice to get someone elses opinion on it!! religion isn't a fixed thing! the more i read the more i like the buddist tradition too so maybe i'm a christian buddist!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Oct 09
Hi linamachina, I read a lot but I know by now what I would or wouldn't be interested in. My interests are varied and I would never pass by any holocaust literature or the kind of autobiogrical stuff that comes from countries which were previously sealed off pretty much from publishing in the outside world, so I have developed interest in wide range of countries by doing this, such as Saudi, YEmen, China, Iran and many more. I read classical literature and modern thrillers and books studying serial killers, very interested in history etc etc. However I am totally turned off by books on spirituality and religion so wouldn't be tempted with your book here, but that's as I say because I already know my own interests through vociferous reading. And someone would have to tie me to a chair and force large amounts of money on me to make me read a computer book.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
28 Oct 09
Hi lina. many thanks for the best response, much appreciated.
• United States
21 Oct 09
Hi Thea, I like your response regarding your selection of books. I also have a morbid fascination with serial killers and mystery murder thrillers are my favorite genre. I understand your views about the spiritual/religious book as well, because that was the basis of my discussion, I would never have picked the book up and read it, if it hadn't been given to me by a close friend. But I am glad that I did read it and I did ask for money to read it but she said that I would be reading it to enrich my life (where's the money then lol.) I have a tough time with technical, i.e. computer books as well, I feel the tension as soon as I walk by one! Thanks for your response.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
27 Sep 09
I read a lot, at an average of a book every other day. Even though I prefer to read thrillers, however, I do read many other books, as diverse as politics, history, travel, pets, economics, motivational, improving memory, supernatural, religious, house and architectural, laws and criminology, and so on. I can read in both English and Chinese language, so there is no way to run out of reading material. Who is the author of The Shack? I should be able to find the book in the national library.
• United States
27 Sep 09
Hello Scheng1, You do have a wide range of interests in books! I, too, like thrillers the most but this book The Shack is by Wm. Paul Young. I am really enjoying the book, it makes me think, it challenges my way of believing in spiritual matters but not from a religious point of view. I think that is great that you can read in both Chinese and English.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
27 Sep 09
Hi, thanks a lot for the information. I have heard of Paul Young, but haven't a chance to read any book by him. I will search for the book when I go to the library this coming week.
@med889 (5941)
28 Sep 09
Whenever I read a book I never feel that I am wasting my time thought there have been moments when I took a book and did not complete it but it does not mean that I feel useless when reading it. I enjoy reading a book and for me the knowledge which counts not the time I take to read the book though.
• United States
28 Sep 09
Hi Med889, I love reading and agree that its not the time it takes to complete the book but just how much I enjoy it. I do find the more I enjoy the book, the quicker I tend to read! I liked that you wrote that even if you don't complete a book, you still don't feel like it was useless reading it. I never thought about it that way, but you are right, no matter what the book, I do end up taking some knowledge from it. Thanks so much for your comment!
@amybrezik (2118)
• United States
7 Oct 09
I will try anything. There have been only one or two books, that I couldn't get all the way through. I am always up for a good recommendation. If I think it, I will check out books by other authors.
• United States
7 Oct 09
Hi Amybrezik, Thanks for your response. Is there a particular genre of books that you like? There's been more than a few books I couldn't get through! But its great that you are willing to try anything.
• India
27 Sep 09
i dont really reads books i only reads books which are releated to subject and only which are useful to me
• United States
28 Sep 09
Hi Sunilcutein, thanks for your response. I can understand reading books on subjects that are most useful but I like to read for enjoyment as well, I get use out of that too!
@dodo19 (47317)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
27 Sep 09
I'm really opened to reading various kinds of books. I must admit that I read more of one genre than another, but I don't mind reading other sorts of books, if I find that it's interesting, or seems interesting.
• United States
27 Sep 09
I think the point I was trying to make in reference to myself is that if I had picked up this book at the library or store and read the back cover, where the synopsis appears to be about God, I may not have read the book because I would think it was not interesting to me but a friend gave the book to me and said, I want you to read this but not because I want you to subscribe to these beliefs but read it and tell me your thoughts on it. So I would like to think that I am open minded but maybe I am not quite in selecting my books.
• Indonesia
27 Sep 09
I am relatively open minded in choosing what books to read. I read for entertainment and relaxing purpose so I mainly choose fictions or self help. So, I can say that the only "genre" I don't read are politics, economy or any other "heavy" books lol. I am open to any kind of fictions, fantasy (my favourite!), sci-fi, thriller, romance, you name it. It's fun to read books with various genre because it'll give you different impressions everytime you finish reading. And I can guarantee, with that you can never be bored. Cheers!
• United States
28 Sep 09
I agree with you, Alwayszzcitra, I love reading for entertainment too. Truer words were never written that one can not be bored by the variety of books out there! Happy reading.