How You Read
By Some Witch
@somewitch (1417)
October 4, 2024 4:16pm CST
How do you read?
It's a very intricate matter and the only reason I'm asking this is... a guy who used to plague YouTube with his ads several years ago. I won't mention his name but the meme.
The meme goes: here in my garage, just bought this-uh new Lamborghini here.
The internet is such a nice place sometimes: people turned that annoying ad into something fun, creating parodies or reviewing the courses he sold.
This man would brag about reading many books. I don't remember how many, but many.
In a course he revealed how he was able to read so many books: he didn't really read them,
he SKIMMED through them.
I guess that's what many students do, but can you really say you've read a book if you're just flipping through pages waiting for something to grab your attention?
I know, he might have read a genre that is suitable for skimming, but still.
Buying a book just to read a few paragraphs doesn't sound very smart to me.
Yet collecting thousands of books is fine, I guess.
Bookshelves are aesthetic, after all.
Personally, I'm guilty of skipping few words and phrases, but full-on skimming is too much.
Some authors will dilute their books to increase the page count, but that isn't always the case.
So, how do you read? Do you ever skim through books, or do you actually read them?
Do you skim discussions on myLot? 
Speaking of books, if you read any, WHERE do you read?
I read on my bed, clearly. I cleared my nightstand for THAT reason.
Speaking of books, if you read any, WHERE do you read?
I read on my bed, clearly. I cleared my nightstand for THAT reason.12 people like this
14 responses
@allknowing (137753)
• India
5 Oct
I skim too just like I skimmed through this post of yours (lol)
2 people like this
You know something? I do not like long posts
@somewitch (1417)
•
5 Oct
@allknowing I feel you, the main goal of a discussion is to give others a chance to talk/respond, a very long post is counterproductive. I add questions so members can eventually skip down to them, I can't always summarize what I want to share. 
2 people like this
@nela13 (58720)
• Portugal
5 Oct
@somewitch I am always reading something and só are my kids, it would be extremelly expensive buying all the books we read.
2 people like this
@somewitch (1417)
•
5 Oct
@nela13 It's great you get to work in a library! 
Books are meant to be read and enjoyed, not left to gather dust. 
Books are meant to be read and enjoyed, not left to gather dust. 2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160952)
• United States
5 Oct
I probably read posts here more thoroughly than anything else I have read lately. I need to get back to reading more books.
2 people like this
@somewitch (1417)
•
6 Oct
@GardenGerty Aww! 
Well, some myLotters are also writing books so they might be skilled writers. Maybe you can wait for someone to publish their work and read it. 
Well, some myLotters are also writing books so they might be skilled writers. Maybe you can wait for someone to publish their work and read it. 
@kaylachan (71763)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Oct
I don't really read. At least not like what yu're discribing. I obviously have to read to post on here, but that's called using a screen reader and letting the computer do it fr me.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71763)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Oct
@somewitch Well, I could listen to audio books if I were so inclined. I just don't.
2 people like this
@somewitch (1417)
•
5 Oct
@kaylachan Yours is a legit way of reading. I indulge in audiobooks from time to time.
1 person likes this
@somewitch (1417)
•
5 Oct
@rakski I'm about the same, I'm more than happy to get the digital version if available. There are no good libraries nearby, except my mother's. I borrow from her sometimes.
Do you have an e-reader or do you read from your phone, tablet or computer?
Do you have an e-reader or do you read from your phone, tablet or computer?2 people like this
@rakski (126039)
• Philippines
5 Oct
@somewitch
I read from my phone or laptop depends on the time
2 people like this
@sallypup (61632)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Oct
I'm not reading as much now as when I was younger. Makes me sad when I think about it. My husband and I are just finishing up a book on Wally Funk, the woman who has done a lot for women pilots and finally was able to go into space even though she was old then.
2 people like this
@somewitch (1417)
•
4 Oct
@sallypup 
Why aren't you reading as much, if it's okay to share?
Wally Funk's story must be very inspiring, are you enjoying the book so far?
Why aren't you reading as much, if it's okay to share?
Wally Funk's story must be very inspiring, are you enjoying the book so far?2 people like this
@sallypup (61632)
• Centralia, Washington
5 Oct
@somewitch I love the book though Wally sometimes sounds like she is bragging at times. I am dealing with more physical issues these days- I guess that's an excuse for not reading as much. I am keeping up on writing, some, though.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (182193)
• United States
5 Oct
I will read thoroughly unless the book gets tiring .then I will skip to the end and see what happened
2 people like this
@luisadannointed (6329)
• Philippines
6 Oct
I read everything, except for the introduction, I directly skip all the intro and flip it to chapter 1 immediately, except if I need to read about the author... but anyway I read the summary at th back of the book just to know if the story is kinda good before buying it.
I also tend to read back if ever I was not able to read the whole book consistently in a week, I just want to reread the previous chapter so not to get confused on the next pages that I am about to read.
1 person likes this
@somewitch (1417)
•
7 Oct
@luisadannointed Oh, I see. I'd probably read somewhere in the middle too to get an idea about the writing style, yet reading the plot before buying is a must.
@somewitch (1417)
•
6 Oct
@RebeccasFarm Same until a few days ago. Now I got one chapter done in three days.
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Oct
When I read I usually truly read it. You can't fully understand if you don't.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Oct
I read and reread my books. The ones I find really fascinating I reread carefully because things can be forgotten and those I am sure of the story some parts I skim, I usually read in bed before sleeping,
2 people like this
@somewitch (1417)
•
4 Oct
@RasmaSandra It happens with movies too: sometimes I listen to a review and realize I've missed something.
Back to the books, I should start taking notes because I'm not always patient enough to reread the whole thing again but I remember parts I liked and can't find them anymore. 
2 people like this
@aureategloom (11404)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
22 Oct
i used to skip some descriptions in the books we had to read for school.
but the ones i read for myself - i like to read them the way it's supposed to be done. and i even write down the phrases i like. that's maybe overdoing it
i don't have a specific place for reading. i read in bed, in the living room, in nature, in the car...
i don't have a specific place for reading. i read in bed, in the living room, in nature, in the car...1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11404)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
22 Oct
@somewitch i've been doing that since 8th grade
i stopped doing it in college because i didn't have enough time to read, study and write down quotes i did take photos of the parts i liked though.
but now / i got a lot of free time, so i decided to start doing it again. i think it's nice. adding your thoughts to it too / some sort of journal.
reading is part of my morning routine mostly, but now i do it more often cause i got time.
i stopped doing it in college because i didn't have enough time to read, study and write down quotes i did take photos of the parts i liked though.
but now / i got a lot of free time, so i decided to start doing it again. i think it's nice. adding your thoughts to it too / some sort of journal.
reading is part of my morning routine mostly, but now i do it more often cause i got time.1 person likes this
@somewitch (1417)
•
22 Oct
@aureategloom Oh, writing down the phrases... I should have started doing that earlier. There's a book I gotta read again because I can't find a specific phrase anymore via "skimming" alone, but I've been procrastinating. So I don't think you're overdoing it. 
By the end of the day I'm usually not done with online activities yet so I hardly ever get the time to read before bed.
By the end of the day I'm usually not done with online activities yet so I hardly ever get the time to read before bed. 
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
5 Oct
I have been a big reader so far in life . Hence, if I look at some book and start to read , I do not skim rather I would read and go through the contents religiously. It has helped me in some ways. I do not have any specific places where I would read a book . I have done it in school , at home , at bed , while riding in car /train/vehicle . I do not have any specific place to read. I do read all genres and like both fiction and non-fiction. Of last I do read books related to history. Coming to mylot , the same theory applies. I do nto skim through the discussions. I want my response to be meaningful . Hence , I choose the ones and respond to them after reading diligently. So I did not skim your discussion!
@somewitch (1417)
•
5 Oct
@RevivedWarrior Thanks! I guess you really enjoy reading, and it also helps with writing as you learn new vocabulary and improve your syntax. Skimming is not always the most productive way of reading.
2 people like this
