In Praise of Slow Reading

[@spreadbookjoy]

Love this Brian. I’ve been thinking about this more and more lately, as I’ve just been continually overwhelmed by the amount of reading commitments I’ve had this past year or so. I made a video a little while back about whether I’m reading too much because I’m not savouring what I’m reading, I’m focusing on ‘finishing’ books and I’m fed up with that. I’ve been really enjoying one of my reads this last few months which is A Suitable Boy and I’m just taking my time with it and loving it for all the reasons you mention here. I gave up reading goals and any focus on numbers or stats some years ago now and that has been great but it is the social reading - buddy reads, group reads, readathons etc - that are impacting the amount I read still. Whilst I love the discussion and enriching aspects of social reading, it leaves no room for slow, mood reading because I’ve said yes to too many things. I’ve been curious about Cuddy btw so look forward to your thoughts!

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

This video was my introduction to you, Jack, and it really resonated with me.

[@BookishTexan]

I remember that video and I believe you mentioned the pressure and over commitment in your last video as well which may have helped inspire this one. Buddy reads and bingo cards and themed months can create that pressure and it can really damage the ability get joy from reading. We all have to allow ourselves to read as we wish, to read in a way that gives us the most pleasure even if that puts us out of step with the bookish community. Thanks Jack.

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

This is a great video, Brian. While I tend to be a voracious reader, I think I am also a slow reader. I can really appreciate your experience of reading Cuddy. Actually, my recent read of Les Miserables was like that, even though I was reading it as part of an event. I simply adored the experience of reading most of that book. It reminded me of great reading experiences when I was much younger when I could just luxuriate in the world of a book. That experience is more rare now. And speaking about feeling pressure, just yesterday I finished my sixth book for the quarterfinal round for the BookTube Prize. The sense of relief that I felt was palpable. I don’t like feeling that kind of pressure over reading. Thanks for this thoughtful video, Brian.

[@BookishTexan]

That is a danger of BookTube prize judging and is why I usually only do one or two rounds. The completely absorbing reading experiences do seem to be more common in youth, but I think that makes them even better when they do happen now.

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

@@BookishTexan yes, I’ve done two rounds. I’m worn out!

[@readandre-read]

I'm not a slow reader. When I get immersed in the way you describe, which is such a pleasure, I speed up! Not on purpose but it just happens. My husband calls it "gobbling." I do stop, daydream, reread, look stuff up, etc. along the way, but it's hard to slow down!

[@BookishTexan]

I get that way about suspenseful books, but I’m too slow a Turkey to do much gobbling.

[@readandre-read]

@@BookishTexan 😄

[@tgrenful]

My dear friend, I engage in all the same activities. I use the excuse of saying to others, and myself, that I am reading so many books at once I don't finish a book that quickly. But the fact is I also give voice to characters, re-read beautifully written passages, stop when a writer has made me think of something in a different way, look up a word, phrase or region. I find that our society of faux efficiency, mass production and unending consumption has attempted to remodel the art of reading in that image. The e-book, the audiobook, even a tbr list is spoken of in terms of "how many books did you read this year". Let us collectively push back on that notion by making a great cup of coffee and finding a quiet well lite spot to read slowly and deliberately. We may even call our type of reading self-care. And now Cuddy is on my tbr. Excellent! Thank you and take care!

[@roguemedic]

One of the great lines from "The Big Chill" is William Hurt's character is using a video camera to interview himself about his life and explaining his lack of conventional success as, "I'm not hung up on this completion thing." It is less about completing the book (or whatever else I have started on) as about appreciating something out of it. Where the book is going is often less important than how the author takes us there. Some are interesting, but not memorable, such as I didn't know there were so many metaphors for _____. .

[@BookishTexan]

What a wonderful comment! Love those lines about faux efficiency, mass production and consumption. In that vein I have recently changed from making monthly TBRs to POP a pile of possibilities. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@ianp9086]

Another voice for slow reading here - I do many of those things (rereading passages, sub-vocalising, etc) and most of my favourite books are the ones that forced me to slow down even more - Faulkner would be a good example as I can’t see how one could read him quickly. I am so glad you are enjoying Cuddy - I read it in March and I finished it in 20 days which I thought was going some! I’m currently 3/4 through Demon Copperhead after 21 days. But I do read several things at once - a short story collection by William Trevor and Rushdie’s Knife were on the go at the same time as sometimes I wanted to read something different. I think Willow may have to wait until they retire to enjoy that total immersion feeling again - it certainly helped me!

[@BookishTexan]

@@ianp9086 Still loving Cuddy with about 100 pages to go. Which Trevor collection are you reading?

[@ianp9086]

@@BookishTexan I just finished The News from Ireland which is the 8th collection I have read - I think I have 4 more to go at some stage (absolutely no pressure!). It included at least 4 superb stories - The Property of Colette Nervi, Cocktails at Doney’s, Virgins and The Wedding in the Garden.

[@itsirendil]

I appreciate the different perspective! I'm quite young, 23 years old. I pretty much grew up with the internet and I had a goodreads account since the early 2010s. I read a lot of what's popular, participated in reading challenges & had giant TBRs. As I transitioned into adulthood, I realised that game-ifying my reading is all I knew. Last year I made the decision to delete my goodreads account for good and I now read slower than before but with more deliberation, I seek out the genres I enjoy instead of only reading the popular books for the sake of their popularity, and I retain more information long-term after finishing books. I feel out of the loop sometimes but the joy of getting completely consumed by a book catering to my tastes more than makes up for it.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for your comment. I was wondering how much of my slow reading praise was generational. It is nice to know that the pleasure of slow reading is more universal. I often wonder how different I would be if I had grown up with the internet and all it brings and if I would have had the personal integrity to break free of its negative effects as you have done.

[@janethughes7661]

Applause 👏🏻 for slow reading! I average reading 2-3 books per month during school months and during summer, it doubles. I love annotating, rereading, absorbing a thought, idea, or wise words from a character/narrator. I teach my students it’s not about how fast you can read but understanding what’s not being said or felt in the story.

[@BookishTexan]

Love that last line. Retiring from teaching definitely helped me read more books. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@lindysmagpiereads]

People assume that I am a fast reader because I read so many books, but I like to savour language and writing style and reread passages and read excellent bits aloud to my sweetie when she has the patience to listen. There are two books that I’m savouring in that way at the moment: Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain and Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy. I’m reading other books concurrently, including a novel that I don’t want to end because it’s so delightful and surprising: Curiosities by Anne Fleming. Reading several books at once allows me time to think about each-I’m a daydreamer too-instead of reading one at a time straight through, during the 4 to 6 hours a day that I spend reading.

[@BookishTexan]

I think a lot of people assume that about people with channels. My current aversion to long books means I’m not likely to jump into A Suitable Boy, but I will look up the other titles. I’ve kind of gotten away from reading multiple books at a time. Thanks Lindy.

[@goimond3947]

Agree. Especially the daydreaming part of slow reading, that's when a lot of creative ideas pop in my head. I don't get that when I'm racing through a book.

[@BookishTexan]

Exactly! Thanks for watching.

[@ObscureBookAdventures]

Glad to know I'm not the only slow reader on booktube. I also like subvocalization. I'm okay with being a slow reader.

[@BookishTexan]

Exactly. I enjoy being a slow reader. Well, most of the time.

[@FullyBookedMelissa]

I'm a slow reader as well and have started leaning into that more the last year or so. I can't keep up with the pace of other booktubers and now have realized that I don't want to! I much prefer savouring a book. You are reminding me of all those beautiful reading experiences of yesteryear and I'm trying to recapture that. Hard to carve out time for that kind of reading with a young family, but I'm working on it. 😊

[@BookishTexan]

It is hard to find the time for those transformative reading experiences as adults particularly with young kids. I'm not sure I had one between the birth of my kids and their high school graduation and it fact I read much less during that 19 year period. Its telling that I didn't start booktube until my kids graduated high school.

[@EveningReader]

Yay for slow reading! My pace is about a book a week (same as it was before the channel), and I'm even slower if I'm trying to read more than one book at a time. I also daydream when I read, or even stop to write down ideas that have sparked or passages I want to remember. Especially with having a channel and trying to participate in events (haven't watched your video with Shawn yet), I tend to be more focused on *finishing* instead of the experience of reading. One of my favorite reading "groove" memories was the spring/summer of 1990: I read Geek Love, Anna Karenina, Lonesome Dove, The Path to Power (Robert Caro), and Citizens (about French Revolution). It feels like I'm always trying to get back to that.

[@BookishTexan]

That summer of 1990 sounds amazing. It is hard to avoid that focus on finishing when you are on booktube and I certainly fall into that sometimes. BookTube has increased the number of books I read. I usually finish one about every three days now. Its nice to be reminded by a book of the joy of reading for pure pleasure.

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

#s 2 & 3 I do and have done - especially daydreaming has been pivotal to the experience. On the negative side, it reflects a lack of focus (for me), but opposite to that, it represents use of the imagination which is (or can be) a key human activity. I like the idea of speeding up, but haven’t yet determined that it’s worth giving that up. Now I have to find those other videos.

[@BookishTexan]

Aren’t all creative people guilty of a lack of focus in this way and yet capable of focusing on the thing they are inspired to do? Btw, I put links to the other videos in the show notes,

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

@@BookishTexan It’s a good question. And I got to the links, thank you kindly.

[@StephanieJCohen]

Whether reading slow or fast, the delight in getting so immersed in a book that you fall asleep thinking about it is a pleasure!

[@BookishTexan]

Very true! Thanks Stephanie.

[@SheWasOnlyEvie]

Yea, slow reading! As someone who, at times, can get utterly consumed by a book and read it in a short span of time, I truly love relishing a book slowly. I feel like I retain more as I absorb it over a longer period of time and reflect on it on a deeper level in comparison. My problem is that I manage to rope myself into (too many) buddy reads, so there’s that pressure of finishing either in time for or in line with the folks with whom I’m supposed to read.

[@BookishTexan]

Buddy reads are so great, but they definitely create pressure. Like you sometimes getting into a book leads me to read it quickly and it is the rare book that I love some much that I want to spend a long time with it that are the best.

[@frankmorlock1403]

I think that's the right approach. Most of us have been out of college or grad school for a long while; in those bygone years we had to read many books, rather rapidly and comprehend them, too. Once you've achieved that discipline, you can always employ it as needed. You've already proved yourself, there's no need to take on every challenge that pops up. read what you like, as you like, when you like, and don't let others control your life. tjhat said, there are books that you just can't put down. They're not always the best books out there but they manage to grab you. For me that book was not War and Peace or Look Homeward Angel, but the Three Musketeers. I started reading it at 8 at night and finished it in one sitting at 4 the next morning. Good thoughts, as usual, my friend.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for sharing Frank. No doubt college/grad school taught me to be a more disciplined and focused reader which upped my pace. I overcome most of the numbers driven pressure on BookTube by not tracking my reading it counting. And reading what you want how you want is what we should all be preaching.

[@frankmorlock1403]

@@BookishTexan AMEN, HALLELUJAH !

[@MemphisJones]

Yes, becoming a BookTube member totally started to feel stressful, and then I realize I control my flow. It feels more honest and I retain more.

[@BookishTexan]

Yes! We have to remember that the pressure to read more and faster is something we can choose to ignore.

[@joniheisenberg]

I find I read non fiction books more slowly & savor the reading experience.Most of my purchases are non fiction.I usually get my fiction books from the library unless it is an author I particularly favor. So happy that Jonathan Eig won the Pulitzer Price for biography. I predicted his win as well as Beverly Gage’s last year for her masterful work on J.Edgar Hoover. Siddharth Kara was a finalist in the General Non Fiction category. If you have not already done so, you may be very interested in reading his book “Cobalt Red” about the toll taken on the people & environment of the Congo due to cobalt mining.Next up for me is Chen Jian’s biography of Zhou En Lai due out today.

[@BookishTexan]

Cobalt read sounds good, but disturbing (as most books set in the Congo tend to be). I think my approach, pace is pretty consistent whether it is fiction or non-fiction though science/physics books do slow me down a great deal. I intend to get to King this year.

[@ekurisona663]

what are the strangest things to me on booktube is the people who never talk about the ideas in the book or why they liked a book - they just talked about which books they read and if they liked it or not but they never go into any depth about the content of the book, How it was written, or their interpretation - or even why they liked or disliked the book - it's so strange to me they just don't really have anything substantive to say about the contents of the book but I'm supposed to watch the video and be enthralled by them showing me a pile of books they read then saying they liked it or didn't like it - honestly I kind of wonder if some of the people really are reading these books - and if they are reading these books what are they getting out of it - I met someone a few years ago who had read hundreds of books but had no interest in talking about them and I had so many questions I wanted to ask them about the books but they just weren't interested

[@amyschmelzer6445]

That’s a tricky one for me. I don’t want spoilers when it’s a book I have the potential to want to read. So hearing the general impression of a book is exactly what I want to hear if I haven’t read it yet but want to. Afterwards I like hearing a full review, spoilers and all, and their thoughts on the themes to see if I picked up on the same things.

[@BookishTexan]

This is how I consume reviews as well. When I see that a booktuber that I follow is reviewing a book that I really want to read I usually wait till I have read the book to watch their review.

[@BookishTexan]

I think lots of booktubers are worried about spoiling books and perhaps being challenged on their interpretation or explanation. In my wrap-ups I generally just give an impression of what the book is about and why I did or didn't like it. In my full reviews I hope that I give more detail and insight into the book. I don't know of any booktubers who lie about reading the books they talk about on their channels, but I usually don't follow people who I suspect or who seem to be reading just to meet number goals.

[@roguemedic]

@@BookishTexan Discussing the various possible meanings the author intended is an interesting part of discussing something after reading it. Book discussion groups and the comments on Booktube are good for this, since there is a lot more diversity in the interpretations than most people expect and there may be a lot of subtext that some authors may not have put in the book intentionally. .

[@alldbooks9165]

Very insightful! 🤩

[@deegrows7589]

I tend to almost rush through a book knowing how many more are on my TBR. Therefore I welcome a book which naturally makes me slow down and take my time such as the book I’m currently reading - This is Happiness by Niall Williams. I’m definitely savoring this book!

[@BookishTexan]

I do rush through some books because after starting them I think of all the other books I would rather be reading. Its not that they are bad books or that I want to DNF them, its just that I keep thinking of all those other great books. Finding one that I want to savor is the best. I will definitely look into This is Happiness.

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I have been listening to classics on the Audrey app and that has really helped to slow me down and appreciate that feeling of soaking up the book more fully. Reading is a form of self care for me so why ruin it by rushing I completely agree. Great video Brian.

[@BookishTexan]

Great point about reading and self care. I’ve not heard of the Audrey Ap. I’ll have to see if it is available in the US. Thanks Charlie.

[@HilaryBGreen]

I just bought a copy of Cuddy as well, specifically to save as a treat for when I have some time to myself and can spend a day with it. I also read slowly, and circle back quite a bit to deepen my understanding or simply to appreciate the turns of phrase. However I can also get carried away with something I really like and blaze through it to see what comes next. I'm all over the place.

[@BookishTexan]

My reading speed does vary a little bit within my already slow range. I hope you like Cuddy.

[@carlrenzi]

I also usually read slowly for a number of reasons. I have tried audio books, I have a friend who listened to them while driving, but it was a disaster; I would either fall asleep or get distracted and suddenly realize I didn't pay attention. Many times while reading I do a little research on the side; for example while reading In Search of Lost Time, I read a book about the Dreyfus case because some of the characters were discussing it, While reading War and Peace I stopped to check out maps of where the action was taking place and also a little history research to know what was going on in other parts of the world at that time. As to university, that was the time I did less reading because I just didn't have the time. Cheers

[@BookishTexan]

I do some researching when reading. Most recently I looked up a map of Sri Lanka while reading Brotherless Night. Sorry that audiobooks didn’t work out for you while driving.

[@carlrenzi]

@@BookishTexan Perhaps I didn't express myself properly. My friend, who had to drive from place to place borrowed audio books on cassette tapes (remember those?) and she loved them. I don't drive anymore but when I did I usually pay close attention to my surroundings. I would listen to music if I listened to anything. I've tried listening on the subway, but it's so loud I couldn't; I tried listening while traveling by bus, but I would fall asleep; I've tried while walking or doing chores, but my mind would wander and I could never find the spot where I stopped paying attention. I'm not saying it's bas, it's just that I haven't been able to do it. Cheers

[@sewnancie]

Thank you for articulating this so well. I've always been a 'slow reader' and never wanted to go faster. I love exploring new words, new locations that are introduced in a book, or doing further research before going on with a book.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for the excellent comment.

[@angelalakes]

I love it- I embrace it!

[@BookishTexan]

Good to know!

[@Johanna_reads]

I really think I’m the slowest reader on BookTube-no joke! I want to be more accepting of it, so I appreciate this video tremendously!

[@BookishTexan]

We’ll have to come up with a slow reading contest to see who the slowest is.🤓Thanks for watching Johanna

[@Johanna_reads]

@@BookishTexan challenge accepted 😄

[@Khatoon170]

Thank you mr Brian for wonderful cultural literary channel. I learned from your last video about subvocalization ( slient speech ) . Slow reading or known as close reading, deep reading. Slow reading improves comprehension. Slow reading also contributes to better reading and memorization. Honestly as not native speaker I read title from video silently and gather information from google. I read article about slow reading written by John miedema in 2009 . I selected main points only such as reader makes choices. Attention to texts from scanning, skimming and speed reading to deep reading and rereading. John meidema mentioned from his personal experiences in literature to make powerful case of deep pleasure of engage reflective reading. Slow reading brings attention to emerging as in technology and culture. Slow reading too represents rediscovery of pleasure of reading for it own sake . I hope you like my synopsis.

[@BookishTexan]

Hello Khatoon! Great explanation of the virtues of slow reading. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the information about the article by John Miedema. Your comments are always an education.

[@myreadinglife8816]

I am all for taking more time to enjoy your books. And less judgement as to how people choose to read. We should just celebrate reading.

[@BookishTexan]

Absolutely.

[@tracys.mitnaul-xv7te]

I read slow too. I don't care about numbers. I only care about enjoying what I'm reading. It's my method of escaping into another world.

[@BookishTexan]

That’s the way it should be.

[@SleepyBookReader-666]

You definitely made me flash back to my most relaxed reading days, when i would put down the book that was exciting me and go for a long walk to think about what I had read.

[@BookishTexan]

I’m glad to hear that. Those were special reading days for me as well.

[@mattjorgdbb]

I've spent one to two years on books before. I read other books in that time but some take a while. Most books take me over a week. Sometimes a month or more. Once in a while I can devour a book in a day or two but it's rare. Slow reading is a wonderful experience.

[@BookishTexan]

I agree completely. I used to have long books that I only read a few pages a day from that took me a year or more read.

[@Barklord]

Agreed!

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks!

[@binglamb2176]

Bravo Brian. Great points that you made in favour of slow reading. Unless you are a book critic, reading is for pleasure and not a job. Why diminish the experience by adhering to a number like reading was akin to a widget factory? This is why I stopped participating in Booktube events unless they overlap with what I intended to read anyway. I ditched the slavish devotion to a TBR and just read what intrigues me at the moment.

[@BookishTexan]

Yes to all of this. I have ditched the TBR in favor of the Pile Of Possibilities concept. I do still liked themed reading months because I can always think of books that I want to read that fit the theme, but I rarely devote all of my reading to that theme. Thanks for the great comment.

[@janethilkemann1790]

Wonderful.

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks!

[@duffypratt]

How slow is slow? My speed varies greatly with the content. There are some books where I will hit 45 or more pages per hour. Typical fiction will bring it down to between 25-30. Other books can be much slower. When I was studying philosophy, Kant would go at about 4 pages per hour. Hegel slower than that. So yeah, I think of myself as a slow reader. I subvocalize, though I don’t have to (and don’t when I’m reading stuff for work). And on top of that I tend to like mammoth books - among the books I’m currently reading are Pillars of the Earth, Dust of Dreams in the Malazan series, and The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. So book challenges based on numbers of books are out.

[@BookishTexan]

I think I average 30 pages and hour for most things, but in that hour I might daydream, reread, etc. so it’s hard to know what my actual pace is. And as you rightly pointed out, for the most part it shouldn’t matter.

[@patriciafay-f9l]

I am a slow reader in general. I will stop and look up words I don't know, look at maps, etc. If I'm taking notes (for book group) that slows me down. Just not going to compare my number of books read against others; prefer to just enjoy the read(s)

[@BookishTexan]

Exactly right about just enjoying reading. I’m not a big note taker when reading though I do underline in pencil in books for which I intend to write a formal review. Thanks for your great comment.

[@joshyaks]

If you're a slow reader, then I'm a glacial reader! In the 3 previous years I've read an average of 17.3 books per year. The only pressure I feel to read faster comes from the many amazing-looking books that are awaiting my attention on the TBR.

[@BookishTexan]

Wanting to get to the cool sounding books is definitely a source of pressure for me too. There is no right reading pace other than the one that works best for you.

[@TKTalksBooks]

From one slow reader to another: C~~~H~~~~E~~~~E~~~~~R~~~~~S

[@BookishTexan]

🍻 🍻 🍻

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

I'm familiar with everything you mentioned and for me reading is a kind of drug without the dangers although it can be very addictive⚛😀

[@BookishTexan]

I’m certainly feeling a readers high with Cuddy. Reading is the best addiction.

[@roguemedic]

If I enjoy something, I do tend to reread it, or pause after interesting parts to give myself some time to appreciate the part I just read. I will do something else while listening to audio books to keep my mind from drifting off to related subjects - or to completely unrelated subjects that were only tangentially related to something else that was tangentially related to . . . in a James Burke meets "Memento" kind of rambling. "Now, where was I? . . . " .

[@BookishTexan]

I find that audiobooks work best for me when I’m doing something routine like driving or the dishes. If what I am doing requires thought the audiobook gets pushed aside.

[@roguemedic]

@@BookishTexan If what I am doing requires thought, I tend to switch to something that does not require attention. I have a tendency to lump audio books into "minimal attention needed", "attention needed", and a lot of attention needed." I don't cook much, so I don't generally have much in the way of dishes to clean. I also have some books that are perfect for going to sleep - perhaps the ultimate slow reads. These are going to depend on the reader's voice and the subject. No mysteries to fall asleep and wake up to, "I confess. I, the butler, did it." Some Librivox books are great for this. I listened to Caesar's "Commentaries on the Gallic Wars" for months. Another that I listened to for a long time was "Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds". Librivox readers can be all over the place on listenability, but they are usually not unpleasant voices - some are even monotonous and could put you to sleep. 🙂 .

[@AlloftheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Subvocalization. I didn’t know there was a word for it. I do the same and now that explains why I read so slowly. :)

[@BookishTexan]

It is certainly a contributing factor for me in terms of my slow reading. Thanks for watching!

[@MMjones6459]

Flashback to Speed Reading as part of my high school English curriculum! Different reading styles have their place. I find it interesting that if I read aloud, I recall as having heard rather than having read. So maybe your subvocalizations allow you to access multiple places in the brain.

[@BookishTexan]

That may be true. They actually taught you speed reading in high school?! That is wild.

[@MMjones6459]

@@BookishTexan a packaged course (SRA) over a portion of one semester. I loved it because everyone was allowed to go at their own pace. Many years ago.

[@lucia-z3c]

I do not read a large number of books in a year, as a lot of people manage in you tube, because I prefer long books. I like this thing of slowness of the story.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for watching.

[@1book1review]

Cuddy is something I want to read when I have more mindspace and time again. I really love books that really draw me in and are unputdownable. I am currently reading The Book of Form and Emptiness and I live the writing and also am involved in the story, but I can put it away for days on end so that I have reached a point where I feel unfair to the book as I am taking too long with the book. I think internally a book has a limited time of welcome in my life. No matter how much I enjoy a book, at some point I want to be done with it and move on. Is that horrible of me? Who knows. It's just how I am curretnly reading.

[@BookishTexan]

I have The Book of Form and Emptiness in my stack to get to soon so I’m glad to hear you like it. I’ve had a few books that I have liked but been able to put aside. I usually find that when I go back to them I just read them through though. Cuddy is great (I did set it aside because of some work I had to do for a about a day and a half).

[@clarepotter7584]

I think ereaders are not great for that, even with genre fiction, which I read faster, it will inform me that the book will take say 2hrs, 30mins. It never does, always longer. So I know I must read more slowly than average! Do I really need to know that? Probably not, it's probably better to reset the ereader to page number.

[@ColombianThunder]

I like to just turn all of that off on my e-reader. Far too distracting.

[@roguemedic]

I thought the time estimate was based on my own reading speed and never really pay attention to it. It seems more like the download progress time, that increases and decreases as it starts and finishes denser files (or whatever it is that slows down the transfer of digital files). .

[@clarepotter7584]

@@roguemedic I assumed that as the initial estimate always seems shorter than I manage to read it, I thought it must be me reading more slowly than average. I haven't investigated it.

[@BookishTexan]

I always change that time to completion to page numbers or percentage for that exact reason.

[@roguemedic]

@@clarepotter7584 I do not know how it works. I just assumed that it was based on the rate at which I completed pages. or somebody told me that or I may have read that somewhere. I don't know. .

[@Sachie465]

I think slow reading is essentially trying to get the most out of the book. Like anything else, it is a skill that comes with experience and is in some ways more difficult than speed reading.

[@BookishTexan]

I like to think that you are right, though I do think when we are younger our emotional reaction can make up for a lack of skill,

[@roguemedic]

I mostly listen to audio books, so for me it is finding the right speed (or mix of speed and mindless activity to do while listening) to keep my mind from wandering and help me to focus on the book. .

[@Sachie465]

@@BookishTexan I understand that very well. I'm very happy when I come across a book that I find so fascinating that I don't want it to end. Unfortunately, this happens less often than when I was younger.

[@BookishTexan]

@@Sachie465 Same for me.

[@miguelsilvestri]

I recommend reading "Righteous Victims" by Benny Morris as a follow up to the Hundred Years War on Palestine (which I myself am reading now), would be interested to hear your thoughts. Posting here because for some reason comments were turned off in the last video.

[@kl-ge9bg]

For me it depends on the type of book it is. For something that is very plot-driven, I find it hard to consciously slow down to savor the descriptive passages or language, for example, and I am willing to admit that it is a failing on my part. On the other hand, the only way I managed to make it through Absalom Absalom a few years ago was by forcing myself to read it out loud, word by word.

[@BookishTexan]

Very plot heavy books do propel me to read faster. I can’t imagine reading AA out loud. That sounds really amazing.

[@TimeTravelReads]

I'm only a little under 40 books away from having read 500 books in my lifetime. I'd like to get to 500 fairly soon. Still, I appreciate what you're saying. I had to turn off an audiobook yesterday because of a scape John Smith had gotten himself into.

[@BookishTexan]

I don't think having reading a reading goal based on numbers is a bad thing at all. I just don't want to be driven by it while I am reading, if that makes sense.

[@TimeTravelReads]

@@BookishTexan Yeah. I'm not too driven by the 500 number. I just think I can reach it in the next year.

[@stenmaulsby5924]

I also read at spoken pace, so I can hear the narrator's voice. One of the main things I read for is the narrator's voice, and if I don't like the voice I'm hearing, I put the book down.

[@BookishTexan]

That is a reason I hadn’t thought of. In thinking about it that may have been part of the reason I didn’t live Brotherless Night, the narrators voice was kind of cold and distant.

[@Boxer309]

It makes no sense to me why anyone would allow their reading habits to favor Quantity over Quality. That's like quickly gulping down a delicious meal just to feel full. Savor every page, absorb every syllable, give your mind the time it needs to interpret and imagine all that is written. That is READING.

[@BookishTexan]

I like your delicious meal analogy. Sometime though you just want a cheeseburger you can get through quickly and enjoy though. Thanks for your great comment.

[@TootightLautrec]

This comment is in praise of people who praise slow reading. Here here! I make all kinds of excuses for how slowly I read, but it is mostly that when I have enough to read and I'm reading something wonderful the world disappears. I've never understood people who read a book in a day. It's like eating a four-course meal in five minutes. Yuk.

[@BookishTexan]

Preach! Even short books if they are good usually take me two. Getting completely lost in a book is a rare and wonderful thing.