Video Response: How To Read More Books (and How Not To)!

[@BooksForEric]

As someone who did his bachelor's in Philosophy -- and who has read enough Kant and Heidegger for a lifetime (incidentally, not all that much) -- and who took every opportunity to shirk class assignments to sit in the library and, instead of a stultifying essay by Quine, read a novel or an essay collection -- I can understand how/why this Cosmic Skeptic doesn't enjoy reading: apart from the philosophy that doesn't particularly feel like philosophy (Plato, some of Berkeley, Kierkegaard, even the dialogues of Valery), the genre is terrifyingly dull, what with its endless classification, subversion of the definitions of common words, invention of meaningless and useless words, and bad prose style (I had a professor at one point who stated that the great philosophers make up some of the worst prose writers who ever wrote), it doesn't surprise me that this Cosmic Skeptic doesn't enjoy reading. Ideas can be fun, and philosophy sometimes toys with some rather interesting ideas, but the arguments propounding these ideas are typically no fun at all. Unfortunately, young men who read philosophy tend, when they inevitably drift off toward better books, to read Dude Bro books. I know as much, because that was my trajectory! But, as bad and vortex-ish as it is, even Dude Bro Lit is an improvement upon philosophy, and it's often a necessary ladder-rung for readers far enough down that hole, to get out of that hole. I hope, for the sake of his reading enjoyment, that Cosmic Skeptic makes that step, if he hasn't already, so that he can get -- eventually, past the DB Lit -- to reading some Real Books that give him Real Joy!!

[@gaildoughty6799]

It seems counter-productive to look for advice on how to read more from a person who doesn’t like reading.

[@saintdonoghue]

Well, he's DONE a lot of reading, even though he doesn't enjoy it - I think that was the rationale.

[@beatingaroundthebooks]

It actually seems to make sense, if you're someone who doesn't enjoy it, but feel like you'd benefit from doing so, getting advice from another person with the same mindset is probably more helpful than asking a bookworm who doesn't need any extrinsic motivation.

[@siren3232]

This was a great response video. It reminded me of the worst reading advice I ever got from a non reader. They said that "reading is like going to the grocery store. You don't have to go down every aisle." I died a little inside that day. I just don't know why you would get reading advice from someone who doesn't like reading.

[@acruelreadersthesis5868]

Pretentious? Does he dare attempt to outdo me?

[@saintdonoghue]

Somebody's got to take up the slack while you're away!

[@Uppernorwood976]

I enjoy the act of reading as well as having read. However for me the golden sweet spot is losing the sensation of reading altogether, especially for fiction. When you’ve advanced well into the next chapter but don’t recall turning the pages.

[@lilliannieswender266]

This was quite an interesting discussion. In my own experience I find it easier to read fiction piecemeal than non-fiction. I find that non-fiction requires my complete attention for a certain amount of time in order to absorb as much information as possible. I do not agree that it is permissible to read parts of a book and than claim to have read the book. I think referencing a book without having completely having read it is a form of cheating.

[@WeWiLLRefuse]

As a massive film fan myself (and an on-again, off-again filmmaker), I can certainly attest to the theory of watching scenes over and over again, while being divorced from the rest of the film. Such a practice helps you understand framing, composition, mood and flow within a film overall.

[@kit-kat9466]

Don't read piecemeal, read the book as intended by the writer... Then he says to pick and choose what you want to read? Which is it? I'm not familiar with him, but sounds like a young man who needs to find a genre he's passionate about.

[@saintdonoghue]

Hah! Well, he's found a SUBJECT he's passionate about - he's built a very successful channel around it!

[@CharliWrites]

7:22 I'm just thinking out loud, but perhaps the more background information you have an a particular subject, the easier it becomes to dip and out of a book on that particular subject. In other words: the process of getting fully engrossed in the work seems to be briefer the more acquainted you are with the subject. But, on the other hand, if the subject is entirely new and you have hardly any points of references to draw from, it might work best to carve out a significant chunk of time in order to fully engross in the argument that the author develops? That's why Tarantino is able to infer a lot of information from just one particular scene, whereas a novice - more likely - has to not only watch that movie in its entirety, but also additional movies in order to identify patterns, cross-references, novel contributions to the genre etc.

[@elenamakridina8196]

Oh, god how drastically things have changed. I literally never stray more then ten steps from my bookcase now and my ebook library is in my pocket. The only thing that undermine my reading is my writing.

[@recoveringknowitall1534]

Who in the world reads Checkov who does not first love reading. Nuff said. Lol

[@Michael-rn1et]

Hey, I have a client who overbought ring lights during covid and doesn’t want the rest. May I send you a ring light? lol I promise to still find you sincere in your thoughts.

[@niranjanpunnokkil8177]

Well the thing is that he is talking about books on science. The best source of learning science is books. Most of the people love science not books. And science books can often be mundane because half of what you read might already be known to you. It's the other half that you are wanting to learn. And science can sometimes be hard to absorb. You should put in all of your focus into it unlike fiction or other kind of non fiction.

[@LittleBargainNook]

I watched his video and I disagree with most of what he says. When he mentions his course work and that he's assigned a certain chapter or even a page number, well the professor has been teaching this subject matter for years and knows what is important for the students to grasp the concepts of that particular subject matter and also many professors know the time frame students have to learn a subject matter and they are giving them the basics to get through and it is up to the student to further their own individual studies and delve deeper into the subject. But that's for a course, not when one is entering into personal research or self-study or reading period. Sorry to say but that was one of the worst examples he gave for what not to read. No, if one wants to understand the book and know that book well then one must read the whole book. Even with non-fiction, authors will share very useful examples or bits of info, or how the different subcategories all interrelate that one would miss out on if they merely skimmed the book or read only a few chapters. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic, I couldn't agree more with you!

[@joleaoshman8731]

Admire and love your bookshelves.... It looks so comforting.

[@BradProctorReads]

Those are interesting tips that I for the most part completely disagree with. For some like him who doesn't actually enjoy reading maybe he shouldn't make a how to read video lol. Basically everything I read is in piecemeal and I only read the books that I want to read.

[@joleaoshman8731]

Great video! ONE of my favorites! From your western Oklahoma fan!!!

[@sararichards518]

Yes, well...about having time. We have just had lockdown and I’ve been at home for months now, since March as I dimly recall. I could have read Proust. I didn’t. It took a long time to settle down to read but now I realise that the 2nd wave is on its way sooner rather than later and we are locked down again I will be prepared. I have done a great deal of reading and have enjoyed it. I’m reading different types of books which is great. Take care of you Steve. Please?

[@amandanicholls2796]

That’s for a fab video Steve; I’m just about to go soak in the bath and read. Reading simply one of life’s greatest pleasures. I agree everyone has time to read if it’s something they love to do.

[@martins1964]

what's the latest in a book has it turned around and completely changed your mind?

[@recoveringknowitall1534]

Great video and instruction points on reading by the way. Yours I mean, not Alex's. Ah... youth that fashions itself as omniscient

[@saintdonoghue]

Oh, I don't think Alex fashions himself as omniscient at all! Far from it!

[@richardthomas47]

Interesting. As a 70-something, I am retired, living alone (well, not quite alone; there’s my dog, my companion), and, therefore, I can devote mucho time for reading. I love my e-reader because I can adjust the size and kind of fonts to use, at my age a valuable requirement, and I love having a thousand books at my fingertips. As to reading habits, I read primarily fiction, a bit of non-fiction (I’d say 90% fiction vs 10% non-fiction). Non-fiction tends to be history and biographies. I read as many as ten books concurrently, so of course reading is done piecemeal and is no problem. If reading wasn’t enjoyable I wouldn’t do it. I also reread favorite books (Virginia Woolf, Dickens, D.H. Lawrence, for instance). As to not finishing a book: I’ll give it 100 pages or so, and if it doesn’t hold my interest, I move on. Life’s too short. I read a lot of book reviews, so I’ll read some books based on the advice of the reviewer. When I find an author that I like, I’ll read everything he (or she) has written (I’m on a Cormac McCarthy and Donna Tartt kick right now).

[@matchasketch8224]

Haha! I love both your and CosmicSkeptic’s videos. Lol your pretentious “books in the background” comment makes me excited to watch the rest of your video Steve

[@saintdonoghue]

Hee - if "books in the background" is a sure sign of pretentiousness, I'm DOOOOOMED

[@vilstef6988]

Agreed-life is too short to devote lots of time to dull, crappy books.

[@sean_d]

Love the channel, and Alex's (Check his music, esp. Cathy Come Home) but I must comment on the movie comparison. Steve suggested that Tarantino and other film-makers often study single scenes, thus proving Alex wrong when he says books should be consumed as a unit, as the writer intended, just like a film should be watched whole. I would suggest film-makers studying technique or plot twists may very well study particular scenes, but the viewers experience of a movie is very dependent on the cumulative effect of mood and tone, and of course the immersion in the story, which all relies on being seen in one or perhaps two chunks (maybe 3 for the director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven). I wonder did Steve miss the point here? For some reason I am reminded of film Educating Rita, where her first experience of theatre had her in tears, but having been 'educated' she was soon discussing works of art in terms of style and technique, not being moved by the story. The 'compartmentalising' of reading is perfectly possible, but films are different, IMHO.

[@cu00dj]

When I was about 13 I had a teacher who had us write book reports about book we liked. I chose "Something Wicked this way Comes ". She still remains my favorite pre college teacher and NOT because she was pretty and I was pubescent male.. it was not till my 3rd year of college that I found someone I respected as much.

[@forevermorealive]

But what if the author writes in chunks? Main point then { long-winded elaboration / cliché example to illustrate point}. Or in fiction, {entire page of scenery} then back to the story. I just skip sometimes, it doesn't diminish anything for me.

[@robertdavis1783]

This recalls to mind the dreaded “book breaking” practice employed by many a hapless grad students in English and literature departments, where the vast swaths of books demanded for discussion every week causes even the most industrious readers to resort to the “pick and choose” type of reading Alex advocates for. Manual extraction of information for later use, rather than the pleasure of the reader. Truly a sad way of looking at books. I’d agree on all fronts with your critique, Steve.

[@Mement0o]

Getting tips on how to read more from a person who doesnt like reading. Amazing!

[@saintdonoghue]

He doesn't enjoy reading - but he's certainly done an enormous amount of it, so I thought the video was worth investigating!

[@runthomas]

he probably means audiobook, some actually think audiobooks are reading

[@mdavidmullins]

I love these process videos. Beyond just being extremely enjoyable, watching these videos really helps me as reader better define my goals and my understanding of reading, a subject of infinite layers. As to point #1, I like the idea of reading in public in those interstitial places, but I can never focus in such situations. I'm too aware of the people around me. However, sit me in a café (usually with some music playing in headphones) and I can get lost. I envy people who can read in line.

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

Thank you for the warning. I'll check out his channel!

[@saintdonoghue]

Hah! His channel is really, really good! It's just this particular video that might rub book-people the wrong way!

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

@@saintdonoghue it is really good. Watching the discussion with William Lane Craig rn!

[@felipedim5]

I read everywhere, even in queues at the bank. I've read more books at airports than I can remember.

[@noaattali8425]

lol it feels like he just doesn't think much of a reader's concentration ability. Maybe the underlying assumption connecting some of his conflicting advice is that it's too difficult to focus on a book in the three minutes you're waiting for class to start and there's noise around you, likewise that it's too much to expect to sustain your focus from start to finish so don't feel obligated to read the whole thing

[@vladtepes7539]

not just sticking to what interrests you but also going through the soulcrushingly boring might help, when lotsa books is what one is all about.

[@johncrwarner]

Isn't he an atheist doing a degree in theology - not sure that would be fun reading for him - I am still curious why he would chose to do it. I have been concerned about his take on studying theology at Oxford - studying at Oxford is very variable and is very personal. I have read books that I loved and those which I have argued with the author but I find the hardest those which leave me cold and indifferent.

[@johncrwarner]

I regularly have to respond to my disabled partner, answer the door and other things - while reading books and while watching KZbin videos and I have few problems actually picking up where I stopped - though sometimes I need to go back a bit.

[@pandittroublejr]

👍🏾

[@vilstef6988]

This Alex sounds like a facile, shallow reader. FWIW, I love non-fiction. It's the bulk of what I've read in the past 20 years. Stuff on philosophy and religion which I've read fall into the chasm of dull and crappy books. Dull as the Domesday Book!

[@saintdonoghue]

Hah! One side-effect of making this video that I didn't expect: me spending 12 hours defending Cosmic Skeptic! He's certainly NOT a facile, shallow reader - just watch a couple of his book-grounded videos & I feel certainly you'll agree.

[@vilstef6988]

@@saintdonoghue I'll have to watch some of his content, I made the immediate error of starting to watch the one you were replying to. You had summarized the points he was making well enough, it was a bit of a time waster to watch entirely. I went on to his 50 recommended books and decided he probably takes in the content well enough to be reliable. My contentions fall more on the 'not liking the process' of reading and some of his recommendations. With majoring in theology and philosophy, he would be on his way to being a "young fogey" if not for his skepticism. Even so, I got several books for TBR from his list.

[@phxsns1]

The more I read, the more I enjoy the act itself rather than simply “having read.” When I was younger, I looked forward to finishing, say, East of Eden principally so that I could say I’d read it. Now I look forward to, say, War and Peace or Middlemarch not to brag but because I bet they’ll be great experiences. Speaking as someone a little older than Alex who started reading “seriously” in high school.

[@benjaminsmith9849]

Agree with you on this one

[@tripp8833]

Cosmic skeptic is a genius. He had an amazing, extremely nuanced discussion with Christian apologist William Lane Craig a while ago. It was captivating.

[@saintdonoghue]

I agree - that conversation with Craig was very, very good, totally well-handled.

[@DebMcDonald]

Just based on your comments I feel sorry for the guy. He’s missing out on the pure fun of reading. Sad.

[@saintdonoghue]

Well, I naturally feel a little sorry for anybody who says they don't enjoy reading!

[@recoveringknowitall1534]

As for Hitchens smoking and drinking... try a tobacco pipe instead of cigs. And always drinking in moderation. My last name is Thomas but the first is not Dylan. Cheers

[@saintdonoghue]

I was hinting more at not ingesting carcinogens at all, via any means!

[@recoveringknowitall1534]

@@saintdonoghue pipe smokers like me don't inhale. Is alcohol in moderation carcinogenic? I've not hear that before.

[@recoveringknowitall1534]

@@saintdonoghue by the way, what do you think about James Joyce? I'm reading Dubliners now.