News:

And we're back!

Main Menu

What kinds of books do you read?

Started by Syt, March 23, 2009, 03:18:48 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

What kinds of books do you read?

Almost exclusively non-fiction.
6 (9.8%)
Mostly non-fiction, but also fiction.
17 (27.9%)
Both in equal shares.
14 (23%)
Mostly fiction, but also non-fiction.
16 (26.2%)
Almost exclusively fiction.
4 (6.6%)
I don't read much.
4 (6.6%)

Total Members Voted: 61

AnchorClanker

Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2009, 02:10:32 PM
I think ultimately, "classics" is just a filter, just like my "gay themed" books one.

The fact is, in this day and age, we are simply bombarded with countless books that no normal person would be able to read because there are just too many. So we devise filters to narrow down the number of books we should be reading. This may be based on theme, or a genre, or "what other people considered good" (aka classics) or a combination of the above.

Probably so
The final wisdom of life requires not the annulment of incongruity but the achievement of serenity within and above it.  - Reinhold Niebuhr

garbon

Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2009, 02:10:32 PM
So we devise filters to narrow down the number of books we should be reading. This may be based on theme, or a genre, or "what other people considered good" (aka classics) or a combination of the above.

Maybe for those obsessed with what others think.  I don't usually justify what I'm reading or want to read.
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

Martinus

Quote from: garbon on March 25, 2009, 03:13:22 PM
Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2009, 02:10:32 PM
So we devise filters to narrow down the number of books we should be reading. This may be based on theme, or a genre, or "what other people considered good" (aka classics) or a combination of the above.

Maybe for those obsessed with what others think.  I don't usually justify what I'm reading or want to read.
How do you choose what to read though? There are like tens of new positions ever month. It's impossible to read them all, so you have to follow some sort of a filter - either writers you have already read (which is rather limiting, because it means you never read anything by anyone new), or books that are considered good by others, or books dealing with themes you like etc.

Your pose is amusing but unrealistic, unless you read every single book published in English.  :rolleyes:

garbon

Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2009, 03:20:58 PM
How do you choose what to read though? There are like tens of new positions ever month. It's impossible to read them all, so you have to follow some sort of a filter - either writers you have already read (which is rather limiting, because it means you never read anything by anyone new), or books that are considered good by others, or books dealing with themes you like etc.

Your pose is amusing but unrealistic, unless you read every single book published in English.  :rolleyes:

I try to stick to one position. I'm rather...vanilla. :P

Anyway, I'm not really sure how you can leap from classics is simply a convenient filter that really means "what other people considered good" to everyone filters somehow!  The first part really has little to do with the latter as the latter is hardly support for the idea that classics are just what other people like.

To answer your most recent question, I stick to either writers I've read before and books with similar topics. :)  (Every so often I'll get a random book, but that's rather hit and miss.)
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

FunkMonk

Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2009, 02:10:32 PM
"what other people considered good" (aka classics)

This is exactly how I choose the novels I read. If I ask around - well, that's not a good way to put it because no one I know reads much of anything..

If I happen upon a book on the internet that people on message boards sings songs of praise too, I put it on my list. Eventually I'll get to it. I honestly don't have the patience to pick up a random book I know nothing about and start reading because by the time I realize it's shit I'm pissed off that I wasted my time on it. I'll let other people do that for me.
Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.

Martinus

Quote from: FunkMonk on March 25, 2009, 04:21:11 PM
Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2009, 02:10:32 PM
"what other people considered good" (aka classics)

This is exactly how I choose the novels I read. If I ask around - well, that's not a good way to put it because no one I know reads much of anything..

If I happen upon a book on the internet that people on message boards sings songs of praise too, I put it on my list. Eventually I'll get to it. I honestly don't have the patience to pick up a random book I know nothing about and start reading because by the time I realize it's shit I'm pissed off that I wasted my time on it. I'll let other people do that for me.
Yeah it's the same with me - I do the same, sometimes asking for specific themes I like, and ask around someone here and there.

I think the kind of "I read what I like, now what others like" pose that garbon seems to hold is unrealistic - I just can't be arsed to try some random stuff just to brave uncharted waters, and whatnot. Sure if whatever people recommend to me seems to my liking, I will pick up other books by the same author - if it doesn't, then I won't. But you just don't have enough time to try everything on your own.

FunkMonk

Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2009, 04:34:08 PM
Yeah it's the same with me - I do the same, sometimes asking for specific themes I like, and ask around someone here and there.

I think the kind of "I read what I like, now what others like" pose that garbon seems to hold is unrealistic - I just can't be arsed to try some random stuff just to brave uncharted waters, and whatnot. Sure if whatever people recommend to me seems to my liking, I will pick up other books by the same author - if it doesn't, then I won't. But you just don't have enough time to try everything on your own.
It can be somewhat limiting, and of course there's no guarantee that what others like you'll like as well, but so far I've been pretty pleased with my book selections. And you're definitely right - There's just not enough time to read everything. I don't think I'd even want to do that.
Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.

garbon

I read everything! I don't ever sleep!
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

Grey Fox

Colonel Caliga is Awesome.

katmai

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son

garbon

Quote from: katmai on March 25, 2009, 11:58:10 PM
Non-fiction pretty much.

Does reading the final cut pro manual really count?
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

katmai

Quote from: garbon on March 26, 2009, 12:01:47 AM
Quote from: katmai on March 25, 2009, 11:58:10 PM
Non-fiction pretty much.

Does reading the final cut pro manual really count?

:P

I mean more along the likes of Military history or biographies.

Though the American Cinematographer manual is the last thing i've read recently :p
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son

Norgy

To answer the question, about 75/25 in favour of non-fiction.
I usually read a non-fiction book and a fiction book at the same time, but I read fiction way more slowly than non-fiction.

Some people call it savouring, I call it falling asleep.

jimmy olsen

I have purchased Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Languish will soon know whether Grahame-Smith is a gentleman of good character or a knave.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
1 Karma Chameleon point