1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

I find it almost impossible to read physical books. Anyone else?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Mathloom, Sep 2, 2015.

  1. Mathloom

    Mathloom Shameless Optimist
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2008
    Messages:
    18,291
    Likes Received:
    18,265
    Anyone else have this problem?

    I read/watch around 6 hours a day, but it's typically journals, articles, talks, classes, research reports and tutorials.

    But when it comes to a physical book, once I hit the 15-20 page range, I forget the same sentence indefinitely. It's so strange. I'll hit a wall. Read the same sentence over and over again and be incapable of remembering it.

    I've bought almost a hundred books at this point. Tried biographies, fiction, novels, non fiction, history, reference, etc. Short books, big books. Different font sizes. Same problem every time. Audiobooks the same. I hit a wall at some point.

    I thought it was A.D.D. but I watch talks that last hours without a problem. Now that you can speed things up in youtube, I watch 3-4 hours of boring dry talks at 1.25 speed. That works beautifully. I've read research reports beginning to end dozens of pages. No problem. Many newspapers a day, various topics. No problem.

    It's just something specifically with physical books and I'm tired of reading/watching everything about an author and his book without actually reading the book. At this point, all the books I read I have to just skip over whole chapters then come back and try again skipping different chapters until I go over everything at least once. It's a painfully slow way to read books, and it means I've read maybe 20-30 books voluntarily. That's aside from school/college books before, which I also couldn't do but I am really exceptional at cramming for some reason - which seems at odds with my problem.

    Any tips/tricks/advice?
     
  2. Jontro

    Jontro Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    Messages:
    34,372
    Likes Received:
    22,113
    Maybe you just need to work through it slowly and get used to reading a book again breh. Take breaks after a few pages.

    Anyway, I'd rather wait for the movie than read the book.
     
  3. ThatBoyNick

    ThatBoyNick Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2011
    Messages:
    28,428
    Likes Received:
    43,597
    No, its actually a lot easier to me because staring at screen light hurts my eyes. On top of that, I don't have to worry about a book dying, or dropping it, and there's way less distraction on physical books as well lol.
     
  4. Yung-T

    Yung-T Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    24,403
    Likes Received:
    7,048
    Place a gummy bear at the end of each sentence and work your way through the book.
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. RMGEEGEE

    RMGEEGEE Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    2,780
    Likes Received:
    136
    What about an E-reader (Kindle / iPad) ?
     
  6. Amiga

    Amiga 10 years ago...
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2008
    Messages:
    21,808
    Likes Received:
    18,599
    Sounds mental. I prefer book, but the size and access anytime convenience of electronic screen is great. Heck, I print out large research paper at work all the time because holding paper and making direct notes on them is more productive to me.
     
  7. Haymitch

    Haymitch Custom Title
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2005
    Messages:
    27,977
    Likes Received:
    23,169
    I can do either a book or my Kindle Paperwhite. Lately I've been using actual books.
     
  8. No Worries

    No Worries Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 1999
    Messages:
    30,038
    Likes Received:
    16,916
    Try sex with super models. Its worth a shot.
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. King of 40 Acres

    King of 40 Acres Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2004
    Messages:
    3,646
    Likes Received:
    225
    Try reading cases during law school out of a textbook. That was the worst.

    I just tried to be more active when I would read (using a highlighter / pen in the book to mark things down) and try and set "benchmarks" for myself (like finish reading this case / get to a certain page before taking a break. Sometimes you just have to force yourself to do it though.
     
  10. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    53,947
    Likes Received:
    41,916
    I still prefer reading fiction in a real book and find it easier than reading it off of a screen. I still like to read a few chapters of an actual book before I sleep each night.

    Try just reading before you sleep and at an unrushed pace. Don't think of it as trying to get in as much info as possible but more like taking a walk and enjoying the scenery.
     
  11. Rox_Mayhem

    Rox_Mayhem Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2010
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    774
    Meditate... Your mind is probably cluttered with thoughts. I had the same problem. My mind was always rushing to get to the end of things . Meditation lets you slow down and be present. So you can enjoy the ride "book" instead of rushing to get done with it.
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 1999
    Messages:
    36,288
    Likes Received:
    26,639
    Ulysses is a real page turner. That should get you over this problem.
     
    1 person likes this.
  13. Jugdish

    Jugdish Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
    Messages:
    8,311
    Likes Received:
    8,188
    clever disguise 'im litirate thred"
     
  14. heypartner

    heypartner Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 1999
    Messages:
    62,555
    Likes Received:
    56,260
    If it's physical books, why are you having the same problem with audio books then. Maybe it's the content and reason for reading.

    It sounds like for work/school you devour the books/readings to gather the knowledge, as Mathloom suggests.

    Then for leisure reading it seems you have trouble, maybe get bored or start thinking about other things around page 15-20, whereas for work/school you are more focused. Maybe it's just simply that it's leisure reading; hence why you have the same problem with audiobooks.
     
  15. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2000
    Messages:
    20,053
    Likes Received:
    11,745
    You funny.

    Although the same thought crossed my mind. :)

    I read a lot, too, and simply got tired of lugging around books, or having them clutter up shelves. Now I have my Kindle and can store so many digitally.

    There are times when the actual physical binder-and-killed-trees-pages is better to have....i.e, pictures, photos, maps (especially when reading history).
     
  16. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    34,107
    Likes Received:
    13,495
    How about you read about 20 pages, stop, go to sleep. Then, next day read another 20 pages. If you're reading for pleasure, the point is not to have consumed the book. The point is to enjoy the reading of it. When you're not enjoying it anymore, take a break.
     
  17. bnb

    bnb Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2002
    Messages:
    6,992
    Likes Received:
    315
    i still read a newspaper. and news magazines. and books.

    i prefer paper over pixels. get off my lawn!
     
  18. droopy421

    droopy421 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,280
    Likes Received:
    184
    Quit fapping so much.

    I prefer reading in books and find no problems with it. Reading on a screen gets tiresome.
     
  19. LCAhmed

    LCAhmed Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
    Messages:
    11,034
    Likes Received:
    1,631
    I feel very similar about physical books. Can't do it. Online articles, all day long, but paper backs, no sir.
     
  20. conquistador#11

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2006
    Messages:
    36,075
    Likes Received:
    22,541
    i can't read a comic book on any electronic device. i feel it ruins the whole purpose of a comic book. i want to hold it, feel the pages turning and freak out about keeping it in mint condition.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now