I wish I had the time to read in college. Between assignments, classes, presentations, and working two jobs reading for me was the stuff of fiction.
Yes, for me this is a much greater factor than attention span.
Reading The Iliad over the next three weeks on holidays, oh nice!
Reading The Iliad over the next three weeks while having a lot of other assignments from different classes, fuuuck me…Reading the Iliad was nice for you?
Haha right xD
Actually I just recently bought it because I finally want to read it. I’ll see if I like it…
The article points out that the problem exists in a literature class, where well, you’re expected to be able to read a complete book in some week in order to analyze it. That’s literally the course.
I have read voraciously all my life. Audiobooks ruined it somewhat, but with a 2 year old I have been adamant that he sees dad with a book, not a phone or e-reader.
I have tried the classics numerous times, but I find them mind numbingly boring. Homer, Tolstoy, Ibsen are so dreary. Better some good fantasy by Pratchett or Gaiman. Found the Slow Horses series to be enjoyable. If you want more classic action perhaps the Musceteer-books by Duma or Sherlock Holmes by Doyle. (Personally very fond of the closed room mysteries by John Dickson Carr
There are classics in different genres tbh. Not every classic is the same kind of story or style (although always a bit dated)
Amazing handheld attention sinks + low quality education during the pandemic seems like a deadly combo. I wonder if reading rates will bounce back at all given a few years.
Doubt it. Reading is not encouraged enough. Saying “books are wonderful” is not enough. Just like how “spending hours looking at funny videos is wonderful” doesn’t sound good. People have to experience it.
Books are often seen as “that thing smart people do” by the common folk. While that is true, trapping meaningful activities, such as reading books, behind an elitist glass is not doing anyone any favors.
