a problem with reading too much
Submitted by kbuxton on Tue, 05/29/2001 - 07:54
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Not every book I read does this, but often I'll read something that makes me wish I had the time to just go research something in that book.
I read Great Apes by Will Self recently and it made me want to learn about chimpanzees. I just finished Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card and now desperately want to learn about the pre-columbus native cultures of Central America and the Caribbean. And those just happen to be two recent examples.
The problem though is that it's nearly impossible for me to focus on reading about a specific topic long enough not to have another thing I want to research come up.
If I were only independently wealthy and didn't have to work... then I might have the time.
I don't think there's such a thing as "reading too much". Your only problem is that you're just curious! And if that's a problem, then I have it, too :) Like you, I have this urge to research anything I read about. For example, a couple of months ago I read the book "The Testament", by John Grisham. I was so intrigued by the locales mentioned in the book, especially the "Pantanal", a wild area deep in the Amazon River of Brazil, that I logged on the Internet and search anything that it had to do with that place. I had a lot of fun and learned a whole lot about Brazil, its jungles, etc.
That's one of the reasons I love to read; it has a ripple effect. The more you read, the more you learn. Nothing wrong with that :)
Ok, you're right. "too much" probably should have been "a lot"
I am the same. I read a book or a novel about WW II and then I go and buy ten more on the same subject. I read a book about Egypt and then I go and buy five more on the same subject.
I am the same way. I have recently (last couple of years) started reading all about India--mostly through fictional works. Just read "The Poisonwood Bible" and now I want to read about the Congo.
If you ever do read those, then it is not a problem at all. The problem is about those books waiting to be read.
See, I tend to purchase and pile up so many books I like to read (some from discount book shelves). The problem is I just do not have enough time and stamina. Our life is rather limited. When coming across so many titles and area of interests, it is impossible to get hands on them, however appetizing they are. Even physicality of the volumes and weight is distressing aspect of having books. Some day there would a decent reader (mimicing paper) with electronic downloading.
Recently I have tried downloaded electronic magazines such as PC Magazine. The probems I have encountered: one thing limits its usefulness is that I cannot read these in the toilet (it used to be my favorite study when kids are small and this was one place I could hide myself for reading). Another, the flipping is so slow, it is practically useless without ability to 'book' browse. To read after flipped pages, you have to zoom in and out every time and recenter or scroll up and down! It may be possible to read without zooming if I have 23" LCD monitor! Electronic magazine would be very much useful for magazine of a smaller pages and for specialty magazine, esp. from overseas. But it would take another decade to see that.
My personal solution about 'many books': If I go on Amazon.com, for example, with intent to buy books (or classic music CD), I click them to the Wish-list. Same for the discount book seller's website (www.daedalusbooks.com. And now it's important: do not check out but keep them for a week and revisit and check each one asking question: What do need this for? What does it make difference for my life and for my living? Just for info? for fun? If books are for learning something, what does teach me and how I am going learn/absorb and actually do it?.
With unavoidable aging, the remainder of my life is limited. I will not solve all these problems without the purpose of/in my life clear. This means it is going to be not static but changing (evolving). The filter I use is asking questions such as:
1. Does it help me keep it (life) simpler?
2. Does it help me honor my Lord?
3. How does it help in the area of "security/survival" "self-identity" "stimulus for creativity"
May God bless you with all the good things coming in the pages.
I've found the website bookmooch.com really helps me not spend quite so much money on book purchases (being a librarian helps too - I can just check out those impulse books!). The explanation on the website is much more concise and clear than I think I can be this late at night! :) It also helps make room for those great new finds! Keeping things simple (and budget-friendly!). :D As with all things there are a few books that I really want to have around to reread in the future, but most of them I don't need to have at home. :)
Amusing I already use bookmooch, and am also a (semi-employed) librarian :)
But yes, both of those have helped me buy fewer books lately.
I am 23 years old. I wish to improve my reading skills but not sure what I should do?
just keep reading