How do you prefer to read?

[Nermal]

I typically read physical books. I've tried a couple in iBooks and generally don't enjoy them as much, especially because a speck of dust on the screen is more annoying than on paper... and brushing it out of the way results in turning the page. It doesn't help that on a 3.5" screen I'm turning through multiple pages per minute; I feel like I spend more time interacting with the software than I do actually reading the content!

 

[GermanyChris]

Books.

As far as audio books are concerned I guess it comes down to intent. If the act of reading is your intent then they just won't due. If you intent is to gain knowledge then it's fine. If you like me and like to be told stories then they're great! I do audio for two things Philosophy, and Popular Fiction some character are only real to me in audio.

 

[Happybunny]

How do I read, well if my granddaughters are to be believed "Clay Tablets".

I never got used to either the Kindle or iPad format. A good book is a friend for life. My grandfather got me started loving books, first by reading to me, and then we would read and discuss the book together. Sadly during WWII a good portion of his collecting was either stolen or destroyed, but enough was left over so that we had many years of pleasure.
I meander the great halls of literature, never staying in just one place but constantly being drawn in by some new tale idea or theory. Since reading the thread 'What are you reading' on this forum I have found some gems that I otherwise would not have found.

Second hand book stores/stalls these are slowly dying out, but I remember many times and countless hours just browsing through the mass of leather bound volumes. Leather bound books are in a league of their own, they are for me like mini works of art.
The paperback book is always a reminder of vacations, the way that first my family, and later me and my own family would pack their own travelling library for the vacation. I still to this day pack a least one book to take on a vacation.

I could never imagine a world without books.

 

[TyPod]

Ever since I got my iPad Mini that's the way I prefer to read. Really convenient and I think books look great on it!

 

[sunnysweet]

I like reading books, just one method relaxing myself.
Genally, I like reading Reader's Digest and some literary masterpiece like Gone with the Wind,

 

[Emilyyu]

i prefer to read ebooks nowadays as they are very convenient. Gone with the Wind are one of my favorite novels too and i also like the movie.

 

[Tomorrow]

Before I got my iPad, I looked at various e-readers to check the selection of books that were offered for the various formats. So I compiled a list of 10 books I would be interested in reading. Not a single one on my list was available for Kindle, Nook, or any other e-reader I could find.

I'm still a book guy, probably always will be.

 

[S.B.G]

I may be in the minority here - but I don't think listening to audiobooks constitutes "reading."

I agree with you; reading and listening are two different things.

Before I got my iPad, I looked at various e-readers to check the selection of books that were offered for the various formats. So I compiled a list of 10 books I would be interested in reading. Not a single one on my list was available for Kindle, Nook, or any other e-reader I could find.

I'm still a book guy, probably always will be.

I vary between 'dead tree,' Kindle Paperwhite and iPad for reading. My current book is a real one, hardback with the wonderful smell of paper!

 

[mscriv]

We haven't yet gotten a tablet so for now all my reading is done with genuine paperback/hardcover books.

I do have a friend though who has started a neat reading habit. Whether reading on an iPad or a physical book, he has taken to getting an audio version of the piece and doing both simultaneously. He says that listening and reading the work at the same time helps him stay focused, increases reading comprehension, and serves to improve retention of the material. Additionally, he can adjust the pace of the audio version to match his preferred reading speed depending on his circumstances.

I haven't tried it yet, but it does make sense. I'm familiar with the concept of engaging multiple senses, in this case visual and auditory, for improved learning and study. Pretty interesting...

 

[S.B.G]

We haven't yet gotten a tablet so for now all my reading is done with genuine paperback/hardcover books.

I do have a friend though who has started a neat reading habit. Whether reading on an iPad or a physical book, he has taken to getting an audio version of the piece and doing both simultaneously. He says that listening and reading the work at the same time helps him stay focused, increases reading comprehension, and serves to improve retention of the material. Additionally, he can adjust the pace of the audio version to match his preferred reading speed depending on his circumstances.

I haven't tried it yet, but it does make sense. I'm familiar with the concept of engaging multiple senses, in this case visual and auditory, for improved learning and study. Pretty interesting...

That is quite interesting. I should try that. Where is he getting the audio version of his books from, audible.com?

 

[mscriv]

That is quite interesting. I should try that. Where is he getting the audio version of his books from, audible.com?

I don't know everywhere he goes for audio versions as he uses multiple places, but I do know that he has gotten some from iTunes and audible.com. He does look to see if there are free versions of either the book or the audio (the library, etc.) available as it can be expensive to buy both the physical and the audio version of everything you read.

 

[S.B.G]

He does look to see if there are free versions of either the book or the audio (the library, etc.) available as it can be expensive to buy both the physical and the audio version of everything you read.

Yeah, that would be the smart thing to do. Buying the same book twice would be quite expensive!

 

[SpyderBite]

I read several magazines and am always reading one or two books at any given time.

I usually choose iBooks if Amazon Prime doesn't offer the publication cheaper just so I can keep my reading material primarily in one app.

Magazines, I try to use Newstand but not all periodicals are offered so I have a couple of subscriptions through Amazon as well.

I haven't purchased any paper based media in almost a decade.

 

[hchavarria]

I much prefer physical books, something about flipping pages and the smell of a new book. I have two Kindles at home and don't think I've ever read through an entire book on them. As much as I like physical books I've been gearing towards reading on my iPad mini. My work issued me one and being its pretty small I find it more convenient to read during my daily train ride or even in bed while the wifey sleeps.

 

[maflynn]

iPad mini for me.

In fact at this stage I all but avoid physical books if I can help it. The Kindle provides a superior screen for reading but given that the iPad mini is a better all around tablet I prefer to have that with me.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

How do I read, well if my granddaughters are to be believed "Clay Tablets".

I never got used to either the Kindle or iPad format. A good book is a friend for life. My grandfather got me started loving books, first by reading to me, and then we would read and discuss the book together. Sadly during WWII a good portion of his collecting was either stolen or destroyed, but enough was left over so that we had many years of pleasure.
I meander the great halls of literature, never staying in just one place but constantly being drawn in by some new tale idea or theory. Since reading the thread 'What are you reading' on this forum I have found some gems that I otherwise would not have found.

Second hand book stores/stalls these are slowly dying out, but I remember many times and countless hours just browsing through the mass of leather bound volumes. Leather bound books are in a league of their own, they are for me like mini works of art.
The paperback book is always a reminder of vacations, the way that first my family, and later me and my own family would pack their own travelling library for the vacation. I still to this day pack a least one book to take on a vacation.

I could never imagine a world without books.

Beautifully written post, and I agree with every word; I, too, could never imagine a world without books, and finding a new (or indeed, an old - what you have written about second hand books is something that resonates very much with me) book - an interesting discovery - and losing oneself in it, is one of life's most rewarding activities.

For now, I am reading an old book, one published years ago, but rewarding and exceedingly interesting. The book itself is called 'Playing The Great Game' . It is about the diplomatic contest, or struggle, (nicknamed 'the Great Game') played in central Asia, in the 19th century, above all, by Britain and Russia, and was written by Michael Edwardes. A fascinating read

 

[Dannel]

I always read for half an hour at night before sleeping.

 

[impulse462]

I always read for half an hour at night before sleeping.

I always like reading before I sleep also. I like reading on the Kindle..great to have so many books on that thin thing.

I do have a question for people that might be slightly off topic however. I'm 21 right now and I've noticed that I have more trouble reading when there is background noise (such as people talking in the background). Several years ago, (when i was 14-18) I never had this problem and I was able to focus my attention on what I was reading despite people talking around me. Right now however, I just can't concentrate on anything I read unless its pretty silent.

Has this happened to anyone else? Anyone know maybe what causes it?

 

[0098386]

I've never been into reading physical books, once I got a Paperwhite I just started reading everything I could get my hands on!

I don't think there's a better device for reading than the Kindle Paperwhite, it does what it should so perfectly.

 

[Tsuchiya]

My preferred method is Kindle.

Though 90% of my reading gets done on my iPhone.

I'm an impatient reader, if I'm in the middle of a good book then I'll find a way to wrap it around my other commitments. With my iPhone I can quickly read a chapter between errands or a quiet moment at work.

Kindle app = awesome

 

[designs216]

It's something I do for relaxation. As such, reading is all about simple and analogue, paper and ink -- unplugging and escaping.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I do have a question for people that might be slightly off topic however. I'm 21 right now and I've noticed that I have more trouble reading when there is background noise (such as people talking in the background). Several years ago, (when i was 14-18) I never had this problem and I was able to focus my attention on what I was reading despite people talking around me. Right now however, I just can't concentrate on anything I read unless its pretty silent.

Has this happened to anyone else? Anyone know maybe what causes it?

I use to be the same way. I just thought is was part of getting older, I'm 47. I sometimes read with some instrumental music on but I mainly prefer some nice and quiet space.

 

[malman89]

Physical books - always.

Depends on hardcover v. paperback. Typically hardcover has that premium, but they are so much more durable and beautiful. If the premium isn't too steep, I'll lean that way. If it is only sold in paperback or if the premium is too absurd, then paperback it is.

 

[WoodNUFC]

I'm a bit split. My preference is to read on the Kindle. I find that I read faster and retain the information a bit better. However, I love physical copies. I love looking at people's bookcases to get a feel for their personalities. My wife thinks I have an illness, because I can't leave Half Price Books without a bag full of goodies. I will admit, I get very jealous of my professors' bookshelves.

However, with the research that I've done for my MA and soon PhD, I tend to work out of physical copies. Too few of the academic books I need are available on the Kindle, and those that are available tend to be missing page numbers. Therefore, it's very inconvenient nigh impossible to try to cite pages from the kindle locations.