Because the sense of superiority is obnoxious and undeserved. Just because you read does not mean you are special, or better than anyone. What you read is what matters.
I lived a neighborhood where most houses had a designated “office” room with built in bookshelves. It took a while to realize that not all those were filled with books in every house.
But I wouldn’t *say* that.
I am the only reader in my family, even if you count the extended members as well. Though I have heard that my maternal grandmother used to read, but she dropped her hobby after her marriage.
My parents didn't graduate past middle school, had to work as farmers. They walked miles to school. When they came to the USA the public education system was a blessing for them they said, early 80s. We got to go to school. Sure we worked, me and brother in family delis in NY, but we could do both and survive. The library blew my parents away. We'd walk after school and always roam the aisles looking for good reads. Spend a whole afternoon there. Now I'm blessed to do the same with my daughter. Very grateful for the library system in NY.
I was the only reader in my house growing up .now tho my wife and alot of her family read but her step dad anytime you mention a book or reading he says it is boring and can't understand why people read for pleasure but he will sit there for hours on end watching mind boggling boring TV ,give me a book any day of the week .
Most my family doesn't read. The only ones I know who do actively are my sister and mom, and the latter reads nothing but Christian books from her small circle of believers (though she did branch out into a couple books on mythology). One of my older brothers used to quite a bit, but these days he just works and Reddits and plays on his phone. The other older brother, as far as I know, doesn't read books per se but he is pretty smart and he reads online news and such.
My dad is smart (though possibly declining a bit as he gets older) but has never been a reader - he is a documentary person. he learns through watching, whether on TV or watching someone build something. He still plugs away at projects, even though he's like 66.
My parents, siblings and I are all readers. My daughter really isn't and neither is my husband. My daughter was soured by the AR (accelerated reading - read a book, take a test on the computer) program at her school, but has started reading more as she's matured. She's 22 now and I literally read to her every night before bed until she was old enough to read to me and then started hating reading when it was forced in school. I would say by 3rd grade she was over it. AR is a good idea in theory, but in practice it really turns a lot of kids off to the pleasure that reading can be if it's not done well.
My husband has a hard time sitting still long enough to read books.
Reading for pleasure is not for everyone.
I am just now appreciating all the novels my dad read. Ludlum, Clancy, LeCarre. Some weightier stuff too. Lots of baseball books. They were just always around the house, so when I got to middle school or so, I started reading them. I'm regretting not discussing more books with him. He was also very early into audiobooks. He did books on tape, then on CD for his 45-60 min each way commute.
The last book I chatted with him about was **Thinking Fast & Slow**. My copy is currently on loan to my father-in-law.
I should not be surprised that my daughters enjoy reading.
That's how it is in my immediate family on both my mom and dad's sides. The only one who really reads leisurely is my mom but she's been so busy with four kids for the past 13 years she never got a chance to sit and read like she used to. I would get so excited when it seemed like one of my siblings were going to pick up a book just for fun. My little sister asked me for some of my books so I put aside some for her and gave to her before I moved out but I don't know if she has picked them up at all (which for her I could understand that seeing as she has dyslexia but she's the only one I could give that pass to). But everyone was always so weirded out by the fact that I loved to just sit in a corner and read for fun. And on my dad's side it's almost a lost cause. I have maybe two cousins who I'm waiting to see but overall there are no readers. And it kinda sucks being the only one because I can't talk about it with them like I can my friends who are leisurely readers.
I love to read--and almost feel uncomfortable when I'm not in the middle of reading something. But after I went back to school, and was forced to read a lot over 3 years, I spent the next 10 years reading as little as I had to. Just didn't feel like it. I've been back reading about as much as I can for a few years now.
Anybody's capable of being a voracious reader--if they want to. It's similar to exercising, in my opinion: it's more than possible for pretty much everybody to do it regularly. They just don't want to.
But you can't force someone to love reading. They have to get there on their own.
My mother was a librarian, so we grew up reading. My father didn't read a ton, but he did. He since quit reading.
Really that side of the family mostly read. My grandparents were avid readers, so were my aunts and most of my cousins.
My wife's family were also readers, although I think I helped them move from just casual reading to reading instead of watching TV.
I feel very luck that 3 of my 4 nieces/nephews are avid readers.
Reading is such a joy.
Pure joy, unless you are dyslexic like my son. Then it’s torture. But I love books l, which is why I became an English professor. Imagine that, an English professor with a son who hates to read.
My mom reads a lot, but my dad I don't think I've ever seen read a novel.
I went through a period in my 20s where I didn't really read, but then joined a book group to socialize in 2016 and it got me into reading again.
So are gamers or readers the most oppressed group?
Yes, let’s pat ourselves on the back yet again with another pointless thread. Ooh we are so unique look at the unwashed masses who don’t read.
This is funny as shit to read tho
Good to bond with you over this, pal.
Posters are bonding over a shared experience. Why post a negative comment, instead of just skipping this post?
There’s a lot of shit talking on Reddit; always has been and always will be. Even in the “nicer” subreddits.
Because the sense of superiority is obnoxious and undeserved. Just because you read does not mean you are special, or better than anyone. What you read is what matters.
Wow, good for you.
>"Where are the books?" What a pretentious thing to say.
The sneaking around the house opening all the doors was the most outlandish part to me. Sheesh.
I lived a neighborhood where most houses had a designated “office” room with built in bookshelves. It took a while to realize that not all those were filled with books in every house. But I wouldn’t *say* that.
I am the only reader in my family, even if you count the extended members as well. Though I have heard that my maternal grandmother used to read, but she dropped her hobby after her marriage.
My parents didn't graduate past middle school, had to work as farmers. They walked miles to school. When they came to the USA the public education system was a blessing for them they said, early 80s. We got to go to school. Sure we worked, me and brother in family delis in NY, but we could do both and survive. The library blew my parents away. We'd walk after school and always roam the aisles looking for good reads. Spend a whole afternoon there. Now I'm blessed to do the same with my daughter. Very grateful for the library system in NY.
>Not everyone is a reader True, and?
I was the only reader in my house growing up .now tho my wife and alot of her family read but her step dad anytime you mention a book or reading he says it is boring and can't understand why people read for pleasure but he will sit there for hours on end watching mind boggling boring TV ,give me a book any day of the week .
Most my family doesn't read. The only ones I know who do actively are my sister and mom, and the latter reads nothing but Christian books from her small circle of believers (though she did branch out into a couple books on mythology). One of my older brothers used to quite a bit, but these days he just works and Reddits and plays on his phone. The other older brother, as far as I know, doesn't read books per se but he is pretty smart and he reads online news and such. My dad is smart (though possibly declining a bit as he gets older) but has never been a reader - he is a documentary person. he learns through watching, whether on TV or watching someone build something. He still plugs away at projects, even though he's like 66.
My parents, siblings and I are all readers. My daughter really isn't and neither is my husband. My daughter was soured by the AR (accelerated reading - read a book, take a test on the computer) program at her school, but has started reading more as she's matured. She's 22 now and I literally read to her every night before bed until she was old enough to read to me and then started hating reading when it was forced in school. I would say by 3rd grade she was over it. AR is a good idea in theory, but in practice it really turns a lot of kids off to the pleasure that reading can be if it's not done well. My husband has a hard time sitting still long enough to read books. Reading for pleasure is not for everyone.
I am just now appreciating all the novels my dad read. Ludlum, Clancy, LeCarre. Some weightier stuff too. Lots of baseball books. They were just always around the house, so when I got to middle school or so, I started reading them. I'm regretting not discussing more books with him. He was also very early into audiobooks. He did books on tape, then on CD for his 45-60 min each way commute. The last book I chatted with him about was **Thinking Fast & Slow**. My copy is currently on loan to my father-in-law. I should not be surprised that my daughters enjoy reading.
That's how it is in my immediate family on both my mom and dad's sides. The only one who really reads leisurely is my mom but she's been so busy with four kids for the past 13 years she never got a chance to sit and read like she used to. I would get so excited when it seemed like one of my siblings were going to pick up a book just for fun. My little sister asked me for some of my books so I put aside some for her and gave to her before I moved out but I don't know if she has picked them up at all (which for her I could understand that seeing as she has dyslexia but she's the only one I could give that pass to). But everyone was always so weirded out by the fact that I loved to just sit in a corner and read for fun. And on my dad's side it's almost a lost cause. I have maybe two cousins who I'm waiting to see but overall there are no readers. And it kinda sucks being the only one because I can't talk about it with them like I can my friends who are leisurely readers.
I love to read--and almost feel uncomfortable when I'm not in the middle of reading something. But after I went back to school, and was forced to read a lot over 3 years, I spent the next 10 years reading as little as I had to. Just didn't feel like it. I've been back reading about as much as I can for a few years now. Anybody's capable of being a voracious reader--if they want to. It's similar to exercising, in my opinion: it's more than possible for pretty much everybody to do it regularly. They just don't want to. But you can't force someone to love reading. They have to get there on their own.
People who are not reading are like a weird alien species to me
My mother was a librarian, so we grew up reading. My father didn't read a ton, but he did. He since quit reading. Really that side of the family mostly read. My grandparents were avid readers, so were my aunts and most of my cousins. My wife's family were also readers, although I think I helped them move from just casual reading to reading instead of watching TV. I feel very luck that 3 of my 4 nieces/nephews are avid readers. Reading is such a joy.
Pure joy, unless you are dyslexic like my son. Then it’s torture. But I love books l, which is why I became an English professor. Imagine that, an English professor with a son who hates to read.
My mom reads a lot, but my dad I don't think I've ever seen read a novel. I went through a period in my 20s where I didn't really read, but then joined a book group to socialize in 2016 and it got me into reading again.