| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Poll: On average, how many books do you read? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | | It depends on my work flow | Aug 30, 2016 |
I'm guessing that I average a book a month, but sometimes I don't have that much time. I always feel a little guilty when I take the time to read.
| | | | | Depends on the book(s) available | Aug 30, 2016 |
In my case, it all depends on the book(s) available at that moment.
I always buy them, new or second-hand, whichever, in paper format.
So, if there are books which I'd like to read, I'll spare some time for them, but no if there are not.
But I read the newspaper everyday, though.
| | | | | Statistically, one and a half per week | Aug 30, 2016 |
Reading is a necessity for my mind, so I normally make it a priority to read whenever I can. Of course, sometimes I physically don't have the time, but even then I do a few pages. What I don't do is blogging, facebooking, other time-consuming forms of net surfing, or watching movies, so I guess that saves me time for reading.
David Mitchell (the author) said: books don't offer real escape, but they can stop a mind scratching itself raw. I find that it is really so.
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What, 17% can't read?
Interesting (worrying?) how few books the majority of people here read.
I would have expected all translators to have an innate cultural and/or scientific curiosity that would drive them to read loads of fiction and/or non-fiction.
Or is it just a case of people reading stuff online instead?
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Same as you, Chris, I'm stunned! Well, the poll still has very few respondents, let's see if this changes over time.
I also expected translators to be eager readers.
I am an eager reader, there were some times in my life when I was too busy with other stuff to read much, but I still continued reading at a very slow pace. At the moment, I've returned to a higher pace and I read about one book a week - of course it all depends on the book, some take longer to read, some are done... See more Same as you, Chris, I'm stunned! Well, the poll still has very few respondents, let's see if this changes over time.
I also expected translators to be eager readers.
I am an eager reader, there were some times in my life when I was too busy with other stuff to read much, but I still continued reading at a very slow pace. At the moment, I've returned to a higher pace and I read about one book a week - of course it all depends on the book, some take longer to read, some are done within one or two days.
I'm very busy during the day, but I hardly ever go to sleep without reading a couple of pages in my bed (and sometimes up to one hour or two, unreasonably late at night, if the book is captivating). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Books or die? | Aug 30, 2016 |
Chris S wrote:
What, 17% can't read?
Interesting (worrying?) how few books the majority of people here read.
I would have expected all translators to have an innate cultural and/or scientific curiosity that would drive them to read loads of fiction and/or non-fiction.
Or is it just a case of people reading stuff online instead?
Books aren't the only way/place to learn things or increase one's knowledge.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 00:08
Spanish to English
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I don't have MUCH time to read books. In fact, I haven't been able to take a break this summer due to workload and helping a friend to move house. However, it's not an issue.
PS: I feel I've read sufficient books in my lifetime so as not to have to lament not being able to do so as frequently nowadays. And since one of my favourite authors, Ian M Banks, passed away a couple of years ago, I'm now re-reading some of his (when I get the chance).
[Edited at 2016-08-30 09:58 GMT]
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John Cutler 
Spain
Local time: 00:08
Spanish to English
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I can't put an exact number on it, but I read some book or another nearly everyday. If I find one I really like, I may read it 2 or 3 times. A truly good book is like a diamond. You can hold it up to the light and turn it and it will reflect differently every time.
| | | | | Like a diamond or like a good wine :) | Aug 30, 2016 |
John Cutler wrote:
A truly good book is like a diamond. You can hold it up to the light and turn it and it will reflect differently every time.
And a truly good book gets better with age.
| | | | | Other (Honestly, I don't know!) | Aug 30, 2016 |
On average? Honestly, I don’t know! It depends on the book and on what else is going on in my life. I always read before going to sleep, sometimes just a few pages, others the whole book…
| | | | Bora Taşdemir
Local time: 01:08
Member (2012)
English to Turkish
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| We Already Read A Lot! | Aug 30, 2016 |
We must already read a lot within a day... And it is "serious reading"! Thus, my eyes are often tired and can't read so much. I can only read one book in a couple of months. That's better than nothing though!
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 18:08
English to Spanish
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| No, we can't read | Aug 30, 2016 |
Chris S wrote:
What, 17% can't read?
Interesting (worrying?) how few books the majority of people here read.
I would have expected all translators to have an innate cultural and/or scientific curiosity that would drive them to read loads of fiction and/or non-fiction.
Or is it just a case of people reading stuff online instead?
What did you say? Oh, yeah, I just remembered I can't read.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 18:08
English to Spanish
+ ...
| I am reading all the time, and not just work stuff | Aug 30, 2016 |
I was reading asiduously even before learning a second language and even before becoming a translator: pharma prospects, newspaper clippings, comic strips, abridged novels (The Invisible Man, Dr Jekill and Mr Hyde are two examples), magazines, Popular Mechanics and other printed material.
True, books aren't the only source of knowledge, but the well-made ones beat magazines, Wikipedia and newspapers any day, all day long.
Back to the question and the questioner: I don't... See more I was reading asiduously even before learning a second language and even before becoming a translator: pharma prospects, newspaper clippings, comic strips, abridged novels (The Invisible Man, Dr Jekill and Mr Hyde are two examples), magazines, Popular Mechanics and other printed material.
True, books aren't the only source of knowledge, but the well-made ones beat magazines, Wikipedia and newspapers any day, all day long.
Back to the question and the questioner: I don't read books to meet a quota, win a competition or fill out empty hours. I doubt that my way of reading a book will find many adherents or similarities with the way other responders read books, but that doesn't matter. I read books not just to gain knowledge, clarify doubts, answer a question or find entertainment. I have many reasons to pick a book. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Andrea Diaz
Mexico
Local time: 16:08
English to Spanish
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| So much time. | Aug 30, 2016 |
When I was in college, I did nothing but read during the Spring break. I remember going to sleep at 4 am because I was engrossed with my book. In the course of 2 and a half weeks, I read The Pillars of the Earth, The Name of the Wind, and Wise Man's Fear. Three completely marvelous and long books. Those were the days.
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