Ask HN: Why Read Books? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Why Read Books?

2 pointsbeerglass12 comments

Obviously as a student, books are important. But later in life, as a source of entertainment, books can't compete with bars, chatting with friends, television, movies, sports, social media, all of which hit quicker. So, why should one read books?

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But later in life, as a source of entertainment, books can't compete with bars, chatting with friends, television, movies, sports, social media,

That's just, like, your opinion dude.

All joking aside, I do firmly dispute the quoted statement above. But whether that matters or not depends on a lot of things. I read a lot of books, but also watch television, movies, sports, etc., frequent social media, and chat with friends. And substitute "coffee shops" for "bars" and I do that as well. I don't see it as competition. I like a blend of all of those influences. But I can't answer "why read a book" any more (or less) than I can answer "why hang out at coffee shops?"

So I dunno. I like to read, but I've been reading regularly for something like ~46 years. Reading to me is as much a routine part of life as breathing or sleeping or eating. It would be weirder to me to not read, ya know?

Now if we get away from entertainment and talk learning, then that's a whole different ball of wax. And I hope very little needs to be said about why one should read books if one wants to learn stuff (to use a highly technical term).

The one last thought I'll add though is this: should reading be accorded some special status or significance? Or should there be any sense of shame or whatever in not reading?

There are people out there who would answer an emphatic "yes" to both questions. But personally, even as a life-long avid reader, I say "no". There are a LOT of ways to spend one's time, and only so much time available. And as much as I read, I spend a lot of time not reading. So it's not hard for me to imagine someone with a very slightly different mindset than mine skewing their time allocation towards much less reading. And that's OK. Maybe they are restoring old cars, or volunteering at a soup kitchen, or hunting, or train-spotting, or bird-watching, or hiking, or playing rugby, or doing one or more of a bazillion other things that they find fulfilling, instead of reading. I say that's fine.

As a wise man[1] once said "Do what thou wilt, shall be the sum of the law."

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley

It provides an experience I can't reproduce anywhere else.

I read Don Quichotte early 2022. It's absurd, insane, the main character is not reliable, yet he is brave, willing to make the world a better place to fit his knight ideals exist.

You can't find such a story elsewhere.

I read Lolita, I have never seen anyone talk about depravation with such a beautiful prose.

I am now reading The Brothers Karamazov. Right on a chapter called "The Grand Inquisitor". It's deep. About human nature, God. It's ambiguous. It makes you think. It's been haunting me for the past couple days.

Most of the conversation I have with friends in bars are nice, pleasing. They probably won't haunt me in 6 months.

Books do.

Agree with this - and non-fiction too, all good writing is considered and distilled. One of the things I value about HN is the links to pieces I wouldn't have found otherwise - with links to source within a well thought through opinion. Good writing can make you think/feel deeply in a way that, in my experience at least, conversation can't.

The printed word has stood the test of time. All you need is a pair of good eyes that can focus on that printing. No other resources necessary.

Paper (as books, brochures, newpapers) also beats a Kindle for longevity. The Kindle is good for convenience where weight is a factor.

I always give people a challenge: What would your life be like if there was no electricity for six months? Would you even still be alive at the end of those six months? One thing is for sure. That book you have would still be usable. Bars, television, movies, sports, social media: not so much.

What would life be like if there was no electricity for six months?

My pacemaker would stop ticking, and I'd die. So no, I'm gonna go to as many bars, cinemas and video arcades as possible, and books can go suck it.

Why watch 'The Godfather' trilogy? Or engage in the 'Zepp-a-thon' (listening all Led Zeppelin albums in a row?)

When you are in a good mood you are by definition not affected by 'commit-o-phobia' as good mood is in fact a propellent for commitment, and that's how you find yourself watching a 3 hours movie or reading a 500 pages book .

No video game, TV program, media, social media, etc. can ever compare to a good book. And for learning, no other source competes.

To add to what others have said about the utility of books. A deeper question is, why should it have any purpose? Can we not just do something just because we do it. Not everything has to quantified into a manner of a positive transaction. It can just be 'for nice'.

I find that reading gives me the opportunity to hear some of the author's deepest thoughts; I think that reading is the very best way to "expand my mind" by discovering what someone else thinks important.

"as a source of entertainment, books can't compete with bars, chatting with friends, television, movies, sports, social media,"

I'm speechless. Give me a good book over the garbage that's on TV nowadays.

I only remember 10% of what I read, so I agree it's not efficient, and certainly not fun. But reading is the only way to become a better writer, and that's still worth something in my circles.

With literature, I like that reading a great novel gives me access to the mind of people more intelligent than me :)

For technical, I find retain the information better when I read as a opposed to watching a video.

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