[mariano rivera]

Just the last few days in work. 4 or 5 lads who i work with, all with 3rd level qualifications who DO NOT READ Books.



As in the have never picked up a book to read for pleasure




The reasons being:

- No time
- One fella said he did read Roy Keanes book but no other and he insisted he never read another book.
- Its boring

They actually were proud of this. (Personally would be embarrassed)


As i said these are all (apparently) educated people


(Dear Mods, I cant put this on the books boards as people who dont read books obviously dont read the books board)

[newbie2]

Are you saying that if you're educated you should read books?

[NoQuarter]

OP tell me a hobby you dont do so I can express some outrage please. SCUBA diving? You dont? Outrageous!

[1ZRed]

So what's the big deal?
You don't have to read books, it doesn't make you any less intelligent than someone who does

[brummytom]

Everyone's got their own vices. Some people like drinking, watching tv, playing music, enjoying socialising. Boring people like books.


Just because they're presumably intelligent doesn't mean they have to parade it by going 'LOOK AT ME, I READ BOOKS. I'M SO CLEVER!!!'.
I've a few good friends at Oxbridge, and they don't read for fun, they actually enjoy themselves.

[Gummy Panda]

There is a lot of forms of entertainment fighting for our leisure time. These guys just prefer the others over books. Thats all

I have a kindle and read books but I do go through phases were I can't be arsed. Keep meaning to read a Game of Thrones

[ScumLord]

I don't read fictional books because they're nearly all crap. Most books and films these days are just retelling the same old stories from a slightly different perspective. At this stage you really can judge a book by it's cover.

[Brutal Deluxe]

See, the OP is a nerd. He's one of those people who sit in the basement all day with his hi-fi and his boobtube and his instant pizza-pie.

Yes, I did butcher the quote to make a joke, so sue me.

[Andy Carroll]

There is a massive thumbing of noses in the air regarding reading. Get over yourself imo. If you enjoy it great, it doesn't make you a superior human or other people worthy of your contempt, mockery or disbelief.

[Karsini]

I'm not really interested in fiction anymore but I'll still read books that are related to my interests.

[Wibbs]

I read non fiction books a lot, but never fiction. I've read maybe 4 or 5 fiction books in my life. Can't get into them.

Plus many 3rd level qualifications are surprisingly non indicative of intelligence beyond a pretty basic level. Even the really high level degrees that require serious intelligence to achieve can sometimes make for very narrowly focused individuals that have little enough interest beyond their field. I knew a maths genius, real Beautiful Mind stuff, who had remarkably little general knowledge. Lovely man, but not one you'd invite to a pub quiz.

[mauzo]

None of my siblings read, I practically eat books.

No biggie

[IrishExpat]

Originally Posted by newbie2

Are you saying that if you're educated you should read books?

Most definitely so. I hope that we've moved on from the old paradigm that you study for one specific period in your life and make do with you have acquired in Uni (for example).

I see the brain as any other muscle; if you don't actively challenge it - with passive reading, at least - it can almost lose power (atrophy?).

And reading should be an absolute priority for everyone. Up there with the need to speak more than one language - I've strong opinions on that one, but for another thread.

[Stercus Accidit]

There are plenty of other options to reading books these days, how does reading 50 shades of sh1te or Harry Potter mark someone as more intelligent than someone who, I dunno, reads the internet, wikipedia, forums, etc. etc.

It's very easy to not read books, they don't have a monopoly on information, and have become a status object now for some, who have to be seen to be reading, no matter what it is.

[Dont be at yourself]

Let's face it; any half-decent book will be made into a film which will likely replace all the boring bits with explosions and boobies.