Reading for pleasure or reading to learn?

Daenerys

Daenerys

The Last Dragon
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Which do you prefer? Do you prefer reading a novel, or an educational book?

For me, I'd take a novel over an educational book any day. I have a few books I have to read for my History course, and I just can't bring myself to plough through them. However, I always have my head stuck in a novel. I just can't bring myself to read something I know I "have" to read, I don't like being forced to read something, it makes the whole thing seem like a chore, rather than something to do for fun.

However, I know some people who don't like reading as a pastime and only ever read when they have to, like for a class.
 
I would take a novel over an educational book any day as well unless it has to do with History. I love learning about history so in that situation it would be different. I've always been a bookworm though, ever since I was four.

Reading does help you in the long run though, it's good to start early. You become more...academically smart. :)
 
I read for both. I often find myself sitting back and enjoying a nice long novel, and many other times, I crack open an educational book just to read it. I love to read. On my desk this very moment lies about 30 books, each of them I've been slowing reading. Hell, in fact, I think I only have 3 more books to finish and I'm done with them.

And I'm saving the best for last... The complete set of H.P Lovecraft... Hot damn, I can't wait to tear into that.
 
I wonder...I feel like it's possible that learning can be a pleasure. Soaking up knowledge can be something someone could do just for fun, regardless of how cheesy that sounds.

I do admit that I often read stories just for my pleasure. I don't really wanna learn anything unless I have to (like school, or manual for a device and what not).
 
I read for pleasure. I prefer using books to learn rather than over the internet though
 
I like reading both types, mostly for pleasure though. But I do want to be come an author myself when I grow up (doing rough drafts right now), so I'm trying to train myself to enjoy reading novels of all types, no matter what it is. As long as they benefit me in some way (currently), then I won't mind reading them.
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I prefer reading for pleasure. It's rare for me to find a good novel to really get into. I have to be drawn in from the first paragraph and try not to get turned off by the plot at the back of the book.

On the flip side, I've always had an unusual fascination for history books. I've always loved to learn about the past and what happened to make the world as it is now.

I do agree with an earlier post about reading early as possible. I've been able to read since before I attended nursery because my mum would do it regularly with me and I'm a pretty good reader and my spelling is excellent. Not to be smug or anything, but it's really helped me to read and spell so much better.
 
I'd rather read a novel, and I haven't read a novel all the way through in years, than an educational book. They're so boring and I don't understand most of them anyways 8D I have this curse, I forget what I've read from educational books some time after I read it. :awesome:
 
Do you prefer reading a novel, or an educational book?
My answer is an educational book..sometimes I get inspired by something someone talks about or just out of the blue, I think of a topic and then gather info and books on that subject.
I don't like reading on a computerscreen, so sometimes I print e-books. Havent tried Ipad, but don't think that's something for me....I prefer books.

I wonder what my next "study" will be...hmmm :cookie:
 
I read for both, but I nearly always read for pleasure. I've got 3 bookshelves in my small bedroom, and I have so many books, they can't all fit on. :\ I do enjoy the odd science book (especially if it's astronomy) mainly because I find new knowledge fascinating, but I'll always have some kind of fantasy, horror, or sci-fi book at hand. I carry one in my backpack to school every day. Being an aspiring writer, as someone else said they were previously, I try to read a wide range of styles and authors to get as much exposure to the field as possible. Text books... don't tend to have much of an authorial style or voice, which is important for me learn. :P

As some have said, it's incredibly important to read early -- it has literally shaped my life, and not only does it make you a better speller and more academically smart, it helps you grasp abstract notions much easier and makes you sound very, very good when writing. Needless to say, the teachers loved any and every essay I wrote. ;))
 
I don't read for pleasure anymore.I use to be a prolific reader.I was always buying new books or checking them out from the library.I use to go to sf and horror conventions and get the authors to sign my books.I even met Stephen King once.

But due to personal tragedies I gave that up.I donated over 1000 books to the local public libraries and now I only read for information and news.
 
I read for pleasure. A lot. I absolutely love reading fantasy novels - its one of my main forms of escape. Just burying myself in a book is one of my favourite pastimes, and a good book captures my attention more than anything else. I've always got a book to read at hand, and I get through them extremely quickly.

Its an extremely bad trait for a University student (especially one in their third year about to write their dissertation) but I find reading academic material quite difficult sometimes. It just isn't engaging or even particularly well written. I read a couple of lines, and then my brain just switches off. I read the words, but I don't really take them in. Few very academic books I've read have managed to gain and hold my attention.
 
I do a bit of both mainly for pleasure, but moreso novels than academic publications though. I'm particularly fond of modern history books, even if they're discussing less popular topics such as Gropius's and Taut's works in the Weimar Germany period. Funnily enough, I only seem to enjoy reading historical books on periods that I am not currently studying. Outside of academic books and novels, I've also grown rather attached to the autobiographies of certain individuals, such as the comedian Michael McIntyre.

I used to read a lot of novels - less so now as few novels appear to instantly grab my attention as much nowadays. I'm one of the people who lose interest in a book if the opening pages and chapter don't quite entice me enough. Admittedly this is rather problematic because a lot of great books start out slow but end up being rather epic reads. The types of novels I commonly read are mainly crime thrillers and fantasy.
 
I prefer a good novel, though being an A-Level student I am currently needing to have to read both educational books and novels which I have zero interest in. I'm often torn between reading a relaxing book and something I know I have to read and then just don't read at all - which I know is a flaw of mine! 'Tis probably time for me to get back into reading. :)
 
Reading for me, whether it be a novel or educational book, will always leave you with something new to think about. :D I read because I like to learn new things. I take pleasure in gaining knowledge. :P

Well, book-wise, I read depending on my mood. Educational or novel. :D
 
I prefer reading novels.

Though I don't read as much as I used to (like never) I've only always read for pleasure rather than to learn something by choice.

I used to read novels every night before I went to bed and even at school on my lunch breaks.

These days I barely get time to sleep, so reading doesn't get much attention.

I definitely read for pleasure though when I do. =)
 
Hmmm, If I read, it's most likely going to be an educational type book. I could never get my hands onto a novel that really kept me entertained. There's a few out there but, not much.

I really don't read just to read. I read because I have to. If that makes sense. Like, for school etc.
 
I prefer educational books because I prefer learning than entertain myself when it comes to reading. I alos enjoy novels sometimes. As a big History fan, I particularly like historical novel that take place during world war II. If the novel takes place during another historical period, I will be much more inclined to read it.
 
Nowadays I read to learn since I've become a little too picky with the novels I read lately, but I'd prefer to read something for the sake of enjoying it anytime. I tend to find a cross between the two, though, since I've discovered a sort of fascination for Renaissance history (probably because I play Assassin's Creed 2 too often). At that point, i forget I'm reading my school's textbook and I can just go on reading and understanding the text.
 
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