# Reading on the toilet. What's your choice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425 "2003-05-11T02:16:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/1 "2003-05-11T02:16:38Z")
A visit to the bathroom has many pleasures. By that I mean, peace and quiet, and the opportunity to get some reading done. So I ask you all this… when on the toilet what is your choice of reading material? Do you have a stach of magazines, books or papers in there waiting, or are you a strict no reading kind of person? Occasionally I will take in a book that I’m really involved in, but generally it’s a trashy mag so that I can just flick through. Normally one with celebrities and movies gossip. The ones in Oz are probably different to the ones the rest of the world gets, but usually ‘Who’, ‘New Weekly’, or ‘Good Reading’. Am I alone in my indulgent behaviour? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/2 "2003-05-11T02:31:36Z")
I’m another confessed bathroom reader. Usually a trade magazine or a newly arrived catalog is the literature of choice, yet I have taken numerous works of fiction and non-fiction to the loo with me, my philosophy being if you’re going to sit there, learn something. ---
**Author:** ![jjohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@jjohnny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjohnny)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/3 "2003-05-11T02:33:36Z")
The last 12 years of the late Joel Buchsbaums’ NFL Draft Preview books. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/4 "2003-05-11T02:58:42Z")
If I’m not reading a novel I’ll usually just bring along a section of the newspaper or any unread magazine that happens to be lying around. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/5 "2003-05-11T02:58:42Z")
JAMA…unfortunately, that’s the only periodical I get. ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/6 "2003-05-11T03:36:58Z")
Generally a magazine. And I read until my legs go numb. ---
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/7 "2003-05-11T03:56:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ski \* > \*\*Generally a magazine. And I read until my legs go numb. \*\* LMAO…Yes yes yes, I hate that!!! And the ‘toilet seat ring’ you get on your legs. ---
**Author:** ![robgruver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@robgruver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robgruver)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/8 "2003-05-11T03:59:03Z")
I save up my comics for the crapper. Its nice, short, and not really intensive reading. I can usually get through one, sometimes two depending on how long I have to poo. I have also been known to read trade magazines and the like. If all else fails I will read whatever happens to be next to the loo (i.e. Bottles, boxes, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/9 "2003-05-11T04:47:30Z")
Readers digest… I skip through all the stories for the funny jokes at the end of each story. I hate it when my legs go numb! ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/10 "2003-05-11T04:52:37Z")
I get the numb legs too. Bloody annoying. As for me, I usually keep some Calvin and Hobbes and Dave Barry books handy, though my copy of The Big Damn Book of Sheer Manliness is a regular. And if I’m reading a novel, it’ll usually travel with me. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/11 "2003-05-11T05:22:44Z")
I read my future through copromancy. ---
**Author:** ![cletus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@cletus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cletus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/12 "2003-05-11T05:31:17Z")
I usually bring in whatever book I’m reading at the time. Currently, I’m reading **God Emperor of Dune**. It sucks because I can’t put it down until my legs start hurting. Damn you Frank Herbert! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/13 "2003-05-11T05:31:41Z")
Just got the June issue of Cars and Parts magazine. That will last me a week then its back to the stack of 20 year old Readers Digest. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/14 "2003-05-11T05:48:02Z")
I read anything from _Maxim_ to _Reader’s Digest_ to coffe-table books on the john. I also like to bring my discman in there and listen to tunes. I have also brought my practice pad in there and enjoyed the acoustic enviroment while working on my chops…I have heard someone describe this as ‘crapper-shedding’. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/15 "2003-05-11T05:51:07Z")
Oh – My friends dad had a rather nice 1/2 bathroom that he installed a bookshelf in a filled with 20 years of _National Geographic_. It was impressive; something I’d like to do someday. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/16 "2003-05-11T06:54:49Z")
Road atlas. Yeah. I’m a little weird. I don’t keep it there, but I grab it if it looks like I’ll be in there awhile… ---
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/17 "2003-05-11T10:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe K \* > \*\*I read anything from _Maxim_ to _Reader’s Digest_ to coffe-table books on the john. I also like to bring my discman in there and listen to tunes. I have also brought my practice pad in there and enjoyed the acoustic enviroment while working on my chops…I have heard someone describe this as ‘crapper-shedding’. \*\* My God you are one serious crapper! Music in the loo, that takes organisation… too much for me, but I am impressed by your dedication!! ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/18 "2003-05-11T12:34:32Z")
I, too, read until the old thighs start to hurt and I can’t feel my feet. Choice of reading? We keep a magazine rack in our bathroom, so whatever happens to be there. For the last several months, I think it’s held _The Chronicles of Narnia_, some social work periodicals and therapy books belonging to the missus, and old _Rolling Stone_ issues. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Mr\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/19 "2003-05-11T12:46:09Z")
Tv guide. It’s light, fluffy material that doesn’t distract too much for your initial goal. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425/20 "2003-05-11T12:57:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe K \* > \*\*Oh – My friends dad had a rather nice 1/2 bathroom that he installed a bookshelf in a filled with 20 years of _National Geographic_. It was impressive; something I’d like to do someday. \*\* I got my wife to get me a subscription to the N.G. for my birthday to fulfil this exact purpose. I also tend to read Heat magazine, if she’s left one lying around. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-on-the-toilet-whats-your-choice/174425.md?page=2)