# When do you read? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938 "2012-07-01T20:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/21 "2012-07-02T04:08:46Z")
After I go to bed, I usually read until I’m sleepy. Sometimes it’s for less than an hour, sometimes it’s for several hours. I seem to fall asleep sooner this way than when I don’t read at all. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/22 "2012-07-02T13:17:12Z")
Like **Rumata** , I find that work, family, and pets were squeezing all the spare time out of my life. I came to the realization that I would have to make time for reading and guard it jealously. So now I get up half an hour earlier in the morning and get to work as fast as I can. I have an alarm set on my phone, so I just stay in my car and read until it’s time for work. I also find some time at the gym. My husband and I work out together, then he goes to shower, steam, swim, whatever and I dash to the waiting room with my book. Sometimes it’s the only motivation getting me to go to the gym at all. I may pick up a book at any time, but usually there is so much noise and interruption at home I can’t concentrate. Forgot to mention: I also take a day off work every time a new Stephen King book comes out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/23 "2012-07-02T13:24:47Z")
While walking, at stop lights, at work, while eating, while watching TV, in bed, while cooking, in the bathroom, in the tub, while putting on my makeup, while ironing. When awake. ---
**Author:** ![Sehmket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Sehmket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sehmket)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/24 "2012-07-02T13:34:24Z")
Lunch break at work. I supervise a team of 15, and there’s about 100 in my department, so that’s 100 people who can bug me - and will - if I’m doing things like listening to music, and sometimes even if I’m making a phone call (I usually have to hide in a training room if I’m making a call I need to pay attention to). About the only thing they don’t interrupt me on is reading, so if I’m trying to eat in the break room it’s about the only way I can get a quiet hour. (if the weather is nice, I’ll usually go outside, and I’ve also been known to spend my lunch break in my car in the parking lot. I’ve only once had someone ask me something there.) ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/25 "2012-07-02T13:39:12Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > While walking, at stop lights, at work, while eating, while watching TV, in bed, while cooking, in the bathroom, in the tub, while putting on my makeup, while ironing. > > When awake. This is ridiculous, and I hope that this is a joke that I’m too stupid to get. You’re mincing garlic with one hand, with a book in the other? While applying concealer, you’re reading a book? While ironing? Doesn’t that make for the world’s least efficient ironing? At stop lights? Oh, please tell me not while driving. Please don’t tell me there’s a book on your dash that gets re-opened at every red light? Why not just put the book down and pay attention? ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/26 "2012-07-02T13:39:40Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I feel the OP’s problem. I probably didn’t read a single book in the first year after my daughter was born. I had this problem, too. I finally started reading again when my daughter was about 10 months old. It was slow going at first but now I’m back to my regular pace now. As to the OP’s question, my answer is: when I should be doing other things, mostly. I read after my daughter goes to bed almost every night, for up to two hours. I also read on my lunch break and, on the weekends, during my daughter’s naps. Sure, I should probably be mopping the floor or something during that time, but whatever. (I mean, we do clean too, obviously. But I’m willing to have a little bit of a messy house sometimes so I can get some reading in.) ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/27 "2012-07-02T14:42:19Z")
In the bathroom, during lunch, after the kid goes to sleep. Sometimes during breakfast, depending on when the kid gets up. If I have to take public transport somewhere, I read on the train. The sorta-kinda good thing about it is that it slows me down a bit. Takes me about a week to finish a book now, vs. a couple of days when I could actually sit down and read for a while when I wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/28 "2012-07-02T15:03:14Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > You’re mincing garlic with one hand, with a book in the other? No. I don’t use a sharp knife without paying full attention, but I can read while my onions are sauteeing, or while my rice is cooking. > [@](#): > > While applying concealer, you’re reading a book? While ironing? Doesn’t that make for the world’s least efficient ironing? :: shrug :: I don’t have any fancy pleats or ruffles, so doesn’t matter. If I’m in a hurry, I devote my full measure of attention to the task at hand, but if I’m not, efficiency is not an issue. > [@](#): > > At stop lights? Oh, please tell me not while driving. Please don’t tell me there’s a book on your dash that gets re-opened at every red light? Why not just put the book down and pay attention? No, I don’t have a book on my dashboard. But I have been known to pick up the newspaper on the way out the door in the morning and check the scores from last night’s game when I hit the stoplight at the corner. Lives are not in danger. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/29 "2012-07-02T15:18:21Z")
The biggest block of time I have for reading is right before sleeping or on the toilet after everyone’s left for the day (usually when everyone’s still there, I have kids knocking on the locked bathroom door asking questions or wanting to come in - makes it hard to concentrate). Other than that, I typically read when I’m brushing my teeth, taking off my clothes to get into the shower and scrunching my hair while getting ready. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/30 "2012-07-02T15:33:35Z")
On the commuter train. One hour each way, daily. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/31 "2012-07-02T15:39:31Z")
Before I go to sleep for 20 to 45 minutes. It’s a really important part of my bed time routine. ---
**Author:** ![LegsAkimbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@LegsAkimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegsAkimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/32 "2012-07-02T16:10:32Z")
I don’t have a lot of the distractions many of you do (no kids, no job, etc.) but I just don’t seem to get in as much reading here at home as I would like. Not sure why. My quality reading time is always during solo camping trips or other solo travel, and that’s when I dig in and tear through the books. It’s typical for me to read three normal-length books over the course of a 3-day camping trip. And I enjoy books so much more when I can read them in 100-page chunks. So I do most of my reading between May and October. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/33 "2012-07-02T16:53:40Z")
**Rumata** , I can’t exactly relate to your situation since I don’t have a family to take care of. But the best advice I can give you (i.e., what’s worked for me that you could probably do too) is to throw a book in my purse wherever I’m going. That way, if you get an unexpected few minutes with nothing to do, you can take full advantage of it by reading a few pages of your book. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/34 "2012-07-02T17:03:46Z")
Mostly before falling asleep. Not every night. I really like doing this when camping or visiting reletives (but not so much motels because I watch cable TV which I don’t have at home) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/35 "2012-07-02T18:52:08Z")
I’m about 2 months away from my comprehensive exams, so now I am reading pretty much all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/36 "2012-07-02T19:17:11Z")
The Kindle app for my smartphone has made sneaking in a page or two at odd times much easier; I also have a book (currently _[Measuring America](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/498350.Measuring_America)_) in the bathroom for when I’m brushing my teeth and doing other things. Breakfast is a good reading time for me as well - the TV is on for my husband, but I only look up to catch the local weather & “breaking news” types of stuff. Audiobooks make walking the dog much more productive and entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/37 "2012-07-02T23:05:49Z")
Before the iPad, usually at night, in bed or on the couch. Now, usually at night, in bed or on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/38 "2012-07-02T23:26:32Z")
No kids here, but I have often complained that work gets in the way of what I really want to be doing. My e-reader is always with me. Standing in line, yeah, I get to read 🙂 Feeding the shredder? Left hand holds the book, right hand tosses paper down its maw. I have to set a limit as to how long I read before going to sleep because I could stay up all night if its a good book. I also listen to books. I have an hour commute, I’ll catch the news for 10 minutes, and then turn the book on. When I’m tossing boxes around, I’m listening to a book. Maybe audio books would be a good option for people with young children? You can play them while doing other things. The local library has a wonderful collection and I can request more from the other branches. I know, I know…its not the same as cuddling up with a cat and book, but you still get to listen to the stories. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/39 "2012-07-02T23:30:44Z")
Almost never now. :mad: Unless you count a couple magazines and the web. I need to pick up a novel again soon. Its been too long. I used to read at least 1-2 a week. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938/40 "2012-07-03T00:22:56Z")
At night before shower/bed, and while I’m watching sporting events on TV. I have a limited number of actual shows that I follow and when I’m watching those, they get my full attention, but with sports, the announcer will start yelling or getting excited when something’s happening, so then I can just look up. I can read on a plane, but not a train, bus, or car, so public transit is pretty much out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-read/626938.md?page=3)