Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mikester · 03-24-2003, 06:42 PM

just wondering how long it takes other people to 'digest' material theyve recently read.

personnally, it takes me a few days to really wrap my head around some material. recently, ive been constantly exposed to 'classic' works of literature, poetry, and so on (great expectations, catcher in the rye, 1984, macbeth, etc.).

i find myself almost constantly thinking about what i read, over and over in my mind between classes and during breaks.

i find it weird, but interesting, and im starting to really enjoy the whole reading experience.

anyone else?

Buddrow_Wilson · 03-24-2003, 07:21 PM

I have an horrible memory. Most of my digesting is done during the reading. Put it this way: I could read a book I read six months ago, and it would seem almost like it was the first time.

Hedwig · 03-24-2003, 09:00 PM

It depends on what kind of literature I'm reading. For really intense literature it can take me a day or so to fully digest what I've read and understand all of it. For something like Harry Potter I'll barrel through the books without slowing down. It honestly depends on the gravity of what I'm reading.

philechat · 03-24-2003, 09:30 PM

I find scientific papers to be the slowest read. As for literature, as long as it is actually well-written I seem to have a momentum to them. I easily loose attention span when a work uses monotonous and uninspired dictions (so beware, scientists--it is NOT only about transmitting information

).

I actually like many modernist novels--wordplay is, in my opinion, extremely important even in prose writings.

Shake · 03-25-2003, 04:56 AM

It really all depends on exactly what it is, and what sort of barriers you might have to overcome. For example, if you read Shakespeare in the original Olde English, it can be difficult to figure out what's even going on. I've got to get into a certain mindset before I can read Shakespeare. I had a hard time when watching (I know the thread's about reading, but bear with me a sec) Othello, but that was mainly because my wife couldn't follow it and kept asking me questions and then I'd miss what was happening next, etc.

As for scientific stuff, it depends on what sort of level it's written at. My dad says he enjoys looking at Scientific American even though he doesn't understand a lot of it, but he feels that he usually can get enough to get an idea of what they're talking about. A lot of that I understand well enough, but not so well that I could explain it to you. At least not without some further research.

I think some of the most difficult things to get a handle on are some philosophical writings. I minored in Philosophy (of Science and Logic) in college, but if it weren't for classroom discussions, I'd have had a hard time figuring out what some of the readings were saying. You've just got to get a good handle on the vocabulary first. Because if you're struggling with the terms and new ideas, it can get real confusing, real fast!

Buddrow_Wilson · 03-25-2003, 10:54 AM

I would like to add that I take significant pauses during readings to think about a passage or how a story is progressing. I have a magazine subscription to Wired and it takes me 2 or 3 hours to get through it cover-to-cover normally (if I find most articles to be interesting) but the time is certainly not spent just reading.

Bill Snedden · 03-25-2003, 11:47 AM

I'd have to agree that it depends a great deal upon what's being read...

...although I must admit that lately I have a lot of trouble keeping the news down...

Regards,

Bill Snedden

Kinross · 03-25-2003, 12:29 PM

Its takes a good 10-12 hours to fully digest but the fiber keeps me regular.

mikester · 03-25-2003, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamSmith
Its takes a good 10-12 hours to fully digest but the fiber keeps me regular.

*click* time till expected shamless joke in thread produced....1 day, 4 hours, 32 minutes...

funny tho.

:notworthy

Infidelettante · 03-27-2003, 07:05 PM

Years sometimes. I read mostly non-fiction. A little SCI-FI when the mood hits. I read some books several times over years before I really understand. I've even lost books or loaned them away and had to buy them new and start all over.

Gets worse as I get older. I fear that at some point I'll reach an age where I'll never understand anything I read as I won't have the time left. Most likely it will hit sooner than I hope and I will never really know it's come. I'll pass away amid piles of dog eared books full of post-it-notes and old, yellowed plastic place markers from my daughters Catholic school.

*He had this look on his face as though he was trying to remember something. Peaceful like, but intent. Now what will we do with all these books?*

JT

03-24-2003, 06:42 PM	#1
mikester Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 813	how long do you digest what you've read? just wondering how long it takes other people to 'digest' material theyve recently read. personnally, it takes me a few days to really wrap my head around some material. recently, ive been constantly exposed to 'classic' works of literature, poetry, and so on (great expectations, catcher in the rye, 1984, macbeth, etc.). i find myself almost constantly thinking about what i read, over and over in my mind between classes and during breaks. i find it weird, but interesting, and im starting to really enjoy the whole reading experience. anyone else?

03-25-2003, 11:47 AM	#7
Bill Snedden Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,597	Reating... I'd have to agree that it depends a great deal upon what's being read... ...although I must admit that lately I have a lot of trouble keeping the news down... Regards, Bill Snedden

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03-24-2003, 07:21 PM	#2
Buddrow_Wilson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,589	I have an horrible memory. Most of my digesting is done during the reading. Put it this way: I could read a book I read six months ago, and it would seem almost like it was the first time.

03-24-2003, 09:00 PM	#3
Hedwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,921	It depends on what kind of literature I'm reading. For really intense literature it can take me a day or so to fully digest what I've read and understand all of it. For something like Harry Potter I'll barrel through the books without slowing down. It honestly depends on the gravity of what I'm reading.

03-24-2003, 09:30 PM	#4
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	I find scientific papers to be the slowest read. As for literature, as long as it is actually well-written I seem to have a momentum to them. I easily loose attention span when a work uses monotonous and uninspired dictions (so beware, scientists--it is NOT only about transmitting information ). I actually like many modernist novels--wordplay is, in my opinion, extremely important even in prose writings.

03-25-2003, 04:56 AM	#5
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	It really all depends on exactly what it is, and what sort of barriers you might have to overcome. For example, if you read Shakespeare in the original Olde English, it can be difficult to figure out what's even going on. I've got to get into a certain mindset before I can read Shakespeare. I had a hard time when watching (I know the thread's about reading, but bear with me a sec) Othello, but that was mainly because my wife couldn't follow it and kept asking me questions and then I'd miss what was happening next, etc. As for scientific stuff, it depends on what sort of level it's written at. My dad says he enjoys looking at Scientific American even though he doesn't understand a lot of it, but he feels that he usually can get enough to get an idea of what they're talking about. A lot of that I understand well enough, but not so well that I could explain it to you. At least not without some further research. I think some of the most difficult things to get a handle on are some philosophical writings. I minored in Philosophy (of Science and Logic) in college, but if it weren't for classroom discussions, I'd have had a hard time figuring out what some of the readings were saying. You've just got to get a good handle on the vocabulary first. Because if you're struggling with the terms and new ideas, it can get real confusing, real fast!

03-25-2003, 10:54 AM	#6
Buddrow_Wilson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,589	I would like to add that I take significant pauses during readings to think about a passage or how a story is progressing. I have a magazine subscription to Wired and it takes me 2 or 3 hours to get through it cover-to-cover normally (if I find most articles to be interesting) but the time is certainly not spent just reading.

03-25-2003, 12:29 PM	#8
Kinross Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,281	Its takes a good 10-12 hours to fully digest but the fiber keeps me regular.

03-27-2003, 07:05 PM	#10
Infidelettante Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Deep South Posts: 889	Years sometimes. I read mostly non-fiction. A little SCI-FI when the mood hits. I read some books several times over years before I really understand. I've even lost books or loaned them away and had to buy them new and start all over. Gets worse as I get older. I fear that at some point I'll reach an age where I'll never understand anything I read as I won't have the time left. Most likely it will hit sooner than I hope and I will never really know it's come. I'll pass away amid piles of dog eared books full of post-it-notes and old, yellowed plastic place markers from my daughters Catholic school. He had this look on his face as though he was trying to remember something. Peaceful like, but intent. Now what will we do with all these books? JT

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