Do you know people who never read?

[pippinandtog]

Do you know some people who never read a book?
My mum is 76 and has never read a book in her life.
Would you feel that your life was incomplete if you could not indulge your love of reading?
I can't conceive of a life without books.

I've read lots of books. But I haven't read one in about 3 years. I find I just don't have the time or the concentration anymore. Hoping that will change when the kids are older though.

DH rarely reads books , less than 1 a year I'd say. He used to read on long flights, before we had children and had the time and money for long flights. Len Deighton type stuff. He reads everyday, but it's all cycling magazines and cycling websites/forums.

My dd hates reading. I have a house full of books and always one on the go and don't get it.

I don't think my dad (79) has ever read a book for pleasure. It did use to cause friction as my mum, brother and I were all 'every single opportunity'readers.

Can't imagine not reading tbh - am a very fast and voracious reader and always have a stack lined up

Same as PP, my DH never reads. I've been with him for 10 years and I've never know him to voluntarily read anything. It fascinates me that he doesn't. How does he wind down and switch off?

He finds it fascinating how much I read but he still won't pick up a book!

I go through phases. I used to read avidly but DD's arrival put paid to that. But in answer to your question - yes I would find thot very odd.

DH is not a big reader. He will read on holiday but that's about it. He probably reads about four books a year. He buys lots though. He's more of a newspaper /sports website reader.

Dh doesn't read much, maybe 10 books in the 20 years we've been together. He likes reading and reads decent books when he does, just doesn't prioritise it or find himself in the right mood that often.
I don't think its a great loss.
Different strokes and that, I read at least a book a week and couldn't cope without it.

I go through phases I've not read in over a year but before that probably read 2 books a week for months. It happens when I find an author I like then I have to read everything they've ever written but nothing's grabbed me lately.

Me. I've not read a book for years. I'm not sure why really as I used to like reading as a child/teenager. I'd like to read again but don't even know what type of book I'd enjoy and when I'd have time to do it!

loads of people never read novels/books

my dh reads the paper but on holiday he'll read novels

not having a book on the go is anathema to me but everyone's different ..i hate watching football and golf

I used to read avidly. Right up until 3 or 4 years ago it wasn't unusual for me to go through 3 books a week. I read much less now. Perhaps a book a month. My ability to concentrate isn't what it was and I find I am less tolerant of books that don't grip me immediately. In the past I slogged through many a book I wasn't really enjoying. Now if I don't care about the characters by the second or third chapter, I'm likely to abandon it.

I know plenty of people who don't read or read very little. My SIL is a lovely, intelligent person with a professional job but she hasn't read a book since leaving school (for pleasure I mean; she had to read textbooks to obtain her professional qualification). My dad will reads the paper daily but only reads a whole book (usually a sporting autobiography) once in a blue moon.

I have a family member (in her thirties) who has never read a book or even a magazine for enjoyment. She's well-educated and has obviously read for academic purposes but has no interest in reading for recreation. Funnily enough, she always did badly in English at school and her spelling and written grammar aren't the best.

I'm an avid reader and often have multiple books going at the same time so I do find it very strange.

Some people just don't take information in through reading books. I'm not sure why some people just can't grasp the concept that lots of people just don't enjoy reading books.

when I find an author I like then I have to read everything they've ever written but nothing's grabbed me lately.

Yes, I do this too Wishful! Last time my DCs were with my ex for a week, I was recommended an author and read 9 books of hers in 7 days. Been a very long time since I've been on a book binge like that!

For me reading is like breathing. I have two jobs and two children and people often ask me how I have time to read, but it's just part of my life.

I have a colleague who doesn't read. We are writers. It upsets me every day that she doesn't read and it upsets me even more that she's a really good writer! It pisses all over my view that you have to read to write! I do think though that she is clueless about life outside her own experience and that must be because of her not being a reader.

Yep.. Ranging from young to old. I can understand about the older generations not reading, there wasn't much of an emphasis on how important reading was!

But with the younger generation, it makes me sad that they would rather play video games or watch YouTube than reading a book. I'm glad that YouTubers are starting to bring out books, like Zoella. Yes Zoella may have used ghost writers for her books but it's getting people to read, just like her book club in WH Smiths.

I adore reading, I've always have done ever since my mum took to a local library. I did all the library reading challenges from the age of 5 to 18- they allowed me to do the challenge for an extra two years!

I actually prefer reading to watching films, it helps with my imagination and if I'm in a bad place with my mental health then reading takes me away me away from reality!

My dd1 doesn't like reading. She is very clever but finds reading technically difficult, and she has extra help with this. She loves drawing and art and music and will wind down drawing a sketch freehand. I love reading but have never voluntarily drawn anything in my life. Just as well we are all different!

I'm a good and fast reader. When I'm really into a book, I don't even register the words anymore really - just the pictures they make in my head, if that makes sense? I'm guessing that for lots of people, even educated people who read as part of their jobs, it isn't like that for them and so is a more laborious process and not pure escapism?

My sister - she's a teacher and she hates having books in the house as they look a mess. She has three sons, they will only read comics and she despairs of it. She used to ask me how to encourage them to read but didn't like it when I told her to let them see her and her DH reading.
She won't entertain the idea of a kindle.

Lots. Both my parents are barely literate and the idea of reading for pleasure is alien to them. I grew up in a house with no books, where reading was seen as lazy. And I know a lot of people for whom 'reading' is a scan of the local paper.

I have a friend that's a librarian and she doesn't read

I do think though that she is clueless about life outside her own experience and that must be because of her not being a reader. Well that's a narrow minded view for starters.