That can be a part of it, but one of the benefits of reading is the insight and understanding we gain when we immerse ourselves into other people’s reality.
Would you ask that of musicians? Artists? Hikers? Chefs? Knitters? Reading is a pleasure, informative, teaching, amusing, at times can be life saving. Uses and invites the imagination, problem solving, invokes and evokes emotions of an amazing range. Sooths, incites, challenges, delights. Avoidance of reality? What is the reality being avoided?
Yes, but I would say dealing with reality. Cooking, listening to music, hiking, knitting, painting, are all leisure activities that help deal with stress and life in general. (assuming reading isn’t a career, but wouldn’t that be nice)
I have definitely been using books/audiobooks to avoid reality recently. I’ve also read about unfortunate realities related to unfortunate aspects of my own reality, however . . . Much of the time I am trying to understand reality more than avoid it.
Just as much as any other immersive hobby or pastime. But it can be so much more. I can lose myself in cooking, hiking in the woods, gardening, meditating or just watching the birds on my back porch. I call it relaxing.
I believe the exact opposite. Sure, reading can be an escape and that is one of the major reasons people do it. But even if you believe you are reading to avoid or escape something, another great and wonderful thing is happening while you’re reading; you are learning things. About the world, and everything in it, about how people think and the things they do and all of the fabulous and kind and dark and twisty things that can happen in this life. Reading is always an expansive act, you always gain something whether you meant to or not.
While that is interesting, do you think the same of people who watch TV? As an avid reader I hardly ever watch T.V. I prefer my storylines to be in book form and that’s okay.
I think real life is not enough, that’s why i read. There’s no way so many things will happen in reality, that’s why we live them by reading. So it’s not avoiding, it’s upgrading reality 🙂
Yes, sometimes. My dad died this year and I have read more than ever in my life but it has been such a good distraction when I don’t want to face the world.
Sometimes yes………..and that is a good thing. I read to try to switch off from whatever is worrying me and it works better than anything else ~ if the book is good!
You can read to escape but you can also read to learn. A really good writer can teach one a lot, if a book is well-researched and the characterization and character development are well done.
And the really cool part is that you can escape and learn at the same time <3
Everyone needs to take a break from reality and get lost in a story sometimes. If we didn’t, we’d all be a mess! We just choose books and not some other means of escape. Plus, most of us read things to help us figure out our own realities. Know what I mean?
For me, I don’t think it’s avoiding reality. I’m an introvert who enjoys reading as my entertainment. I also don’t like to travel therefore I experience different cultures and “see the world” through books.
More like having a very active imagining skills rather than avoiding reality.. if ur really into a book, everything about the scene in the book plays out like a real thing in every detail even
No doubt reading is entertainment. But I firmly believe that reading makes all us better thinkers, encourages empathy, and helps us to see reality in the multi-dimensional way that it is instead of the black and white, right and wrong way that is often promoted by those who would seek to control us. And this is true with fiction and non-fiction.
I am well aware that reading is an avoidance tactic that goes back to my childhood discovery of libraries. “Get your nose out of the book and go play outside,” this from my mother. So i took my book outside and read under a tree.
No. I read mostly nonfiction to find out more about the world and it’s realities. Not at all pleasant these days, but very eye opening in a variety of ways. And if we don’t read, how do we learn?
No definitely not, I read to enrich my life. I find reading different authors helps with my job too. I work in a Primary School and I love to inspire the children in their writing by recalling phrases, vocabulary and settings that I have come across.
you can’t deny the fact that many genres allow us to submerge into a different world from our own, but it may not necessarily be avoiding reality (although sometimes it is) – it could also be wanting to experience someone else’s reality (again, depending on the genre), in more of an exploratory sense…
plus, there are so many other ways to avoid reality, ha ha
I think we often actively read so much that we ignore/run away from our own life responsibilities. We use reading as the only important activity and avoid other activities because they seem not as important as reading. I feel this because I currently am in this kind of situation where I just want to read all the time and ignore everything else.
On the contrary- I think we see reality very clearly. Reading helps me deal with reality by providing an escape an a means of decompression and also provides alternative scenarios for problem solving.
I have certainly done that. My dad was in the military and I read whenever we got to a new post and I’ve been reading more since the election but mostly I just love to read…
I worry a little about this in myself. I read mostly non-fiction; I like learning. But even with a fiction book like I started last night I learned how police dogs get trained to track and follow a specific scent.
No. I think the reading that I do (for the most part) educates me about history or different views or life experiences people may have. I think reading broadens my horizons and heightens my empathy.
Yes, sometimes. Just like people who watch TV or watch movies or play video games. Other times, it’s a way of seeking out information one didn’t even know one was needed. 😉 I make an effort to mix it up. For example, I’m reading the series of Elena Ferrante novels which is a reality avoidant activity and thoroughly engrossing! But, I also have a book by Brene Brown waiting and just finished a book by Eric Barker where my goal is to glean ideas to implement changes in my behavior and to take a different perspective. Last week, I finished a book by Richard Dawkins where I learned more about science and rationalism. Sometimes, books are a way to have a one-sided discussion with the thoughtful friend you don’t have immediately available.
That can be a part of it, but one of the benefits of reading is the insight and understanding we gain when we immerse ourselves into other people’s reality.
Would you ask that of musicians? Artists? Hikers? Chefs? Knitters? Reading is a pleasure, informative, teaching, amusing, at times can be life saving. Uses and invites the imagination, problem solving, invokes and evokes emotions of an amazing range. Sooths, incites, challenges, delights. Avoidance of reality? What is the reality being avoided?
Yes, but I would say dealing with reality. Cooking, listening to music, hiking, knitting, painting, are all leisure activities that help deal with stress and life in general. (assuming reading isn’t a career, but wouldn’t that be nice)
Also demanding careers.
I have definitely been using books/audiobooks to avoid reality recently. I’ve also read about unfortunate realities related to unfortunate aspects of my own reality, however . . . Much of the time I am trying to understand reality more than avoid it.
Just as much as any other immersive hobby or pastime. But it can be so much more. I can lose myself in cooking, hiking in the woods, gardening, meditating or just watching the birds on my back porch. I call it relaxing.
No. It helps me deal with reality better and gives me hope.
Totally agree… Also readers seem to have a higher tolerance for some crazy circumstances and to be more generous to the people who is out of mind.
I believe the exact opposite. Sure, reading can be an escape and that is one of the major reasons people do it. But even if you believe you are reading to avoid or escape something, another great and wonderful thing is happening while you’re reading; you are learning things. About the world, and everything in it, about how people think and the things they do and all of the fabulous and kind and dark and twisty things that can happen in this life. Reading is always an expansive act, you always gain something whether you meant to or not.
I think….we’re thinking too much about people who love books.
? absolutely
Yes, but that’s okay.
While that is interesting, do you think the same of people who watch TV? As an avid reader I hardly ever watch T.V. I prefer my storylines to be in book form and that’s okay.
Yes. That is how we cope.
Some of us, at times, certainly.
I think more reality-pausers.
I think real life is not enough, that’s why i read. There’s no way so many things will happen in reality, that’s why we live them by reading. So it’s not avoiding, it’s upgrading reality 🙂
No, because I am always learning as I read.
Speaking solely for myself, yes, absolutely.
Yes, sometimes. My dad died this year and I have read more than ever in my life but it has been such a good distraction when I don’t want to face the world.
Understand. Comfort hug.
Sometimes yes………..and that is a good thing. I read to try to switch off from whatever is worrying me and it works better than anything else ~ if the book is good!
You can read to escape but you can also read to learn. A really good writer can teach one a lot, if a book is well-researched and the characterization and character development are well done.
And the really cool part is that you can escape and learn at the same time <3
We rejoice when our children read so why should we have to do nothing but grown up stuff? I am going to continue to lead by example.?
Everyone needs to take a break from reality and get lost in a story sometimes. If we didn’t, we’d all be a mess! We just choose books and not some other means of escape. Plus, most of us read things to help us figure out our own realities. Know what I mean?
For me, I don’t think it’s avoiding reality. I’m an introvert who enjoys reading as my entertainment. I also don’t like to travel therefore I experience different cultures and “see the world” through books.
i am!
More like having a very active imagining skills rather than avoiding reality.. if ur really into a book, everything about the scene in the book plays out like a real thing in every detail even
Yes. Reality is overrated.
of course..
Absolutely true of me when I was an unhappy child.
No doubt reading is entertainment. But I firmly believe that reading makes all us better thinkers, encourages empathy, and helps us to see reality in the multi-dimensional way that it is instead of the black and white, right and wrong way that is often promoted by those who would seek to control us. And this is true with fiction and non-fiction.
Very well said.
It’s great to have a break once in awhile.
That’s what my Dad used to say…
Wonder what he would say now!?!
True! I thought of that! ?
Like any good thing, it can be used as a tool or as a coping mechanism. And probably does both at different times in all of our lives.
I am. Buuuuut definitely not everyone is.
Sometimes I’m hiding from reality and sometimes I’m dragging myself away from wonderful reality because I still want to read!
I read daily regardless of how nice my life is but if I’m sad or something bad is festering in my mind I will read much more
I am well aware that reading is an avoidance tactic that goes back to my childhood discovery of libraries. “Get your nose out of the book and go play outside,” this from my mother. So i took my book outside and read under a tree.
No. I read mostly nonfiction to find out more about the world and it’s realities. Not at all pleasant these days, but very eye opening in a variety of ways. And if we don’t read, how do we learn?
No definitely not, I read to enrich my life. I find reading different authors helps with my job too. I work in a Primary School and I love to inspire the children in their writing by recalling phrases, vocabulary and settings that I have come across.
You say that like it’s a bad thing!
you can’t deny the fact that many genres allow us to submerge into a different world from our own, but it may not necessarily be avoiding reality (although sometimes it is) – it could also be wanting to experience someone else’s reality (again, depending on the genre), in more of an exploratory sense…
plus, there are so many other ways to avoid reality, ha ha
I agree! My Husband and best friend both watch hours of television.
To me reading is no worse
I think we often actively read so much that we ignore/run away from our own life responsibilities. We use reading as the only important activity and avoid other activities because they seem not as important as reading.
I feel this because I currently am in this kind of situation where I just want to read all the time and ignore everything else.
Just as we could use anything(drinking?!)to run away from responsibilities. As it goes reading is a good one!
Book beat reality…
Hmmmm, interesting question
Not always sometimes we need to get a different landscape for a while
I read for more reality, to push back my horizon, and at the best of times, discover that I’m not alone.
Sometimes
Readers are a diverse group. There are many reasons for reading and that is only one of them.
Only sometimes-depends upon the book and if reality should be stepped away from for a moment or two.
I don’t live away from reality, I just need breaks to recharge my batteries.
Depends on the type of reader/book. And sometimes a trip away from reality is a good thing!
It depends, in what you define as reality, and what you consider distracts from reality.
Not for me. I read to know who we humans are and supports being less special/individual and separate. Even some Sci-fi like The Sparrow reveals.
Sometimes but mostly Curious Observant Love learning. Interested in human behavior. And more
On the contrary- I think we see reality very clearly. Reading helps me deal with reality by providing an escape an a means of decompression and also provides alternative scenarios for problem solving.
It’s the main reason I write books… to avoid reality… but reading them is to help me relax. 😀
I have certainly done that. My dad was in the military and I read whenever we got to a new post and I’ve been reading more since the election but mostly I just love to read…
Nope.
I worry a little about this in myself. I read mostly non-fiction; I like learning. But even with a fiction book like I started last night I learned how police dogs get trained to track and follow a specific scent.
No. I think the reading that I do (for the most part) educates me about history or different views or life experiences people may have. I think reading broadens my horizons and heightens my empathy.
I don’t think it a bad thing if reading is sometimes or even always an escape. We live in a fast paced world. A healthy escape is sometimes needed.
I am a realist in the real world… I like that books, shows, movies, writing all help me escape myself.
Yes, sometimes. Just like people who watch TV or watch movies or play video games. Other times, it’s a way of seeking out information one didn’t even know one was needed. 😉 I make an effort to mix it up. For example, I’m reading the series of Elena Ferrante novels which is a reality avoidant activity and thoroughly engrossing! But, I also have a book by Brene Brown waiting and just finished a book by Eric Barker where my goal is to glean ideas to implement changes in my behavior and to take a different perspective. Last week, I finished a book by Richard Dawkins where I learned more about science and rationalism. Sometimes, books are a way to have a one-sided discussion with the thoughtful friend you don’t have immediately available.
During the times when it has become too difficult to smile, books have always lifted me up one level above my sadness or anger.
I like that. Been reading a lot. My sweet mother in law just died
I’m so sorry for your loss. i hope that in time you gain your strength back due to the loss. may your heart mend and your joy return
Non… I don’t think so … reading broadens the mind …. helping readers to deal with real life …. I would think ….
Not any more than TV and movie watchers, sports fans, theater-goers, concert-goers, etc. ?
On some level, yes.