Comments on: Specialist and Generalist Readers http://www.blackgate.com/2009/10/30/specialist-and-generalist-readers/ Adventures in Fantasy Literature Thu, 17 May 2012 05:03:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Black Gate » Blog Archive » Reading Goals in the New Year http://www.blackgate.com/2009/10/30/specialist-and-generalist-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-7272 Black Gate » Blog Archive » Reading Goals in the New Year Fri, 06 May 2011 07:50:56 +0000 http://www.blackgate.com/?p=3830#comment-7272 [...] on trying to get more read over time. I’ve also talked about reading ruts and obsession in Specialist and Generalist Readers. Beyond the practical, my paen On Bookmarks may be of interest, as might my celebration of browsing [...] [...] on trying to get more read over time. I’ve also talked about reading ruts and obsession in Specialist and Generalist Readers. Beyond the practical, my paen On Bookmarks may be of interest, as might my celebration of browsing [...]

]]> By: Bill Ward http://www.blackgate.com/2009/10/30/specialist-and-generalist-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-1242 Bill Ward Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:59:45 +0000 http://www.blackgate.com/?p=3830#comment-1242 Maybe I didn't get the nuances of this post right. I would never say someone who hasn't read thousands of books by the time they are 30, or 40, or 50, or whatever, isn't a 'real reader,' I'm not sure how that does relate to what I'm saying. What I am saying is a person who only reads about Civil War battles, Keynesian economics, low-carb cooking, or regency romance isn't a 'real reader' -- ie. someone whose appetite for reading itself outweighs any one particular mania, obsession, or interest. It's about attitude, not numbers of books read. And it is also meant to be a bit tongue and cheek, yea? Observational, not condemnatory. I really don't find others reading habits all that terribly important until I'm stuck next to them at a party, and even then there's always baseball and the weather to fall back on. Maybe I didn’t get the nuances of this post right. I would never say someone who hasn’t read thousands of books by the time they are 30, or 40, or 50, or whatever, isn’t a ‘real reader,’ I’m not sure how that does relate to what I’m saying.

What I am saying is a person who only reads about Civil War battles, Keynesian economics, low-carb cooking, or regency romance isn’t a ‘real reader’ — ie. someone whose appetite for reading itself outweighs any one particular mania, obsession, or interest.

It’s about attitude, not numbers of books read. And it is also meant to be a bit tongue and cheek, yea? Observational, not condemnatory. I really don’t find others reading habits all that terribly important until I’m stuck next to them at a party, and even then there’s always baseball and the weather to fall back on.

]]> By: bluetyson http://www.blackgate.com/2009/10/30/specialist-and-generalist-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-1241 bluetyson Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:48:36 +0000 http://www.blackgate.com/?p=3830#comment-1241 A generalist that calls themselves such and won't read about mathematics, cooking or romance novels is full of it. :) You could also say someone that hasn't read thousands of books of all sorts by the time they are 30 isn't 'real' either. Also silly. A generalist that calls themselves such and won’t read about mathematics, cooking or romance novels is full of it.

:)

You could also say someone that hasn’t read thousands of books of all sorts by the time they are 30 isn’t ‘real’ either. Also silly.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.blackgate.com/2009/10/30/specialist-and-generalist-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-1230 Glenn Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:12:16 +0000 http://www.blackgate.com/?p=3830#comment-1230 I've always read a lot as well, and prefer reading over watching TV. In my middle school days i was more of a general reader. Reading just about anything that sounded good. But at about 14 i Picked up a random book that had a nice cover called 'The Cleric Quintet' by RA Salvatore. Since then i've become more specialized I usually only read fantasy with a little scifi thrown in. Within the past 6 months i've started to branch out some more. So i went from general, to specialized for a few years, to starting to branch out a little more. Good Blog topic, made me think a little. I’ve always read a lot as well, and prefer reading over watching TV. In my middle school days i was more of a general reader. Reading just about anything that sounded good. But at about 14 i Picked up a random book that had a nice cover called ‘The Cleric Quintet’ by RA Salvatore. Since then i’ve become more specialized I usually only read fantasy with a little scifi thrown in. Within the past 6 months i’ve started to branch out some more. So i went from general, to specialized for a few years, to starting to branch out a little more.
Good Blog topic, made me think a little.

]]> By: Generalizing About Specialist Readers — Bill Ward http://www.blackgate.com/2009/10/30/specialist-and-generalist-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-1228 Generalizing About Specialist Readers — Bill Ward Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:14:55 +0000 http://www.blackgate.com/?p=3830#comment-1228 [...] founded on some sort of smug exclusivity, mosey over to Black Gate to read my full article on Specialist and Generalist Readers and notice that I’m legitimately perplexed. Are the two broad camps of reading styles the [...] [...] founded on some sort of smug exclusivity, mosey over to Black Gate to read my full article on Specialist and Generalist Readers and notice that I’m legitimately perplexed. Are the two broad camps of reading styles the [...]

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