Are you a drive-by reader?
Posted on June 27, 2007 in Personal thoughts by DM
I just finished reading the new paperback edition of Janet Evanovich’s “Twelve Sharp,” from her Stephanie Plum series. I had started reading the book in chapters at bed-time, but took two hours to finish the last half of it last night. Everytime I close a finished book, I think of my husband.
He would love Larry Lehmer’s phrase, “drive-by reading.” In fact he would think Larry was writing about me in his post today where he mentions this concept.
I’ve been a fast reader ever since 4th grade, when I took a speed-reading course. My mother used to hate buying me new books, because I’d be finished with them in a few hours. To this day, I can start and finish a new novel in a day. It drives my husband nuts, who assumes I don’t retain anything and must surely miss a lot of detail in my reading.
Which isn’t true. I believe that by immersing myself in a day-long commitment to a single book, I probably get more out of it than I would if I were to read it over several shorter periods.
What are you currently reading? What kind of time do you devote to reading? How well do you think your reading time serves you?
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I’m in the process of reading The Rickover Effect by Theodore Rockwell–a largely positive biography about Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the American nuclear navy. It describes how he developed the reactors that made nuclear submarines, nuclear electrical plants and nuclear aircraft carriers possible. Rockwell was a close associate of Adm. Rickover, so the book is rather biased. I await the appearance of the definitive, unbiased biography about Rickover.
Joel, thanks for sharing your interests! While Rickoff’s life’s work is probably beyond my understanding from a technical standpoint, the life stories of those who make these kinds of contributions to science, or art, and other fields of endeavor are always worthwhile reading. Enjoy!