Why do People Read Books?

I call it the 3 E's...

Entertainment, Education, Enlightenment...

I think this is more of a discussion than a research question. I'm moving it to Round Table.

I read because I love reading. That's pretty much it.

I also read because I love reading. And I read all kinds of stuff for various reasons. What I don't do is watch book trailers. (I have friends who have trailers for their books, I don't watch them, either.) Why would I watch a teeny little movie when I could read a book? Or I could read the 'See Inside' on Amazon, which tells me what I want to know, and is a book-like experience.

Book trailers? Like a movie? They have that? Wow.

Can't answer. Nobody wants to read my books.

caw

The main reasons I read (for entertainment) are not on that list:

Entertainment
Escapism
Connection with people (as in the characters in novels) who are not me and immersion in their worlds and perceptions.

These are (I assume, or at least hope) the three main reasons someone would want to read a novel I wrote.

The third is one huge thing reading a novel gives me that a movie or TV show cannot--access to another person's inner world and dialog.

Another reason to read for entertainment instead of watching a movie or TV show is that it can be done in very short or long increments. I get to pick the pace and timing to some extent. It's great for squeezing into those 10 minute breaks in my day, or into more open-ended times in my schedule.

Layla Nahar said:

Book trailers? Like a movie? They have that? Wow.

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Indeed, though I don't know how successful they are at getting people to read books. I've certainly never bought a book because of a trailer I saw. I don't even know if any of the books I've read recently have trailers or where I'd go to find them if they do. The authors' blogs?

The thing is, books are things people read, while trailers are a different modality. I learn about what's in books from either browsing in a brick and mortar store (something I do fairly rarely these days), getting "if you liked this, then you'll like this," recommendations on B&N or Amazon sites (the read blurb/synopsis and peek inside). Word of mouth from people with similar taste is another way I hear about new books and authors (including people here on AW), Author blogs I follow, authors I've met at workshops (will usually buy at least one book by them and give it a try).

We read stories as an emotional exercise, our subconscious minds do not not completely recognize the difference between our real experiences, and what happens in our imagination. The emotional exercise can help us cope with stress.

As physical exercise raises our heart rate, and is therefore good for our hearts, so the emotional exercise of a story with it's black moment, increases our heart rate. Then the story's conclusion should bring it back down to normal again.

Roxxsmom said:

The main reasons I read (for entertainment) are not on that list:

Entertainment
Escapism
Connection with people (as in the characters in novels) who are not me and immersion in their worlds and perceptions.

These are (I assume, or at least hope) the three main reasons someone would want to read a novel I wrote.

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These are the reasons I read. And since it's said to write the book you want to read, it's why I write, too.

Roxxsmom said:

Indeed, though I don't know how successful they are at getting people to read books. I've certainly never bought a book because of a trailer I saw. I don't even know if any of the books I've read recently have trailers or where I'd go to find them if they do. The authors' blogs?

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I've seen some beautifully done book trailers. I can admire the skill with which it was put together. I'm afraid it still doesn't entice me to read the book.

The blurb, cover and the Look Inside feature (either digital or analog) are what compels me to pick up a book to read.

Why do people read books? Because they're not edible.

everyone has their own motivators, but these exercises always strike me as a sort of "paralysis by analysis" exercise in futility--there's a million reasons people read, like certain covers, etc., and sometimes you just gotta try to tell your best story, make your best cover, etc. without attempting to over-analyze and make it so all things to all people that it ends up nothing special to anyone.

In that vein, buffysquirrel's answer is perhaps as good as any.

I read to be entertained. That's enough, and depending upon the book and circumstance, may fit some, most, or none of the possibilities within the formal outline.

You seem to be missing: for fun.

Our kitten seems to think books are edible, even without the chocolate. He looked very abashed when I yelled NO!

veinglory said:

You seem to be missing: for fun.

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Yup

I read different things for different reasons, but, essentially, literature and poetry are a study of our common existence.

Buffysquirrel said:

Why do people read books? Because they're not edible.

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I had a paper-eating cat who would disagree. (But, then, he was the only animal I owned who would lick Bitter Apple off something he wanted to chew. He clearly hated the taste, but he licked it off anyway.)

As for the question, add me to the Escapism, Enjoyment, and Vicarious Living columns. I also read to learn and explore, but mostly I pick up a book to get away from reality.

Because books don't say or do things that make you feel bad and they don't complain when you hurl them across the room in a fit of pique because your favourite character just died.

veinglory said:

You seem to be missing: for fun.

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Best and most succinct answer.

I know I'm not the only one here who has sunk to reading the telephone book when nothing else was available (which is how I discover things like pecan tree shakers exist ). Would that be "for fun" or "it's an addiction"?

To be psychologically complete-ist: If one is making a list of motivations rather than simply experiences I think they need to basically fall under
1) satisfy or mimic genetically coded evolutionary survival behaviors
(social=bond with cooperation partners, mental challenge=prepare for future problems by developing cognitive skills, curiosity=explore novelty for future avoidance or exploitation as warranted, motivational=increase probability if successful coping behaviors).
2) providing satisfying consequences
(reference/learn=solve problems and get rewards)
3) being associated with a positive emotional valence (fun=activate pathways associated with success, spirituality=activate pathways associate with bliss--both unconditioned rewards).

DreamWeaver said:

I know I'm not the only one here who has sunk to reading the telephone book when nothing else was available (which is how I discover things like pecan tree shakers exist ). Would that be "for fun" or "it's an addiction"?

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Or reading a cereal box?

I miss being a kid.

I read books because I don't know of a faster way to transfer books' contents into my mind.