Comments on: Reading Blogs vs. Reading Books

By: Chris @ ThesisTheme.net

Chris @ ThesisTheme.net — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:17:33 +0000

The Sharp Skin looks great here. Thanks for giving it a try. I’m always happy to see good quality sites sporting my skin
.-= Chris @ ThesisTheme.net´s last blog ..Thesis Theme Showcase – LegalPPC =-.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:28:50 +0000

Thanks. The Thesis skin I use is called Thesis Sharp. It’s actually a free skin (I can’t justify buying a paid theme for a paid theme, you know?), but I thought it looked relatively professional. Moreso than my blog did before it, at least.

By: Michael Hart

Michael Hart — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:43:19 +0000

Prof, I think your wife is right; reading is reading— with one epochally significant caveat: The URANTIA Book No other reading like it on the planet, IMO. Everyone’s mileage varies, of course, but some people’s miles are much much better than others. Enjoy.

PS: like your Thesis
.-= Michael Hart´s last blog ..Putting Terrorism On Trial: Wingers Piss Their Diapers =-.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:49:54 +0000

You mean to tell me that I can’t survive on mini wheats alone? Why did someone not tell me this sooner?!?!?!

Seriously, though, I think you’re right. I’m keeping up with my blogs right now, but I have about 4 books I’m definitely looking forward to getting into over Christmas break while I’m not teaching. It’ll be a fantastic change.

By: Tesh

Tesh — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:34:30 +0000

There are definitely differences. I, too, have felt the itch for something more structured and mentally rigorous in my reading (as I note from time to time on my blog). Writing is writing, but there is a definite gradient of quality, just like there is a gradient of quality in thinking, art, or nearly anything else. The critical thinking and depth of attention that it takes to read something with more structure is good for the reader’s mental health.

Blogs aren’t exactly junk food, but subsisting on a diet of them alone wouldn’t be healthy in the long run, just as a diet solely of Frosted Mini Wheats wouldn’t be healthy.

I read *very* quickly, but there’s no way that I’ll ever read all that is out there. I have to pick and choose, and lately, I’ve been looking for a good book to bury myself in. (Though I’ve also felt the itch to *write* a novel, for what it’s worth.) I’ve had to be ruthless in skipping over articles that might be mildly interesting. It’s a bit unfortunate, but I frame it as “looking for the better and best, rather than just the good”.
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By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:10:23 +0000

I don’t think they will. I read somewhere that eBook sales are projected to equal print sales by 2018, and that really makes me think that the idea of digital text of any format will be far more accepted.

Even in my freshman comp classes today, I ask people on the first day what they read and the majority of what I get is “MySpace blogs” and “Facebook notes.”

By: John Samuel

John Samuel — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:55:03 +0000

I totally agree with you. Even I have this dilemma between books and blogs. Somehow or minds are trained to think that books and blogs are different. May be the next generation will not have this problem. .-= John Samuel ´s last blog ..Decrease loading Time of Wordpress Widgets with Widget Cache =-.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:31:08 +0000

But that’s the argument I use to defend Stephen King! I can’t use it for both! Or is Shakespeare really that versatile? *irony*

By: We Fly Spitfires

We Fly Spitfires — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:46:28 +0000

I agree with you: writing is writing. It’s all just different forms of the same thing. Remember that Shakespear was originally written for the masses as soap opera entertainment and now it’s considered classic and high brow.

The big difference between books and blogs is that I can read a book in the bath without fear of electrocution.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:57:51 +0000

I do think that reading is cathartic. That’s why it kind of bothers me that my chosen catharsis has shifted from what I’m trained to study and love to something…else.

I wish I could find the time to write fiction as well as blogs these days. I need to force myself to do it and carve my niche of time out for myself.