Norm picks up on the calculation that 14,000 books is a reasonable calculation for a lifetime's reading based on 4 books per week for 70 years.
I really do not know whether to be disheartened by such a calculation in light of all the books published (it amounts to a measly 0.008324477724 per cent of books), encouraged by the idea that I could reach such a level of reading, or further disheartened that there remain so many people who don't have access to literacy skills or reading materials.*
Have I read enough? Never enough.
*I'm going to try and not think too hard about those who have the skill to read but do not use it.
5 comments:
Four books per week? That's not reading; that's skimming. Does Norm have kids? I take it he doesn't do the cooking, either...
Pesephone: his children are very grown up and he's an emeritus academic. Plus, there are many kinds of reading. It would sort of depend on what you're reading as well....
Point taken though, that having a family (young ones especially - by which I mean still living at home) does significantly reduce available reading time.
I didn't say that I read 4 books a week! I wish I could, but I'm a slow reader. I picked that figure to show that even if one does read that much, and over a lifetime, it would still only cover the tiniest fraction of what there is.
We is only teasing - although you would have to say that you have probably read a lot more than many people!
Even if you read 4 books a week there's no guarantee they'd be any good. You're better off being selective and attentive. Read all the books written by Norm and his family. That should keep you going. ;-)
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