Books

know1

Heineken Helen wrote:

we just buy them in the shops here... it makes for good reading when you're on the bus or sitting down in the canteen having a cup of coffee... or anywhere you don't have a computer in front of you.

Right, but how long until you can just read them wirelessly on your PDA from just about anywhere?

NMyTree

polaris wrote:

i use the library and typically have 1 or 2 books on the go ...

do you think tho - that this is a reflection of society? ... that books are falling by the wayside?

Yeah, I believe so.

Without a doubt the internet, tv, video games and pop-culture have had a significant effect of the reading habits of a lot of americans. But I still know plenty of people who buy books and read often.

I strongly encourage my three year old to read every day. We both read to him a combined total of three times a day; then there's the bedtime read. We've been doing that since he war born.

We buy him books and limit his TV watching time to a very small amount of time, in favor of reading, outdoor activities, creative and imaginative play time and so forth.

We have been reading to our one year old basically since the day he was born, too; and the plan/program is the same for him as he grows up.

I believe this method we use is a good and positive approach to raising good kids who will be thinkers and knowledge-hungry.

I also believe the voice of a parent reading at such an early age is soothing, relaxing and comforting to the baby. I also believe it esablishes a good foundation for their ability to listen, form sounds, develope speech patterns (sets an example of syntax), which eventually enables the child learn, read and speak well.

So far it seems to have been a very successful approach. My three year old knows his alphabet, can count up to the 70s and shows a great deal of interest in reading and speaking well. He routinely comes to me to bounce off not just words, but full sentences; so daddy could teach him the correct way to pronounce the words and structure the sentence.

My one year old is currently working on his "dadda'....... dadda' .....mamma' ....mamma' .......babba' ....buh ba' and saying "hat"

He's so cute:)

Jeanie

NMyTree wrote:

Yeah, I believe so.

Without a doubt the internet, tv, video games and pop-culture have had a significant effect of the reading habits of a lot of americans. But I still know plenty of people who buy books and read often.

I strongly encourage my three year old to read every day. We both read to him a combined total of three times a day; then there's the bedtime read. We've been doing that since he war born.

We buy him books and limit his TV watching time to a very small amount of time, in favor of reading, outdoor activities, creative and imaginative play time and so forth.

We have been reading to our one year old basically since the day he was born, too; and the plan/program is the same for him as he grows up.

I believe this method we use is a good and positive approach to raising good kids who will be thinkers and knowledge-hungry.

I also believe the voice of a parent reading at such an early age is soothing, relaxing and comforting to the baby. I also believe it esablishes a good foundation for their ability to listen, form sounds, develope speech patterns (sets an example of syntax), which eventually enables the child learn, read and speak well.

So far it seems to have been a very successful approach. My three year old knows his alphabet, can count up to the 70s and shows a great deal of interest in reading and speaking well. He routinely comes to me to bounce off not just words, but full sentences; so daddy could teach him the correct way to pronounce the words and structure the sentence.

My one year old is currently working on his "dadda'....... dadda' .....mamma' ....mamma' .......babba' ....buh ba' and saying "hat"

He's so cute:)

Nice work tree. Don't forget that you'll be helping them develop their imaginations by reading to them too. Not to mention their listening and comprehension skills.

I'm forever buying books and reading to my niece and nephew.
I have to battle sometimes to get them to turn off the tele, but once they settle down, they really enjoying having me read to them and looking at the pictures.

polaris

NMyTree wrote:

edited for space ...

My one year old is currently working on his "dadda'....... dadda' .....mamma' ....mamma' .......babba' ....buh ba' and saying "hat"

He's so cute:)

i commend you on the job and your kids are lucky to have you ... having said that - if you're reading them books about reagan - i take it all back ...

cincybearcat

polaris wrote:

... and they don't work well as door stoppers like reagan books ...

Comments like these speed up the death of books.

And dry is ok, but I'll look into the other one first. Have you heard of this one...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?z=y&cds2Pid=15223&isbn=1596911301

Heineken Helen

know1 wrote:

Right, but how long until you can just read them wirelessly on your PDA from just about anywhere?

I still think papers will exist. Just like books... you could download a book but people still like books.

cincybearcat

polaris wrote:

i commend you on the job and your kids are lucky to have you ... having said that - if you're reading them books about reagan - i take it all back ...

You're missing out.

polaris

cincybearcat wrote:

Comments like these speed up the death of books.

And dry is ok, but I'll look into the other one first. Have you heard of this one...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?z=y&cds2Pid=15223&isbn=1596911301

no, i haven't ... these days - i tend to read fiction more ... without trying to sound too arrogant - i've read enuf about climate change ... all they are reporting now is that their findings support what we knew over a decade ago ...

cincybearcat

polaris wrote:

no, i haven't ... these days - i tend to read fiction more ... without trying to sound too arrogant - i've read enuf about climate change ... all they are reporting now is that their findings support what we knew over a decade ago ...

I know you are well read on teh subject. I've done some reading myself, not a lot, but they were all studies/journals and I was looking for a comprehensive book...and prefereably not 1 with an agenda.

RockinInCanada

NMyTree I want to salute you for doing a great thing getting your kids into books early, will pay off ten fold down the road.

I know when me and the fiance' decide to have some little ones I will be reading to them non-stop and will encourage them to read on their own. I will not be another parent who believes that TV is the best baby-sitter, I will not let the media indoctrine my child on how to think.

I haev heard/read so many times (mostly from youth) that there is no point in reading books they are slow and boring. I tell you that without books I would not be the same person I am today, books develop a mind so much i think a lot people under-estimate the value of reading.

Heineken Helen

polaris wrote:

there are lots of books out there and they tell different kinds of stories ... take to kill a mockingbird for instance - it made people confront racism or how catcher in the rye told us about adolescence ... it goes on and on ...

also - if i want to know about life in the 1700's - what better way then in the context of a story about big sailboats? ...

It depends what people read though. I read a lot of fiction these days and it really is escapism for me... but how is me escaping off into my imagination doing any good for society? (smart commenters can fuck off )

I like books, I fully support them, don't get me wrong... but I don't support the idea that less books in GENERAL is bad for society. Intellectuals will always read anyway... the rest of us may or may not but I don't think it will do society any harm as long as it's properly substituted. If books are substituted by video games, I'm not sure that's a good thing... but if they're substituted by going out and actually LIVING and creating your own stories, well how can that possibly be bad?

polaris

cincybearcat wrote:

I know you are well read on teh subject. I've done some reading myself, not a lot, but there were all studies/journals and I was looking for a comprehensive book...and prefereably not 1 with an agenda.

the agenda thing is a hard one ... we've had long discussions about it ...

unfortunately, if i were to write a book - my book would have an agenda ... the ulitmate question would be whether or not i would fabricate or withhold information to further my agenda ... and what my purpose was ...

this is a good book - if you have any questions - let me know ...

cincybearcat

polaris wrote:

the agenda thing is a hard one ... we've had long discussions about it ...

unfortunately, if i were to write a book - my book would have an agenda ... the ulitmate question would be whether or not i would fabricate or withhold information to further my agenda ... and what my purpose was ...

this is a good book - if you have any questions - let me know ...

Yep. We have. And you're right, it is more about withholding or fabricating info. Seriously thanks for your help. I've given up on reading fiction for the most part, and want to find some good non-fiction. And hopefully some books that I don't agree 100% with on the surface.

I am going to buy and read that new Reagan book though.

RockinInCanada

polaris wrote:

the weather makers by tim flannery is a good book ... most of my other readings are from periodicals and journals ... they are very dry ... and they don't work well as door stoppers like reagan books ...

My fiance' just bought this book, she is a complete junkie when it comes to climate (and open minded to both sides to boot), so it is a pretty good read I assume then?

Jeanie

Heineken Helen wrote:

It depends what people read though. I read a lot of fiction these days and it really is escapism for me... but how is me escaping off into my imagination doing any good for society? (smart commenters can fuck off )

I like books, I fully support them, don't get me wrong... but I don't support the idea that less books in GENERAL is bad for society. Intellectuals will always read anyway... the rest of us may or may not but I don't think it will do society any harm as long as it's properly substituted. If books are substituted by video games, I'm not sure that's a good thing... but if they're substituted by going out and actually LIVING and creating your own stories, well how can that possibly be bad?

Actually Hels, I think you'll find, that you improve your concentration due to reading, any reading and it's also beneficial for your health. Reading is a meditative type pursuit. Very relaxing and by reading you are allowing your brain to come to things slowly. We have so many distractions these days. And everything is so fast paced. We are over stimulated. Reading is a really good way to feed the mind and lower the blood pressure.

polaris

Heineken Helen wrote:

It depends what people read though. I read a lot of fiction these days and it really is escapism for me... but how is me escaping off into my imagination doing any good for society? (smart commenters can fuck off )

I like books, I fully support them, don't get me wrong... but I don't support the idea that less books in GENERAL is bad for society. Intellectuals will always read anyway... the rest of us may or may not but I don't think it will do society any harm as long as it's properly substituted. If books are substituted by video games, I'm not sure that's a good thing... but if they're substituted by going out and actually LIVING and creating your own stories, well how can that possibly be bad?

it is based on the premise that understanding allows for tolerance ... take your example for one - you talk about living and creating your own stories (a good thing for sure) but say you can't afford to goto a village in vietnam or that you don't have a time machine and can't see what it was like for the early settlers in ireland ... this is where books can give you that insight ...

in the end tho - no video game, reality tv show nor web page can replace what books are meant to do ... and i'm not talking about the physical hard copy but the text that is written ...

stuckinline

polaris wrote:

the weather makers by tim flannery is a good book ..

i am currently reading this book.

Heineken Helen

Jeanie wrote:

Actually Hels, I think you'll find, that you improve your concentration due to reading, any reading and it's also beneficial for your health. Reading is a meditative type pursuit. Very relaxing and by reading you are allowing your brain to come to things slowly. We have so many distractions these days. And everything is so fast paced. We are over stimulated. Reading is a really good way to feed the mind and lower the blood pressure.

Oh no, I disagree completely. Reading is NOT good for my health. If I find a good book, I have to survive every day on one hours sleep... if I'm lucky

polaris

cincybearcat wrote:

I am going to buy and read that new Reagan book though.

there is a thing called nytol - no need to buy the book ...

Heineken Helen

polaris wrote:

it is based on the premise that understanding allows for tolerance ... take your example for one - you talk about living and creating your own stories (a good thing for sure) but say you can't afford to goto a village in vietnam or that you don't have a time machine and can't see what it was like for the early settlers in ireland ... this is where books can give you that insight ...

in the end tho - no video game, reality tv show nor web page can replace what books are meant to do ... and i'm not talking about the physical hard copy but the text that is written ...

I completely see where you're coming from... but a documentary can physically SHOW me what a village in Vietnam looks like... or I can go to the viking exhibition which will recreate viking... stuff! Also getting me out of the house and perhaps meeting people.