Do you read books regularly? Fiction or nonfiction?

I pretty much only read fiction. I've never really got in to reading much non-fiction, though I'd like to try to get into it more. I get my technical content during the day from the internet so don't really feel the need to read technical books, though I'll make the odd exception.

I usually read for about 30-60 minutes a day before bed, I find it helps me switch off and sleep well. I've recently been working my way through some classics which have been reissued, properly typeset etc., by Amazon on Kindle for free: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=18660703011. The best one I've read so far is Count of Monte Cristo - it's long but it's one of those books where you get really engrossed in its world and you're really sad when it is over!

I try to read every night before going to bed, and I'm trying to alternate between a technical book, and a pleasure book.

I recently finished the whole lot of Foundation from Asimov, Zero to sold from Arvid Kahl and I'm currently reading "The wealth of Nations" from Adam Smith (Gotta admit, it hurts).

The motivation behind alternating between pleasure and technical is to try to increase my knowledge (even though I feel like I retain 1% of what I read), and to enjoy reading too (with the pleasure book)

On my to read next list, I have:

- High growth Handbook (Elad Gil) (Pleaure book) - Utopia - Thomas More (Technical) - Beyond the rift - Peter Watts (Pleasure) - Manufacturing consent (Noam Chomsky) (Technical) - Children of time - Adrian Tchaikovsky

I've gotten a lot of good book referrals through HN, including "Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training" by Mark Rippetoe. So cutting out online stuff is just a bad idea (significantly reduces my "surface area").

OTOH, I really need to get back into a habit of reading books, every day. I used to go through a goodly number of non-fiction books on a regular basis (another good book, "The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master" says you should read at least one non-fiction book in your field a quarter), but recently I've just lacked the discipline and habit to do so. I find myself reading a lot online, but so much of it is so low information and not in-depth enough.

That said, I also try to partake of fiction, although in that regard I'm not doing great either, as I opt for a lot of passive fiction in the form of video. Fiction can be just as good for expanding the mind, even exercising empathy. Just reading speculative fiction (to give a broader term to science fiction) can exercise one's mind in visualizing things or give one new ideas. Heck, Google Earth was supposedly inspired by a technology in "Snow Crash".

ETA: There's some great "forgotten" fiction out there, which hasn't been turned into other formats yet. "The Stars my Destination" and "Lord of Light" are excellent. Which reminds me, another good source I've found for books is /usr/games/fortune

I've gone through phases where I'm more or less organized.

Since the start of COVID and not needing to commute, I found myself with time to exercise for the first time in many years. In order to use that time efficiently and avoid injuries that would inevitably come from someone in his late 30's pretending he's in his early 20's, I read a bunch of books around running, biking, strength training and nutrition over the summer.

I try to make myself read some fiction, but I don't feel compelled too often enough, so it doesn't happen much. I end up re-reading Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia every 2-3 years.

I've been listening to a few Audible books lately about Roman History. A finished a biography of Caesar and a book offering (yet another) set of theories on the fall of the Roman Empire. I'm currently listening to a book about Cicero's life.

For sorta-related-to-work I have a few really niche books I'm reading on Telecom OSS/BSS, network planning and telecom regulation.

I think my favorite author remains GK Chesterton, he has a couple books I try to re-read every so often. It's fascinating how he was writing around 100 years ago, and how around 25% is super old-timey cultural references or things that no one would think today, but how much of it is still pretty relevant. Also, I haven't read anyone better at turning a phrase.

I read a bit of both, depending on what kind of reading I want to do. I just started Abbadon's Gate, the 3rd book in the series that the TV show The Expanse (excellent show) is based on. Sci-fi/fantasy has always been my favorite genre though, since it seems like that caters to the way my imagination works and can create pictures and scenes in my head as I read.

Long time lurker, first time (in a while) commenter :)

I read a lot of blog content but the majority of books I read is fiction (wast majority is SF or fantasy).

One reason is that if I want to read a non-fiction book it's usually to make a real deep dive into a technical subject (control theory for instance) which does not lend itself to quick things. One issue is that I usually don't have the time for that, another is that due to me following so many blogs and having RSS feeds to keep me busy my ability to focus has essentially vanished.

(edit: I also used to read interesting research papers but, again, have lost the focus factor there)

Not as much as I'd like, always seems like there's something else more important to do, or when I do take downtime something more convenient (video games, etc).

Mostly SciFi, the harder the better. Entertainment value aside it's where I draw inspiration from, I'm basically an engineer because I watched/read a lot of sci-fi as a kid and thought it would be awesome if we could build all the stuff shown. In 5th grade when asked to "come up with an invention" I drew my best 5th grader blueprints of a probe to explore under the ice of Europa :P

Turns out there are a few pesky laws of physics in the way of some of the cooler stuff, but just because we can't build it directly doesn't mean we can't move the ball closer, and new physics is always a possibility. In the meantime there's plenty of awesome things we can do with the tech we have.

When I do read non-fiction it's almost always history, particularly military history. Aside from simply finding it more engaging I find the strategic aspects of war to be highly applicable to daily life and decision-making. Much like engineering, dishonesty about one's capabilities is not rewarded for long. If you can't code effectively your program won't run, if you can't fight effectively you lose the war, and more things are decided by superior logistics than superior warriors, among many other lessons that can be drawn.

I probably differ from a lot of the HN crowd in that I don't spend much time reading about abstract theoretical science. For instance, for all the talk about "mental models" I've yet to see any way of productively integrating such things into my life, or found one that would lead me to make superior decisions when applied to real-world circumstances. Clearly others have and that's fine, I just don't personally find it a useful/enjoyable way to spend my time. Likewise I once read about "Optimal Stopping Theory" as applied to relationships, the idea being using mathematics/statistics to maximize one's odds of a successful marriage. The methodology was actually impressively in-depth, I forget the precise numbers, but it was something like you should skip the first few people you seriously date, then pick number 4-7 or something, and that gave you like a 40-something percent chance of success, which was the maximum. Well my wife is the first person I ever dated more than once and I have no regrets there, so if I strictly followed that formula it would have been a huge mistake.

Lots of squeeze, not much juice in the theoretical stuff for me.

I try to read two books in parallel: one fiction (sci-fi or fantasy, usually) and one non-fiction (history, philosophy, economics, or psychology).

I’ve found that this approach keeps things fresh, and allows me “cooldown” and let my imagination flow periodically. I used to read even more books in parallel (3-5), but 2 books has been the sweet spot for me.

Right now, I’m switching between “Oathbringer” (Stormlight Archive series) and “Capital in the 21st Century”.

I also used to listen to a lot of audiobooks and I’m trying to get back into that.

I am re-reading Plato's dialogues again. Are they fiction or nonfiction? I'm not sure either category fits. Regardless, they are entertaining and fulfilling to read.

My reading list is currently around 80% non-fiction (technical) books.

I'm trying to read again as much as I once did but I'm overwhelming myself with all the options; I end up not reading anything because of choice paralysis. I also end up not even reading non-technical books because reading the technical ones is more "important" to me (which it might/should not even be the case)

I'd be happy to hear any advice from anyone who had the same issue.

Yes, constantly, and as wide a mix as interest and attention affords. I also try to read books from many different cultures and across a wide time span. Just reading books from the past five years impoverishes thinking, especially in fields like AI that have deep roots and where a current standard approach is stifling the imagination (as much as I likes using Keras and Tensorflow).

Mostly science fiction here.

I'd be interested in seeing other people's reading lists if they are tracking them some how, so I'll try sharing mine in hope others do the same.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/75821997-george-antoni...

I read quite a bit. Reading fiction before sleep helps me to relax. I like a variety of fiction, mostly science fiction, but also some general, historical, legal and spy thrillers, etc. The Overdrive and Libby apps are good for books from the local library as are borrowing from Amazon (Prime or unlimited). I don't really buy fiction books, only borrow, read, and return them. I read some non-fiction. I have purchased some tech/dev books, but have an O'Reilly Learning subscription. It's cool to be able to read in-depth on about any tech topic I have an interest in (or watch some of their video courses). I am now trying out Blinkist to read/listen to blinks (brief synopsis segments) of popular non-fiction. I have a few more days before my trial expires, but will probably keep it. With limited time for this kind of reading, I like being able to get the gist of some interesting books without having to give them a full read.

I try to read everything I can about the Anunnaki. As you can guess, 95% of it is utterly useless, but at least some bits can point me in an interesting direction, so I'll just mention two titles.

Last year I read The Anunnaki Connection: Sumerian Gods, Alien DNA, and the Fate of Humanity, and the author has a PhD next to her name, so she caught me off guard. It's not a bad book, she basically tries to make sense of it proposing her own theory (I don't want to spoil you the pleasure of finding out in case there are other Anunnaki (or panspermia in general) fans here). Unfortunately at some point she wrote we're using 10% of our brain which was a big letdown.

So I was very positively surprised by Reign of the Anunnaki by Jan Erik Sigdell. The guy uses proper references! It's invaluable in these kinds of books where you need to check almost every sentence because the authors have a tendency to colorize facts or sometimes simply fantasize or repeat gossip.

I read both, as much as I can.

I'm currently reading fiction and essays written by Mia Couto (portuguese is my mother tongue). It's been a long time I don't read a book which thrills me right at the first page. Highly recommended.

English translations may be also very good, although you may loose a bit of the delighment of his beautiful use of the language.

I read a book about the formation of Brazilian peoples and I'm about to begin one on the history of the United States. When it comes to non-fiction, I've recently started the habit of taking notes. Now I go through the book fairly slower, but the experience gets more pleasurable and constructive overall.

I've already read a lot of books on Kindle but since some years ago I've focused on traditional, paper books. It's been a great way of getting offline and the smell of a new book is priceless. It's like the smell of coffee to me, it immediately makes me feel that I have a good couple of hours ahead.

90% - fiction, but never SF or fantasy

10% - non fiction, but never self-help or pop-science, preferably nothing written in the last 100 years.

There is an assumption that anything worthwhile is available on the web. About half of what I read is only available in print (mostly older books of poetry, math and music). I spend enough time looking at and working on screens that when i read I prefer physical books with all of their delightfully different form factors.

Typically both, with a bias towards fiction.

I need to read some sword n' spells stuff to cleanse my palate after harrowing history books like Bloodlands[1]

[1]https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6572270-bloodlands

I'm listening to audiobooks for most of the day while working, and 100% of time while driving or doing chores around the house. Almost all non-fiction, and almost all history. Consume some paper books too, but maybe only 5%?

Audible has become pretty expensive, with hundreds of books. I started using Librivox, but the time listening to professional narrators has made me spoiled with Audie winners like Derek Perkins. Some of Librivox narrators are pretty good, though.

I even investigated how much it'd cost to commission a well-known narrator to read a book that doesn't exist in audiobook form – it's a few thousand dollars.

[0] https://librivox.org/

I'm all about nonfiction. Technical books, mostly programming, investing, true crime and books about some events. I really enjoyed "Bad blood" and a recent book about Chernobyl explosion but I cannot remember it's name.

I read a few times a week tops.

At some point I realized I was missing out a ton of learning that my business parter was getting, and I decided to get over myself and accept that audiobooks do actually count as "reading"

8 years later I have read over 100 books (at 2X speed), mostly nonfiction business and self help books and I have retained a ton and applied lessons from those books in my business and everyday life.

Since the pandemic, I've lost my commute reading time so it's slowed way down, but I'm currently enjoying President Obama's book. I typically give myself 1 fiction book as a treat for every 3-4 nonfiction books I read.

I read all the time—fiction and nonfiction.

Currently reading nonfiction: Stewart Brand’s Whole Earth Catalog.

Currently reading fiction: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien.

Finished Tolstoy’s War and Peace in 2020 (pandemic silver lining). Life changing book.

The Mediations of Marcus Aurelius is something I keep around and revisit frequently.

If I need some time to refocus during a busy workday, I’ll open it up to a random page and read for a few minutes.

No. I used to, but then I completely stopped for years. When I tried to read fiction again, I rarely found much pleasure in it. I just did not cared about finishing to read it in majority of cases. Once in a while I run into a fiction book I like based on news review or something like that. So I am randomly trying them once in few months.

I have periods when I binge read some history topic through. Modern history can engage me much more then fiction. But my interest in it is not regular.

I try to alternate between Fiction, then Non-Fiction, then something related to my job, then repeat. I often skip the job related ones though. :/

I have essentially replaced my morning commute with reading time. I read almost entirely non-fiction and textbooks/technical books. I had a backlog that had been growing over the years that I am now nearly through. On the rare occasions I read fiction, I sometimes have to remember that the story is actually made up! (obviously more for "realistic" fiction and not sci-fi/fantasy stuff)

Mostly non-fiction, about an audiobook a week for years now. Love memoirs, biographies and anything else that's stood the test of time.

Every couple months I try to read a fiction book but never seem to be able to finish. If any other non-fiction snobs have advice on how to broaden my horizons, I'm all ears. As a kid I'd devour encyclopedias so starting to think I'm just wired this way.

I never used to read books but recently I realised that I can experience fiction books via audio. I probably went through 10 books the past year and I'm really happy about it. I can experience a book while doing housework, driving or exercising. Pair it with a good pair of headphones and it's a great experience, less wasteful than watching TV.

I am trying to read one non-fiction book a month. It doesn't sound a lot, but for me it's a stretch while managing work, family, HackerNews etc.

I have noticed that I gained a lot of speed through Kindle's WhisperSync Feature. You buy the book + audiobook as combo. Thus you can listen to the book while walking for example and then re-read important passages. Highly recommended.

I read 2 fiction for every non-fiction. For a while I read 40-50 books a year. Nowadays, It's between 1 & 2 a month on average.

I try to read each night, getting away from screens, before going to bed. I'm usually reading two books, one fiction and one non-fiction. The fiction can be science fiction, mystery, action. The non-fiction is history or science. Currently, "Archaeology from Space: How the Future Shapes Our Past" (Sarah Parcak) and "Blue Moon" (Lee Child).

I read both! Just finished Manhattan Transfer by Dos Passos - starting a book about history of dress codes/clothing and a short story collection. A good nonfiction can be as fun as a fiction books in terms of transporting you to other "worlds".

Reading is my main hobby for pleasure, so I'm averse to the popular nonfiction "productivity" books.

I read books obsessively as a kid and young adult but as I’ve gotten older I’ve been listening to audiobooks obsessively

Fiction, yes. I've recently read and recommend Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami (which in a way is a blend of sci fi and fantasy), Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, and Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut.

On Deck, I have Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.

I read articles/blog posts 30 min a day and Books 30-45 min a day.

The articles are 98% Non-fiction, the books are whatever I'm into at the time. This has been more Non-fiction over the last 10 years because I binged the classics ages 14-22 (probably ~500 books or so, even those nasty thick Russian novels)

I read in waves - I'll get the itch occasionally and knock out one or two novels in a few days each then ease back into a much slower pace.

Almost exclusively fiction. I like the Harry Dresden novels, and lots of older science fiction and horror.

Reading on a Kindle really improves the experience vs on a LCD/OLED screen.

I read mostly fiction and occasionally non-fiction. See my list at https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9357863-kishor?shelf=%...

Mostly finances, economics, mathematics and law. Looking into self teaching a JD track (currently a Math undergrad at UIUC so ill probably follow the JD curriculum here) but I need to pass the Bar, which requires having a proper JD from an accredited university.

Not as much as I wish I did. I read a lot when commuting, but Covid keeping me remote meant I used my free time doing other things.

I read less fiction than I did years ago and mostly read study books on fields I am interested in. I do read a bit of "self-help" too.

I have sworn off fiction. I've accepted that I just lack the self control to reliably stop reading at bed time and actually go to bed.

I've had better luck with some non-fiction books, but mostly I read various material on the web.

Used to read mostly non-fiction, but have now shifted to 80% fiction.

I like to believe that this shift has led me to understand the world better than before. It is also worth reading for the beauty of the language alone.

I'm a voracious consumer of audiobooks. I listen to them while doing almost any mundane task. Cleaning house, doing dishes, yard work, commuting, eating lunch, etc.

I read every single day and would recommend doing that to anyone. Especially to us folks that is sitting in front of a screen all day long. ;-)

>"I spend a whole lot of time reading books, but only fiction. I particularly like science fiction and high fantasy."

Exactly the same goes for me

Mostly fiction and of that mostly speculative fiction. The non-fiction part is mostly economy, history and social philosophy.

I read a little of both. Incidentally, I'm reading Rhythm of War (from the Stormlight Archives) right now. :)

Not much but if I do it's pure fiction.

How could you EVEN read non fiction after browsing hacker news all day ?

I used to. Now it is audiobooks on my commute. I mostly listen to history books atm.

At least one book a week. Probably 80% fiction and 20% non-fiction.

Only read non-fiction. One book per week, 10-15hrs.

Both. Always have one of each going simltaneously.

I generally read 3ish scifi books a week.

Yes, I spend at least the last hour before bed reading. I alternate every other book fiction and non-fiction. I actually just finished the latest Stormlight book and loved it. Currently re-reading Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor.

I struggle to read fiction, even as a kid. Not sure why that is, but I feel my imagination allows me to have enough interest in real life that I don't need to escape via a fiction book. Non fiction books on programming or maths, or something that's practical and interesting (eg how to tie knots), keep me pretty captivated.