I have for myself, turning the computer off for a few days helps me to
breeze through books. However, when it's on, hardly a chapter or two
ever get read.

This article is interesting as I have felt the same. I need to turn
the computer off if I want to do some serious reading.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google

How has the internet effected your reading time/habits?

"ChrisC"  wrote in message 
news:bc05273e-0a6b-4fc2-8c84-f8f640f71d11@i76g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>I have for myself, turning the computer off for a few days helps me to
> breeze through books. However, when it's on, hardly a chapter or two
> ever get read.
>
> This article is interesting as I have felt the same. I need to turn
> the computer off if I want to do some serious reading.
>
> http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google
>
> How has the internet effected your reading time/habits?

Checked this with the psychologist I work with (a charity, long story), he 
tells me there is a LOT going on behind the observed effect and it is not 
limited to reading.  Apparently it would take several pages of A4 to fully 
list the points from which you could follow this up but to summarise: Yes it 
does affect how you read and also other brain functions. In essence (as I 
understand it) you acclimatise to the 'culture' and the culture of the 
'interweb'  favours instant (or near instant) gratification. He tells me 
this is Not Good in the longer term and suggests deliberately immersing 
yourself in other 'cultures', perhaps going so far as to join clubs or 
societies, gardening, real ale, hill walking, matchstick modelling, drumming 
circles etc. By putting your brain into these varied environments you would, 
he feels, minimise the impact.  He didn't feel watching a lot of TV would 
help. Also your eyes would benefit from deliberately working them at varied 
ranges rather than the more or less fixed distance from the screen.

Drumming circles are fun. I make models (all kinds) to relax and I think I 
find it easier to read when I am in a modelling binge - Just did a load of 
toy soldiers for a friends kid, with tanks trucks and rather a lot of 
scenery, after which I read a book cover to cover over two days. Hadn't done 
that for a while.

HTH

Mike