Reading & MBTI

[dynamiteninja]

Do ESxx types find it harder to sustain their attention on a book for a period of time than the other types? What is the types' relationship to reading? WHich type is the best reader?

 

[BlueSprout]

I am impatient and have a hard time concentrating on reading unless I'm interacting with the text in some way: I force myself to take notes when I need to learn something. I read to learn, but I almost never read recreationally. It's not a learning disorder thing, because my sister (INFP) has dyslexia and a very limited attention span as well, but still loves to read.

I can't remember if I've ever read a novel I wasn't forced to or, in a couple of instances, because I made myself, under the impression that it was a character building activity. I know that this is sacrilege for an introverted intuitive to admit, but there it is. It does seem like 99.9% of INFPs like to read, though.

*braces for tomatoes*

 

[dynamiteninja]

I am impatient and have a hard time concentrating on reading unless I'm interacting with the text in some way: I force myself to take notes when I need to learn something. I read to learn, but I almost never read recreationally. It's not a learning disorder thing, because my sister (INFP) has dyslexia and a very limited attention span as well, but still loves to read.

I can't remember if I've ever read a novel I wasn't forced to or, in a couple of instances, because I made myself, under the impression that it was a character building activity. I know that this is sacrilege for an introverted intuitive to admit, but there it is. It does seem like 99.9% of INFPs like to read, though.

*braces for tomatoes*

Different from me at least. I've always loved to read.

 

[BlueSprout]

Different from me at least. I've always loved to read.

That's good, because I still think it builds character, just not mine. What do you read?

I wish I didn't dislike it so much. It's almost impossible for looking at words on a page to help my understanding of ANYTHING. It seems that the only way I can retain even the most basic information or glean the most insignificant insight from a text is by writing furiously in the margins and summarizing what I learn afterwards. It's so frustrating. :steam:

And the rest of civilized, well educated society looks down on people who don't read recreationally. I don't really blame them, but it's pretty impossible to try to explain this to most of them without getting scoffed at.

 

[dynamiteninja]

F'sure. I just really enjoy reading. Classic literature is my favourite, but I'll read all sorts. I also like history.

 

[BlueSprout]

I love history. Specifics? Do you have certain eras you enjoy reading about? Nations? Topics?

Anyway, I may have overreacted there a bit. I scored a 720 on my verbal GRE, so my reading comprehension can't be that bad. I just have a hard time focusing and for whatever reason sitting down with a 'good book' is excrutiating rather than enjoyable. Maybe I feel like I'm not learning anything when I'm just passively reading the words. Ugh. Sorry about the Fi-splosion.

 

[dynamiteninja]

I like economic history (Niall Ferguson) and social history (Andrew Marr) the most.