Do you need complete peach and quite in order to concentrate on reading? Or do you find that you can read even if there is lots of nosie and commotion going on around you? Tonight i went to my parnters band practice and took my current book along with me, which i spent most of the night reading despite the noise from the band playing! I didn't find it a probelm at all. Yes if there is a quieter nosie, usually one that is almost on the edge of hearing, i find i can't concentrate. So i guess i like noises that are either so obvious i can block them out, general white/baskground noises, or peace and quiet for reading my books. And you?
[question posted by hezoid]
responses and comments:
When I read I do have to have complete quit, if not I can not concentrate on what I am reading, therefore I will not understand what I am reading. [sunlover]
I feel the same. I need to be able to focus and concentrate on what I'm reading. The slightest noise will interfere with my concentration and ability to focus. And if I am unable to focus and concentrate on what I'm reading, I will not be able to comprehend what I'm reading. [Hart57]
i always listen to music while listening, after a while it just sort of fades into the background. Silence is no use because as soon as there is a noise you are really aware of it, however quiet it may be [smuggeridge]
Yes, I need silence to read Actually I can concentrate even when there's noise, but to really be able to focus on what i'm reading, I need complete silence [thathalazarini]
I guess it all epends of what I read, if it is a paper i don't mind the noise as I am more browsing the pages than concentratin gon it.. If it is more like a book, I like to have a background sound like a chill out music or just the sound of the birds in a park. I remember when I was at school, I always had a music playing in my room, andmy mother could not understand, but I realize that my brain is actually able to switch off the noise and concentrate on my lessons !!! ( and always got a good mark !!) [Ephylyos]
If I had to have complete silence, I'd never be able to read. My apartment faces a busy street, so I've had to get used to a lot of noise. Of course, if horns or sirens are blaring, or I can hear a loud stereo, that completely shoots my ability to pay attention. I don't like to have music on, even quiet music. Music tends to grab my attention away from the book. [unusualsuspect]
It has gotten much worse as I get older. I used to love to read, anymore I can not get but a few paragraphs in it seems - due to the continual noises and interruptions around me. I can not even seem to concentrate enough to read the menu at a restaurant if there is any noise around me. I get so flustered over it. [Modestah]
I've grown accustomed to reading on the subway or in crowded areas, so I'm alright with reading with background noise. Usually if I voluntarily listen to anything while reading, it's instrumental music that's easy to block out. Songs with vocals are a distraction to me, since the words I'm reading and the words I'm hearing start to conflict. [hachimitsu]
I prefer to read in quiet but I have known to read books with lots of kids around. I often take my son to the play area at the mall and let him run around for an hour or two and I read my book while I'm there. [maddysmommy]
I have learned to pretty much shut out the world when I read. I do like reading, so I don't let too many things distract me. Usually my level of concentration is strong enough to overcome most disturbances. And I don't mind reading in total quiet either. It helps to be reading something I am totally interested in also. [sigma77]
NO. I have A.D.D. and often read during movies (dvds or tv) or tv shows. I love to read while on the computer too. I read with music or none. Nothing bugs me enough to not read. So NO I dont need silence for reading. [monkeywriter]
I can't read in absolute silence... some music or tv helps me to concentrate [crAzyDj]
i am from New York, and there is no such thing as silence. i don't mind the noise. mostly i read coming on going to work on the train and the ferry. there is no peace there. when i found my self in a quiet place, i tend to not be able to focus [34momma]
Yeah right on!!! I'm from New York to and there is so much activity going on that hardly everyone is asleep. It's just something people get used to. [h_gaurd9]
I like to read with music playing, it doesn't seem to distract me. I do find it harder to concentrate if the noise is coming from the tv though, I keep looking up to see if there's something good on instead of focussing on my book (I guess like you, I can block out some sounds like the music or background noises, but voices and flashing screens on tv are harder to ignore). So I like to read with just music, no visual distractions, or in silence. [draconess]
The noise doesn't bother my reading. I can read wherever. Today it's hard to read a book without disturb. I even can read in the bus and the environment is not a problem for me. [youless]
If im reading something like a newspaper or a magazine i dont need complete silence but if im reading a book i need silence or i cant concentrate completely in what im reading. [charlieman99]
When my children were teens I had no problem reading in the middle of all the chaos, but now that they are gone and it is only hubby and I, I find it harder. I am more distracted by noise. When hubby is watching tv I can generally read, but only if he isn't channel surfing. The dis-continuity of the sounds when he is changing channels is sure to grab my attention. [wifeofharvey]
I normally read when watching tv, or doing other things...so noise is not a huge distraction to me. I love to read but with 4 kids the only real time I can enjoy curling up with a book is when they are asleep and I'm trying to wind down... Of course I can read in the bathtub with the Water running so there is always that option to... Noises, no problem, let hubby handle the kids and I go off into my Land of books [oneandonemakesix]
I enjoy reading but only online. And when I do, I have music playing in the background. Infact, I need some sort of background white noise to feel comfortable. It's just a quirk of mine, which a probably a lot of folks share as well. I find books tend to put me to sleep, so I have never been good at those. Wish I was. Perhaps audio books? There may be hope yet for me. :) [farhany]
Nope! I dont need absolute silence. In a house with 5 kids, 2 Dogs and a husband that snores like a hibernating bear there is never any silence. I am not even sure I remember what silence sounds like. LOL As long as it is something that I really am interested in reading I can read under any circumstances. [zukepr]
I have no problem either reading when there is a lot of noise. Even right now as I am reading and responding to discussions here, I have the tv blaring away about 5 feet from me. I have even been known to work my way through one of my giant novels with music blasting through my headphones. But when it's really quiet, I find that the tiniest of noises will distract me to no end. [Katlady2]
By peach, do you mean peace? Yeah I guess I do need it to be peace and quite sometimes in order for me to concentrate on reading. I get distracted very easily and if I'm listening to music, I would focus more on that. I however, don't like it when it's too quite. There has to be some sort of background noise. If it's too quite, I hear like ringing noises in my ear, if you know what I mean. Just wanted to share my thoughts! God bless! [h_gaurd9]
I can read under almost any circumstances no matter how much noise or quiet there is. My partner has seen me reading before and tried to get my attention by saying my name and then actually calling my name lol, and I never heard him. I'm one of those who gets so engrossed in what I'm reading that I don't hear or take notice of whats going on around me. it's also why I like reading on Airplanes - because it's an easy relaxing way to pass the time. Noise is something that just doesn't bother me :o) [retardedrugrat]
Yes,I need it while I'm doing my examination.I need absolute silence in order to concentrate my attention on my test.If someone uses pen knocking on the desk,I will go insane,impatient and annoyed.But other times,I can read no matter the ambience around me. [shinjiao]
for me i can read eventhough lots of nosie and commotion going..i can concentrate whatever happened! [lovelyvon]
Man your good couldn't do it in my house hold [yrdib1]
Id rather silence as i say it out loud so i can hear rather thrying to hear it [yrdib1]
Normally no, but there are times were some noises will distract me. One example my kids, so I try not to read when my kids are around. There is though one thing that I really hate when I am reading. That is for people to try to start talking to me while I am reading. When I get into a book I don't like be disturbed. One time I even bit my husbands head off because he tried talking to me. I can't remember what the book was but I do remember it was a good book and I was in a very good point in the book. Needless to say my husband doesn't dare breath on me when I am reading now. LOL! [speedy1279]
I need total quiet, or else I can't concentrate. That's why Dorm life sucked so badly for me -- my roommate would never shut up! [la_plus_bonne]
As for me i can read while playing music but excessive one makes me get mad. when low and cool music is on, then my concentration is high and i can obsorb so much. while a number i like so much is played i can read i have to listen to it and echo it to it's end and continue to read. i like reading novels so much. [fredgame]
If what i read is suit my taste, then i can concentrate my mind on it no matter how noisy it is. If it is very boring, sometimes even there is very quiet, its hard for me to read it. Therefore I think the content of what you read ,and your interesting is more important than the nosiy. [littleleaf]
Not really. If fact, I sometimes prefer to read in noisy environment - especially if I want to concentrate. I know it sounds weird but that's how my mind works. :P [lordwarwizard]
a good discusion, i must say. i am a voracious reader and have to get adjusted to ay situation and occasion. i just cannot do without reading books. so, i try to overcome all noises. but it gets bit difficult to read amidst hard noise, when i cannot concentrate. thanx. [mimpi1911]
yes, i want complete silence in order to read books other wise i can't understand what is written [alpine_007]
it depends..if i need to concentrate, most likely, i prefer a silent environment..but if i'm only reading to save myself from boredom, i'd like to have some music.. [sheng87]
I need to read in silence otherwise i get so distracted.I mean from a small sound i could be distracted(btw is that correct english?).I always had this concentration problem since i was a child so i cannot focus too long on something. [eyewitness]
i don't think i need abosulte silence to read.. and i think everyone can read as long as it's not too noisy right? of course.. i can't read when there are peoples talking next to me.. that's like.. total distraction... if i listen to slow and sentimental music.. i still can concentrate on my reading.. but if it's too rock.. i could hardly get it into my mind.. especially when i have to memorise nearly half of the book.. that's why my college is so popular for its exam oriented students.. haha... i see that you have good concentration there.. keep it up =) [charlestchan]
I can read in any atmosphere!! But only if I want to read.And I am not much a reader.But when I am reading I can read in any atmosphere.No body can distract me.Its like I can control(say block them) my mind to not to get distracted!! Its easy for me to read in a nosiy place !! But mostly I get distracted in a "quite place"...!! I don't know why?? But still I cannot stand the quite places.It feels like something is hidden from me and I have to find it out!! Its strange but thats true!! [stella1989]
Yes, I need to have an absolutely quiet envirenment to serious reading so that I can understand what I'm reading and can memorize what I need to. But for entertaining reading, I can read among noisy crowd and bury myself in the plots totally neglecting the surroundings. [easyzheng]
I usually read with the television on or some kind of music. If I can't get into what I am reading then peace and quiet makes no difference. Most of what I read is horror or vampire related so I'm usually so sucked into the story that I block out everything else. [freak369]
Well,different people with different personalities.As for me,as a person,i can read anywhere provided it's safe.It depends on your level of concentration.No matter the amount of noise,i still seem to assimilate whatever am reading, infact, it is even more enjoyable when one reads in a noisy place. [bukiebluz]
I think I can read anywhere for all I care, so long as the noise is not intended for me to answer or listen to. If the noise or sound is not addressed to me and I do not need to react to it, then I can go on with my reading. [funny52f]
yah! i cant understand what im reading if there's no silence or too noisy!i need a place where im comfortable and the place is silent and i can read cleary! [pogspan123]
Absolutely!!! I can't read when there is noise all around me. I want to read in a quiet place so to understand what i am reading... I hate people who are so inconsiderate when someone is reading especially in classrooms, when i am reviewing, they just make noise all around.... [joice86]
Absolute silence is a horrible state, you will be hearing your own heart pumping sound, sounds of blood rushing thru blood vessels. I prefer some low vol ambient music while reading. [johnyeew]
For me it depends on the place. I can read if there's noise provided that i don't have interest on it. But i really like having peace when I'm reading so that i can concentrate more. especially when i'm studying i want peace. but for example n school i can study with the noise because i'm concentrated on what i'm reading. [Ranie19]
I dont need a complete peach and quiet in order to concentrate on reading.I do concentrate reading even if my surroundings is not as quiet.I enjoy reading a lot so it doesn't matter of the surroundings. [denden]
Yes, I need absolute silence whenever I am reading something. Its not possible practically, I know, like people are coming and going, the radio or the TV is playing, someone's singing in the loo or cooking in the kitchen, but generally I can concentrate among such noises. What I find most annoying is when I am reading and someone comes and suddenly switches on the TV or the radio. That sudden disturbance causes interruption and I cant concentrate anymore. [sudiptacallingu]
Not absolute silence, but should as not to noisy. And if I suit to the surrounding, I can read with no problem, for example in public area. But I may disturbed by the buzz of flies in a quite silent room. [windhair]
I think thats depend on your mood when you goimg to read some book and depend to the tittle of the book to,is the title were text book science,manga,novel,short story or any kind of book? If we were on good mood and read the interesting book,noises will not affect to our reading... But when our mood was bad and the book was not too interesting such as science text book that need high concentration , alittle noise would be affect to our reading... [anjrit]
Reading and understanding what you read require concentration, and that requires training. Only practice leads to perfection. Even when you read in a quite place if you're not used to read and focus on what you're doing you'll probably need to go over the lines more than once. So, I don't think the noise is the problem on concentrating, it's going to make it a little bet challeging. I thik that concentration is only achievied after trainning for a while. Oh, by the way... I prefer movies !!! Best regards. Luis [luisfh1902]
Yes, I have to have quiet to read. I cannot concentrate when there is a bunch of noise. Also I cannot read when I am in car, I get sick. I don't know why. I love to read, but I like to curl up in bed, shut the t.v. off and read in the peace and quiet. That or set out in the beautiful sunshine and read. [UDDERONES]
I prefer to read in a quite environment. Though, I have no problem reading in places where there is some uniform background noise as is the case in coffee shops, or when some soft music is playing. On the other hand intermittent and unexpected noise and events generally succeed distracting me from reading no matter how interesting the book I am reading is. [spiderman05]
No. We don't need absolute silence but we need an environment where there is no rapid change in noice levels than normal. Suppose if our house is near main road we can be normal with reading with traffic sound. But some loudspeaker operates at our neighbour we may disturbed. [inguaravi]
My preference is to have absolutely silence when I'm reading so I can absorb myself in a good book. However, being a mother, there is no such thing as absolute silence. I guess I've adapted myself to background noise enough that I can even read in a room with music and/or the television playing. I guess selective hearing is one of the benefits of being a mom. [wachit14]
Yes I need it to be quiet to be able to read! I even get mad at my husband when I take a Bath and try to read becaus he will have the TV on and I can't concentrate =) [Michele21]
ya i need silence at the time of studying,a can't read without silence,so i maintain silence at the time of studying........................ [vashu06]
Well it really depends on my concentration level and it does increase and decrease throughout the day. Though I believe silence is bliss but when I am on concentrating, I could read a book in the middle of a marching band! There are times when there is a literal silence from the graves and I can't seem to take in a line let alone a paragraph or the book for that matter. But if upto me, I prefer reading a book in some nice peace and quiet. [vampirestonez]
It all depends on where I am and what I'm reading. For example, the other day I was in a waiting room at my children's dentist trying to read my math homework. There was SO much noise in there (you'd think it was a family reunion!) I couldn't concentrate on any of the material. However, I could read the magazines on the table with no trouble at all. [explorations]
i need silence while i am reading even a slightest noise can disturb me. when i am in a mood of reading i go the room on terese and read there no body generally comes up. many pople i have seen can read even in high noises like in bus and train. i cannot. [arpita_onlinejob]
No, i can read even in noise. I usually read on the bus, or infront of the tv when my bf is watching soemthing that is not interesting to me. I love to read and i do it every chanse that i get... [Marie2473]
I guess I need complete scilence as well. I would definately not be able to concentrate reading if the TV is turned-on or my daughter is around and if the environment is noisy. In fact, I also can't concentrate reading in a LRT/MRT station. It's just me. I need complete silence. [rickytan]
for me,that depends.sometimes i do need absolute silence.especially when i am reading materials about science or technology.i felt that i can't concentrate if there are noise around me,even slight noise will make me distracted. but when come to magzines or newspapers,i like to listen to musics at the same time,it is relaxed doing that.and i don't have to remember something,just for fun,so it is okay to have some noise around. [baolihua]
If something is very interesting then you can read in noisy place.But if something is heavy and not a part of my interest then I need to concentrate and hence require silence. [worthy]
Hmm... not an absolute silence but yes i cant concentrate when something irritating is going around. But some soft music is ok! I infact love some soft music. But anything like hard metal..errr! i dont like it... [federickp]
I had to learn how to read in noisy environments. I would just tune out whatever was around me until it became white noise. The way I prefer to read is with quiet back ground noise, because sometimes silence can be just as loud as real noise. [honey_angel810]
It depends on what I'm reading, but I also find that I have trouble concentrating more when there are noises that are on the edge of hearing. For example, my neighbor's tv is always loud and I can hear it through the wall--that sound bothers me more than the radio being on in my apartment. I can concentrate better if there's no sound. I will sometimes get distracted by music or voices. It just depends on what I'm reading--some things I am more interested in and can read anywhere. [nerdytina]
I have been an avid reader since my youth. I am able to easily block out ambient noise while reading. I have 2 kids, so I think that's quite a feat! lol Unless someone calls my name, I don't hear a thing. [sapphirencotton]
If I need to concentrate, I do need silence. I have to turn down the radio in the car to look for an address or follow directions to somewhere. LOL It does seem to get worse with age, though I wouldn't necessarily blame aging. My wife, on the other hand, can read a paragraph and will tune out the world when she does. I hate it when she picks up a book during "our" time in the evening. It's almost like being alone. [canjo13317]
yeah i need silence in order to concentrate on what im reading. But not everywhere is silent so sometimes i can also read with all this noise aroud. [zamm13]
It depends on the book I am reading. Usually the book is so god that I am actually drawn into it and can block out almost everything. Sometimes my hubby gets upset with me because he will start talking but I don't hear him. I have to not read when my children are around because I don't want them to think I am ignoring them because I'm not, I just get so involved in a good book I block everyone and everything out. [dragonokiefly]
LOL - like you my partner frequently has his friends over for band practice, and that is when I like to sit quietly and read. I usually shut myself in our bedroom where it is fairly quiet so I can read undisturbed. Most of the time I am happy to read with some background noise around but when it gets too much I give up the book and do something else. My best time for reading is when I am wide awake at night, bouts of Insomnia mean that I read for hours on end in the middle of the night when it is completely quiet. [recycledgoth]
Hi LOL nice question :) for me it depends i think ...if iam reading something serious like for exams or something for interviews then i need silence but if its a novel or anyother light reading i can read even if there is a bomb under my chair! i mean there are times i have read in the middle of Diwali - the festival of crackers, there is so much comotion you got see or rather hear it to know what it is :) [AnoChaudhary]
YES I NEDD.AND I NEED A SILENT IF I WRITE.AND IF DO MUST SLEPP, WHEN I'M SLEPPING NOT IMPORTANT I DON LISTEN NOTHING......BUT IF I READ I NEED ABSOLUTE SILENT.NO TV, NO MUSIC, NO SPEEK ME THANKS BYEE myry [miryam]
I really need a quite sorrounding for me to understand very well what I am reading. [ydnac22]
silence is a must for effective studies ..we get distracted by the noise which usually changes the brainwave pattern which leads to reduced concentration..that is why , tthe best time to study is in the morning and at late night.. [coool_shetty]
Oh my, how can you do that? I can't concentrate on reading if I am not in a quiet place, if I put some music while reading, I start singing and loose concentration, or loose my interest on reading lol, and then I start listening to music instead, so what I do now is I go outside of my room to the back yard, and I sit and relax there and watch the nature, and start reading, that's the only way I can read all the time lol. [paulinabhadra1577]
I can read no matter what unless someone is directly speaking to me. At school we had reading time and there was always a low hum of whispers and mutterings around the class and that is quite nice to read against. On the bus or train there is also noise and one does tend to break away from the story every now and then to check where the bus has got to. At home the noise can be the TV as it was in my childhood or a person practicing Keyboard or just the noise of the garden. All are lost anyway because the voices in my head(no Im not barmy) are acting out the scenes in the books and nothing much else matters. [mihimolly]
I prefer peace and quiet when I read,but I can do it either way. What bugs me is when my daughter knows that I am reading but insists on asking me a zillion dumb questions. [lightningMD]
I need complete silence while I m readng.I cannot read while ppl are talking.. [henazea]
I can't do anything in complete silence!! LOL I always need music or something playing. I am too easily distracted by things that break that silence. On the other hand, my atmosphere for reading can't be too noisy either. I carry a small CD player with headphones wherever I go, and when I need to escape, I listen to music. That makes anywhere the perfect place to read. [danishcanadian]
I would prefer to have complete silence around while reading but practically it is not possible as i do the most of my reading at lunch time in office. Naturally their would be hussle and bussle around but still i enjoy reading my book. Actually if the content gets your interest then there is no stopping even if the level of sound is high. [limcyjain]
yes buddy, i need absolute silence in order to read , i enjoy reading loudly means by uttering. [misdss]
No.. I can read in every place... With peach and quite or not.. But when I am reading a difficult book than I need peach and quite. [GabrielGebara]
Well first of all I read to calm my mind. I love reading while it is quiet, so I can experience the story firsthand, directly in my mind. I can't have any disturbances and if any appear I just block them out. Otherwise, a good background to my reading is quiet soothing music, that relaxes me more. That is my opinion. Cheers :) [Adamdog]
Mostly yes when i'm reading either paperback books (in which I carry around with me in my green bag; my own portable library), or ebooks on my computer (especially in my portable hard drive, or DVD+RW disks in which I upload to my computer). But I do need silence when i'm not watching any TV. [DuoMaxwell]
NO i dont need silence to read i actually like to read books while im listening to music or i can read everywhere but it should be lithle movement for the eyes because if it lots of people there i tend to look at them instead. [larryfisken]
for me the most noise I can really have is some music in the background. Other than that I have to have it quiet or else I cant concentrate on the book I am reading. [magikrose]
no, i usually like to have some sort of background music...i am a huge fan of jazz (not the smooth jazz junk, real jazz from the 20's, 30's n 40's)...so i will listen to that or classical...(i dont like to listen to Rock becuase more often than not, i end up singing along lol :-) [cher913]
Yes i do its helps for concertration [zandoo]
When I was younger, in my thirties, I could study in the midst of anything - kids, traffic noise, whatever. I could just block out whatever I didn't want to let in to my attention. It was like I could hear without listening, if you know what I mean. Yet I could still tell when a kid was hurt or in trouble. I'm in my mid sixties now and concentrating is harder as a result of some chronic medical conditions. But I can read fiction with most anything going on that has nothing to do with me. However, if it is involving me in some way it is harder to not listen. I think it just has a lot to do with lifestyle. Now that I'm retired I have time to be curious about everything! And there is less chaos in my life, so I'm more sensative to it when it appears. Like the concept of not seeing something that you have seen everyday and no longer really see it. By the way, I have a cat just like the one in the picture you use for your avatar. [youdontsay]
Most of the time I am very good at blocking out the world and reading - if it's a good book. If I am reading for school - forget it. I need complete silence or I can't focus. [Withoutwings]
Sometimes, it depends upon what I'm reading. If it's readings for an exam and I really need the tiny little details, I need absolute silence to memorize them. But if I'm just reading a book or something, it's okay if there's music at the background. I have my mp3 player plugged into my ears while I read. I also just kind of block it out... But I don't think I'd be able to read with really really loud band music. Hmm. Or maybe I could... I haven't tried it out yet. But one time I brought my notes to a concert and I was reviewing before it started. With everybody screaming around and loud pre-concert music playing... I actually passed that test lol but my grade wasn't that high. [rockerwitch]
No .. I can read anywhere and everywhere .. in fact I always used to have music playing when I read .. I can't these days as I need more brain cells to concentrate with .. Once I pick a book up and open the pages I am immediately transported into the 'world of my book' .. I am that person I am reading about .. I am in that country .. it's sometimes quite a shock to the system when I stop reading suddenly and realise I am still at home in bed hahaha [patootie]
I do need complete "peach and quite" when I read, yes. (Hehe, I'm loving that spelling mistake!) My boyfriend is one of those people that has seven songs playing at once on guitar, both laptops, etc. It drives me mad! I can barely handle when he's talking to me when I'm trying to listen to something, let along when I'm reading. I don't understand why this is, as I'm a very fast reader! x [beccacoward]
yes, I do need complete silence in order to read and comprehend what I have read. not so much on the comp where I am only reading a few sentences at a time - but a book. This is why I have not been able to read much in the past couple years. my 5 yr old is such a chatter box. everytime I attempt to open up a book and read I am constantly interrupted [Modestah]
I can read in most environments. However, I can't read with white noise or some sort of monotonous, repetitive noise. [thebonehead]
yaa when i read a book i need complete silence or else i cant concentrate. [paradise12]
no no need of silence while reading books...i can read even by listening to songs..so silence doesn't matter for reading [christrobin]
I don't need complete silence to read, I normally read when my husband is watching the Tv or listening to music. Once I start reading everything else around me just fades into oblivion and I barely notice a thing. [nglanfield]
I can read in a noisy environment, but I do prefer to read somewhere quiet. [jwfarrimond]
I like to make everything calm [daksnv]
i can read in both noise and quiet but i completely unable to study in noise, even if the source of the noise is the sound of someone wondering outside. [amr_nouh_2005]