In high school ( early 1970s) I took a speed reading course. Basically, the course taught how to read through a paragraph and get the main idea, at a fast rate. You learned how to do this with pages also. The course was meant to be helpful in schoolwork.                           I'm still an avid reader. I read every night before bed, and in between times also. My favourite topics are anything about fishing, military history, and outdoors related topics.           Are you a reader? If so, what are your favourite topics?

Long hard water periods are when I do the most.

I like reading on topics that cover military history, health & fitness, dog training & behavior, and of course most anything that has to do with bass fishing, as well as boat, motor & trailer maintenance. 

A-Jay

I have several old fishing books like Jason Lucas that I read every year.  Also, Steinbeck and Heminway and others.  "Big Two Hearted River", "The Old Man and the Sea" are fishing stories I love!

Louis L’Amour books keep my attention. 

^ I'm a Clive Cussler fan myself.

I read everything. Horror, Mystery, Spy/Thriller, Western, SciF, etc.  Favorite authors....Stephen King, C.J. Box, Randy Wayne White, Harlen Ellison, Issac Asimof, Zane Grey, and so many more. I read very quickly and average 2 or 3 books a week during the winter. During the summer I read less, as I spend much more time outdoors. Reading is fantastic...it has taken me places I can never physically go and show me sights I can never see in real life. My wife says that I seem to read in Technicolor and full surround sound, as I get so immersed in what I am reading that I almost actually experience what I I am reading.

I’m an avid reader and have been since I was a kid.  I like to find an author that I like then read everything that they have written if possible.  Then switch to a different one.  Our county library has e books that I can download to my IPad so I don’t have to go anywhere to get one or spend money.

Tom Clancy books were my favorite. 
Since he passed other authors use his name as he co authored  a few but they’re just not the same. 
 

Military fiction is still my favorite 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

My Kindle says I’ve read 453 books since I retired 12 years ago. No specific genres, kind of all over the place. After reading all written by my favorites I try and find similar. The authors I prefer, Stephen King, Baldacci, C.J. Box, Dale Brown, Lee Child, Tom Clancy, Michael Connelly, Bernard Cornwell, Zane Grey, Grisham, Craig Johnson, J.AJohnstone, Robert Parker, Patterson, there are many more but these are the most read.

 

I do stop reading an author when they start having others write for them. I understand it’s to help out lesser knowns, but I don’t care for it.

 

I read a lot of finance, and some of the classics, can’t say why, but I do.

 

Thank god for the ability to get all these for nada from online libraries, not so much the finance.

 

 

I’m a reader- I read web pages. 
 

The last actual book (or ebook) I read was the last Harry Potter I think. 

No books for this guy

 

I read Outdoor News and In Fisherman.
 

And the CFR on a daily but not because I really want to

Lunkers love Nightcrawlers and anything on Smallmouth bass 

I read the Bible the most, usually several chapters a day, but also enjoy Louis Lamour novels, Florida historical novels, Non fiction and fiction Military history, especially the civil war, and the pacific theatre of ww2.

Also enjoy reading stories of Appalachian lore.

Last series I read was The Saxon Tales (The Last Kingdom). Other than that its military themed books mostly, one on building rifles.

 

Still re-read the Carlos Hathcock books. 

 

Tried reading Lord of the Rings a while back but couldnt get into them. Might have to give them a try again. 

4 hours ago, Functional said:

Last series I read was The Saxon Tales (The Last Kingdom). Other than that it’s military themed books mostly, one on building rifles.

Bernard Cornwell wrote a lot more then just The Saxon Tales, might try the Sharps series, excellent historical battlefield stories.

When I retired 8 years ago I started to read books, not magazines.  I read everything Stephen Ambrose authored and it grew from there.  Military history is the main topic.  I’ve read all of Bill O’Reilly’s Killing series. I like Victor Davis Hanson ‘s work.  To date I’m over 300 books.  I read very little fiction but books used in movies get the nod.  The two books that impressed me the most are The Revolutionary by Stacy Schiff and Carnage and Culture by Victor Davis Hanson.  I’m currently reading The Second World Wars by Hanson.  Excellent book.  Great topic Mobasser.👍👍

15 hours ago, padlin said:

Bernard Cornwell wrote a lot more then just The Saxon Tales, might try the Sharps series, excellent historical battlefield stories.

Yes, I plan to try a few of his other series to see if I like them. My cousin got me hooked on the Netflix adaptation and I decided to read the books. Books are much better by FAR.

 

Working through "Fry The Brain: The Art of Urban Sniping and its Role in Modern Guerrilla Warfare" right now. When I'm done with that, one of BC's other books is next. 

I love to read and will consume everything from fiction novels to history and leadership/personal development. 

 

My favorite genre, however, are hunting stories and gun books from the "classic" writers like Jack O'Connor, Robert Ruark, John Taylor, etc. Can't get enough of that stuff. 

Not an avid reader as a kid. Studied philosophy @ university...Socrates, Plato, Descartes, Kant. Enjoyed Russian literature...Dostoevsky, Solzhenitsyn. Did not read much after finishing school. 

 

Did get back in to audio-books in the past 10 years or so. Great way to pass the time on my 45 minute commute to work. Enjoy the "Killing" series of historical books by Bill O'Reilly. 

Although I basically stopped reading books as I said in my response on another post I’m really hoping to get back into it. In response to this thread I would love to re-read my 2 all time favorite books since I was a child, “The Call Of The Wild” & “White Fang” both of which I read at least a dozen times each in my youth. The last real reading I did was the “Jack Reacher” series of books written by Lee Child which my former father in law turned me onto the series and I couldn’t wait for the chance to get to the next novel , I will say I read the series in order as I feel it’s best that way. Prior to that again back to my younger days my father passed on a love of horror novels that always intrigued me with Stephen King being a favorite especially the book “It” which I read while in high school for pleasure and also “Pet Cemetery” & Cujo” as well. It was fun that two of my best friends back then were also avid readers and it was even more fun talking between us about the books as we all read the above mentioned at the same time. Another absolute favorite of mine which although still somewhat horror but more of a modern twist on a classic is the Dean Koontz “Frankenstein” novels from 2005-2011 and absolutely must be read in order, I absolutely loved them all and will reread them all again when I get the chance. 

Only thing I read is the Holy Bible and the occasional stop sign 😁

10 hours ago, Bird said:

the occasional stop sign

Merely a suggestion

 

 

On 12/11/2025 at 5:53 PM, padlin said:

Robert Parker

He live 2 towns east from me. I really enjoyed the Spenser and Jesse Stone collection, I didn't really get into the Sunny Randall series for no other reason than I just stopped reading his work. 

 

I really like Gregory McDonald's Fletch collection as well. He was 3 towns west of me.

History, both crime and military.  I also like horror and science.  

I just read Project Hail Mary and it was fantastic.    

 

I dont have a type.  I love to expand my mind.  two standout books I thought I would HATE but loved were Crying in H-Mart

and

Lady Tan's Circle of Women.  both of these I would have never ever categorized as my type of book.  but total page turners and they both made me "feel things"  hahha..  as child who lost a parent to cancer, Crying in H-Mart hit home.  

 

i'll try anything. 

I enjoy reading and re-reading books relating to fishing, racing and the AppalachIan Trail (not that I’ll ever hike it). I also read about my other hobby, scale model car building.