Reading while listening to music

[Ostrinski]

Or trying to do so. Do you do it? Can you do it? Discuss.

[#FF0000]

I do it p. often. Usually instrumental or w/ the vocals far back in the mix or just mellow all around.

[Let's Get Free]

I can do it, but it's a distraction, and I lose the meaning of what I'm reading, which means I have to go back and re-read it

[PC LOAD LETTER]

Nothing too complex or I'll get distracted and listen to the lyrics.

If I do it's something like DI (http://www.di.fm)'s cosmic downtempo or space dreams channels


I also listen to those if I'm studying

[Jimmie Higgins]

I'm very easily distracted by random sounds - a television in the background, people talking loudly while walking past my appartment, etc. I can't read in a cafe for very long unless I really really make myself focus. But I do like some steady music - I especailly listen to music while I commute on the BART because the music helps drown out conversations by other passengers which I would otherwise eavesdrop in on.

I can play music with lyrics if the lyrics aren't too out-front: punk and hip-hop (even though it's lyric-heavy, it's also steady and flows) work well while folk doesn't. I can't really play music with lyrics if I'm trying to write something though. I have a playlist on my computer which is all just music with a good beat but without much lyrics. Hell I don't even listen to elctronic music, but I have some specifically to play while writing or doing research.

[Ele'ill]

I can't listen to music when I read because it's distracting and because I just think of something else I want to listen to really badly and I constantly change it and then I end up browsing other stuff while I'm doing it and then 30 minutes later...

I can listen to rainforest/forest/rain/cricket recordings though

[roy]

not when i'm reading a book but when i'm reading something like revleft sure

[smellincoffee]

It depends on the music: instrumental, yes. Lyrics are distracting. I like using music to set a mood for when I'm reading.

[Ostrinski]

I ask because I'm trying to motivate myself to read more but for some reason I can't because I listen to music 24/7 or at least have it on 24/7 during whatever I'm doing so it's hard to turn it off because it feels weird.

I never thought about instrumental music being less distracting. I guess I could throw on some Aphex Twin or Boards of Canada. Or jazz and classical might suffice better.

[Rafiq]

I don't. Romanticizing theoretical texts bothers me.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

classical and ambient although i generally prefer to listen to music when i'm writing rather than reading

[Ostrinski]

Yeah I listen while I'm writing, or doing any kind of homework in general like math. It helps me concentrate.

Also I mainly read history, saturated with facts. That's why it would probably distract me.