Why do we read ?

[n2ize]

Why do we read ?
Why do we use words ?

[KC2UGV]

Why do we read ?

To acquire knowledge.

Why do we use words ?

They are more expressive than grunts.

[n2ize]

To acquire knowledge.

Yes, that is one reason. For instance I read a book or a document about web site design to acquire knowledge about building a website. But, are there other reasons why I might read ?

They are more expressive than grunts.

Thus the purpose of words is usage. I agree.

[KC2UGV]

Yes, that is one reason. For instance I read a book or a document about web site design to acquire knowledge about building a website. But, are there other reasons why I might read ?

No. Even when reading "brain candy" is merely a tool to acquire knowledge, of some sort.

[n2ize]

No. Even when reading "brain candy" is merely a tool to acquire knowledge, of some sort.

isn't the inspiration to read sometimes to spur emotions, such as love, fear, tragedy, heroism as opposed to just acquiring knowledge ? Often i read things that I have read before knowing I won't acquire further knowledge but that it will bring me a sense of wonder, enchantment, fear, suspense, sadness, love, etc. Can it then be said that the knowledge part might be incidental to other motivations for reading books ? Or vice versa ?

What distinguishes reading Beowulf, A tale of 2 Cities, Jane Eyre, Treasure island, from reading "Regular expressions" by O'reilly or "The Perl Cookbook by O'Reilly or "Intro to Website Construction" or "Calculus" by Tom Apostal or "Linear Algebra" by Serge Lang ? Or reading "The History of Colonial America" from the rest ?

[KC2UGV]

isn't the inspiration to read sometimes to spur emotions, such as love, fear, tragedy, heroism as opposed to just acquiring knowledge ? Often i read things that I have read before knowing I won't acquire further knowledge but that it will bring me a sense of wonder, enchantment, fear, suspense, sadness, love, etc. Can it then be said that the knowledge part might be incidental to other motivations for reading books ? Or vice versa ?

What distinguishes reading Beowulf, A tale of 2 Cities, Jane Eyre, Treasure island, from reading "Regular expressions" by O'reilly or "The Perl Cookbook by O'Reilly or "Intro to Website Construction" or "Calculus" by Tom Apostal or "Linear Algebra" by Serge Lang ? Or reading "The History of Colonial America" from the rest ?

Acquiring knowledge in the most base sense: You are acquiring the knowledge of the events, as told in the book.

[K7SGJ]

isn't the inspiration to read sometimes to spur emotions, such as love, fear, tragedy, heroism as opposed to just acquiring knowledge ? Often i read things that I have read before knowing I won't acquire further knowledge but that it will bring me a sense of wonder, enchantment, fear, suspense, sadness, love, etc. Can it then be said that the knowledge part might be incidental to other motivations for reading books ? Or vice versa ?

What distinguishes reading Beowulf, A tale of 2 Cities, Jane Eyre, Treasure island, from reading "Regular expressions" by O'reilly or "The Perl Cookbook by O'Reilly or "Intro to Website Construction" or "Calculus" by Tom Apostal or "Linear Algebra" by Serge Lang ? Or reading "The History of Colonial America" from the rest ?

Or Spiderman, Batmann, The Hulk, JLA.

[WØTKX]

To fling poop.

[KG4CGC]

Because aliens manipulated our DNA.

[kb2vxa]

Because even on my planet we don't have RG-45 or USB ports in the back of our heads... but we're working on it.