Background music for reading

[markot]

Do you listen to music while reading a book? What do you listen to? Or do you rather read in silence?

I like instrumental music in the background. Anything with (too much) lyrics distracts me.

 

[captouch]

Instrumental for me too. Jazz is always nice. . .

 

[shrinkboy]

Neroli: Thinking Music, by Brian Eno

 

[hjames]

I have been playing the various (10) Obscure Music Albums that Eno produced while I read lately ... got them ripped to digital files and have a playlist I can pull them from ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obscure_Records
Really been enjoying
Obscure no.5 1976 Jan Steele, John Cage "Voices and Instruments"
Obscure no.3 1975 Brian Eno "Discreet Music"

Or the Ambient albums Eno produced

Ambient/Polydor/EG AMB-001 1978 Brian Eno Ambient 1: Music for Airports
Editions EG EGAMB-002 1980 Harold Budd, Brian Eno Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror
Editions EG EGAMB-003 1980 Laraaji Ambient 3: Day of Radiance
Editions EG EGED-20 1982 Brian Eno Ambient 4: On Land

 

[Redtide]

Silence for me.

 

[chadnliz]

Ambient trip music, Classical or Jazz. Nothing with vocals.

 

[Axe Elf]

What is this "book" thing of which you speak?

But seriously, if I were to put on music while I read, it would just be to block out annoying background noise like a neighbor mowing the lawn or something. I couldn't really LISTEN to music while I was reading. I suppose if I listened to jazz or classical or something that wasn't lyrically based, it might be easier though.

 

[Mystic]

Silence for me.

I must concur. @ reading I am not merely reading, but also hearing the words and the worlds about which I'm reading, particularly in non-fiction where I recall the sounds of the players (e.g., Nixonland, The Last Revolution Of Chairman Mao, etc.). When I read war histories I hear the sounds @ battlefields, marching, speeches, newscasts, and talking heads. I provide the soundtrack.

 

[Redtide]

I must concur. @ reading I am not merely reading, but also hearing the words and the worlds about which I'm reading, particularly in non-fiction where I recall the sounds of the players (e.g., Nixonland, The Last Revolution Of Chairman Mao, etc.). When I read war histories I hear the sounds @ battlefields, marching, speeches, newscasts, and talking heads. I provide the soundtrack.

Huh. You are lucky. I've heard that when some people read they hear each character speaking in a different sounding voice. When I read I only hear myself saying the words. My dad can't imagine sound in his head at all. I've told him about earmworms but he thinks it is weird to hear sounds in your head that aren't external.

 

[gadget73]

the ipod goes on shuffle, and it brings up whatever. Have to admit, sometimes I stop reading and listen, other times I stop and laugh. Its impossible to read sci-fi or fantasy novels to Weird Al or Richard Cheese.

 

[Estring]

I sometimes listen to music while reading. Any music is fine.

 

[maddog37]

I used to listen to some classical music previously, now unfortunately need silence following a change.