what is a good book for people who dont like to read?

Question

My hubby is a slow reader but wants to read a book so he can get better at it.

I dont understand why this is an oxymoron. He doesnt like to read because he cant do it well.

Answer 1

Lots of men prefer reading nonfiction. His regular interests (sports, getting better at his job, travel book to match your vacation, etc.) are a good starting place. Even something like the Guinness Book of World Records might intrigue him. He doesn't have to read it straight through, just dip into it now and then.
Also try the humor section at the public library. Get something like Larry the Cable Guy or Steve Martin or the short essays by Andy Rooney.
Good luck... once he finds something that interests him, it makes it easier for him to stick with it.
Also check in the large print section of the library. That makes reading easier even if your vision is fine.

Answer 2

Robb White, Deathwatch. It's an oldie, but I've been recommending it to reluctant male readers for a long time, and they ususally come back looking for another one like it. Unfortunately, I don't know another like it. It's an adventure story sorta like the popular short story, "The Most Dangerous Game," where one character is hunted down by another and has to overcome greats odds to survive.

If he likes sports, I would say try Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger (the true story of what high-school football does to a town in Texas) or Bob Cousy's autobiograpy (recently out in paperback). Both of these are gripping but easy reads: I couldn't put them down once I got started.

Good luck! I wish you could let us know what he chooses and how he likes it.

And don't let anyone put you down with that "oxymoron" business. More Americans don't read than do. How great it would be if they all would just give it a try!

Answer 3

Try an antholgy, something with shorter storeies, to keep his attention. I have the same problem.

Also, I really enjoy the books James Dean Died Here, Marilyn Monroe Dyed here and Elvis Passed here, all by Chris Epting. These are books which give you the locations of "americas pop culture icons". Like in the James Dean one it tells you where James Dean Died, the last place he ate at, also things such as the crash site of Buddy Holly, Lizzy Bourdin, UFO "abductions" etc etc. It gives a short history into the event, or location and also gives the address and directions on how to get there, with pictures. This might help him, since many of the things are items which he is familiar with, and it should interest him.

Good luck!

Answer 4

The important thing is to find a book that sounds interesting to him...there are hundreds of thousands of good books out there...it is if they meet his interests that matters. Is he looking for something humorous? serious? adventurous? fantasy? science fiction? historical?

This site might help you:

http://www.whichbook.net/

My recommendations based on my tastes alone...

I think that Ender's Game has broad appeal. It's science fiction. It's set in the future. There's a government group recruiting young boys and girls to train to be soldiers on a space station...there are war games...there is just a lot of interesting things going on in the story. And it's very well written. It's by Orson Scott Card. I've read it at least seven or eight times since I read it the first time in 2000.

Looking for Alaska is another book that I loved. It came out last year. And it's set in Alabama, a young teen boy chooses to attend a private boarding school rather than his public school in Florida. He meets friends, makes enemies, plays lots of pranks on his classmates and teachers, learns how to smoke, falls in love, and learns some real meaning-of-life type stuff. It's a very good read. It has humor. But yet it has its serious moments too. John Green is the author of that. And again, I think it appeals to a wide audience.

Here's another idea you might consider. Have you thought about listening to audio books? There are so many audio books published on tape and cd each year...brand new books along with classics. And they are often produced quite well. I've listened to Ender's Game on audio book and was quite impressed.

Answer 5

He should defenetely start reading something he likes, and will enjoy reading. There is no point in him reading some great classical novel no matter how fancy it sounds, if it will give him no pleasure. Maybe he would enjoy reading comic books, and then move on. Two short books I read and liked are: Jonathan Livingstone Seagull and The call of the wild.

Answer 6

He could try 'The Eyes of the Dragon' by Stephen King; it's a very good story, but it's written very...lightly is the only word I can think of to use. Basically, this was the first SK book I ever read, I picked it up when I was 13, so it was very easy for me to read at that time.

Answer 7

well, the harry potter books are great for people who don't like to read very much because they're easier to read, but they also pull the reader into the story. and what's great is that they're also a great read for people of all ages. Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code are great books as well. both are written by dan brown.

Answer 8

go to library or a book store, If he wants fiction go into the kid/ teen section.I know it sounds silly but I read books that are not necessarily for adults because they are a quick read and easy on my head.
if he likes scarye stuff try like the Goosebumps series. Also a book calles the " spiderwick Chronicles" I thought was entertaining enough for me to want to keep reading it came in like 5 short books, start at #1. Biographies on someone he likes ( again the kids ones)
Get short books to start so he feels succesful too.

All the H. Potter stuff, I dont know , I never liked them.

also sci- fi books by HArlan Ellison. not kids books but lots of guys like them.

Answer 9

If you really don't like to read, then none will fit.

Try listening to a book. The Harry Potter series on talking book is brilliant. try your library or the nearest Chapters.

If you're husband is really keen to read, try a mystery writer, such as Ian Rankin.

Answer 10

Reading comes with practice. start with fiction. If you want a slim, classic, american-english (understandable, not too much jargons) and fascinating story then you need to buy him "separate peace" by John Knowles. He'll love it. I guarantee you this because i did the same thing to my best friend to get him reading.