At what point should I give up on a boring book?

Question

When I commit to a book, I always finish it. However, despite my great interest in the subject matter, this is a scholarly book that is soo damn repetitious! There are some interesting pieces of info, but in order to prove their point, the author repeats, repeats, and repeats points!! AHHHHH!!! What do I do?

Answer 1

My first thought is that you should use a different type of reading to get through the book -- scan, don't pore. Don't feel guilty if you don't read every ... single ... word ... on the page. That being said, if the style turns you off you just have to decide if the information is worth it. It's not like a novel, in which the plot could well pick up and grab you.

If it's still painful after a couple or three chapters, put it aside for a month or two. You might find it more interesting later. If not, so be it.

Answer 2

If it's a scholarly book, I'd suggest reading the first few pages of each chapter, and deciding from there whether you'll read more of that chapter.

Answer 3

Flip through the repeated points and try to finish the book, so that you don't miss something good later.

Answer 4

I usually stop reading a boring book by at least the forth chapter. Who knows, somrthing exiting is going to happen! Sometimes it's just like a cannon, waiting for the right moment to blow up!!

Answer 5

The art of repetition.... Usually I give it a few chapters, and usually I can get into the subject matter enough by that time to continue reading it until the end.

Answer 6

Give it at least three chapters. If it's really still terrible to read, then give it up.
Or just skim - you don't have to read every sentence carefully. Just read the paragraphs at the start and end of every chapter or section to get an idea of what the author is saying.

Answer 7

Of the thousands and thousands of books I have read (and that is not an exaggeration) I have only not finished 3. But there were hundreds of bad ones.

Answer 8

If a non-fiction book starts to get dull as your saying I start to skim. If I keep going and skiming gets boring with nothing catching my attention the book will be put away to collect dust.

Answer 9

If you see it repetative skip a few paragraphs, then move on to the next pages. . .

Also write to the author, and the publisher, honestly how can they publish something so repetative. You have a right to voice your opinion. You might not be the only one who sees this...

Answer 10

Upon falling asleep for the third time whilst reading it, commit to "moving on"--use the book only when and if insomnia strikes :))