Do you always start to read from page 1?

hitmeasap Level X⁵

October 19, 2016, 7:41 pm

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Even though this question might seem a bit odd, it's actually a real question. I do wonder if you always start directly from page 1 or if you jump towards the mid section of the book or even the last couple of pages, before you actually start reading the entire book?

I personally usually read the last page of the book, or the cover on the back of the book, before I decide to read the entire book or not. No matter if it's a guide, report, ebook or an actual paperback book.

I've done this for years and I guess I do this to see if I get some sort of "feeling" for the book or not. In case I don't, then I won't read it. In case I get something, then I'll read the entire thing. From page to page.

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Lynne

Lynne

Well it depends who has written it Do you always start to read from page 1?

Do you always start to read from page 1?

If is a novel and written by an author I love and I know there is a new book out. I walk into the shop, tuck it under my arm and take it straight to the till. Then when I get home I just open it up and read from page 1 yes.

If it is an author I don't know or I not that familiar with I will always read the back first. Then I will read the first page to see if it captivates me or not. I mean if a book doesn't captivate me on page 1 then all is lost isn't it?

I might scan a few pages then to decide if I want it or not.

But in general yes I like to start at the beginning and read it to the end.

10 years ago

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Cristian

Cristian

I NEVER read the last page, that basically the best part and I don't want to spoil my ending. I think it depends on what kind of book I'm reading, if it's something related to SEO or maybe online marketing related, I don't actually read it, I read between the lines and skip a lot but always scanning for interesting bits, I write them down as quotes and move along.

If I'm reading a book that already is considered a masterpiece I always start with the first page and I read every world, not doing the "scanning" thing because I really want to understand the philosophy behind it.

10 years ago

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ballyhara

ballyhara

Me neither, I never read the last page before. Especially if there is a main story, that's like ending all the fun. I can't deny, if the story is really good, I'm always tempted to know how it's going to end, but I'm not touching that final page at all. And also, it depends on what's the book about, if I'm going to read a marketing book, then I can go straight to the chapter I'm interested in, to get read an specific information, but otherwise, I always start from page 1.

9 years ago

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fishmonk

fishmonk

I usually read the prologue and the synopsis. From these two sections, I will decide whether a book does pique my interest. If I find the book interesting, I will just start reading the introduction then. For non-fictions, I do skip parts of the books a lot since the topic might be dry.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

"Prologues" and "Synopsis" are a MUST for me, but regardless of the outcome (whether I like it or not, haha), if I decide to read the book... I'll always start on page 01 because doing anything out of this it's very strange to me.

9 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

I never do that because it just ruins the whole book for you if you accidentally look at a massive part of the plot. For example, imagine skipping to the end and finding out that a certain character has died. It just ruins the whole book for you because you think of it differently and you may think of the characters differently than to what the author intended. I always start from page 1 and I make sure to always go in chronological order.

9 years ago

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DanoCath

DanoCath

Whenever I decide to read a book, I always read the very first page of the book. When it comes to a novel type of books, the first page of it sometimes is an acknowledgment and I do read it also. I rarely read a book so when I do, I always start to read it's very first page until the last page. However, there are some instances also when I find the book uninteresting at the middle of reading it so I end up not finishing the whole thing.

9 years ago

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JoeMilford

JoeMilford

I think this is a good question, and it made me laugh at myself for a second. I am always tempted to go to the last page, or to flip around in the book a bit. I am even more tempted to do this when I am picking up a graphic novel or comic book. When it comes to a novel, I almost feel as if I need to respect the author's intentions and craft and read it cover to cover as he or she had intended for me to do. In other words, I try to resist temptation and to read the book like a disciplined appreciator of the arts.

9 years ago

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wiseagent

wiseagent

I think your questioning is valid because I know many people who, for example, start reading a book by the final chapter. This is very strange to me, because I can't understand the reason for someone does this... But they do.

I particularly can't begin a reading if it's from the beginning. I don't like the feeling of missing out on some important information.

9 years ago

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zollynash

zollynash

I do sometimes read start reading a book from the last page which enables me to get a glimpse into the kind of book I am about to get into. Certain books that i like e.g Detective story lines I will read from the first page. It is interesting and fulfilling to see a story unfold.

The best books are those that you read the last sentence and realise there was so much more you wanted to know about the story.

9 years ago

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Adesuwa08

Adesuwa08

ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜‚ you are just curious as a cat, you can't read paitently because you just want to see what happens at the end, I have some friends too that begin reading from the back page. I use to think it was absurd, but I stopped seeing it that way because not everyone will is same with characters/habits and preferences.

My Mom is the most absurd reader I have ever seen, she doesn't spend long with a book and then she says she is through with,I wonder how she does it.

9 years ago

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Krisleen

Krisleen

If it's about any random topic, I will perhaps check its overview or summary first before i read it entirely. I don't want to waste my time reading something I don't like. But if it's about business and financial literacy, I'll definitely read it from page 1. Financial literacy is an advocacy closest to my heart and I love learning more about it. One book I have read from page 1 is my favorite book, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. I use books as my reference in creating Powerpoint presentations for my coaching or speaking engagements. I have actually created a two-part financial literacy presentation from the books I have read from page 1. Reading the entire book is actually good so you can understand the details and learn a lot, especially if it adds value to you.

9 years ago

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mildredtabitha

mildredtabitha

I always read the title and the brief explanation at the back on the cover of the book. I also check through the pages to see if there is any pictures. If I really like the book and I also plan to read it, I will check the number of pages.

9 years ago

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Pixie06

Pixie06

Even I go through the summary at the back of the book first. Then I usually go to the middle of the book and read some pages. If I find the story to be interesting I start reading from the beginning. I have to admit that on various occasions I started reading a book only because I found the summary to be interesting but unfortunately the story didn't turn out to be a good one. That's the reason I start reading from the middle now.

9 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

No way. Proper book etiquette is to start from page 1 and keep going until you reach the end. I've never skimmed past page 1 with any book I've read and never will. It ruins the surprises embedded within the story.

9 years ago

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Adesuwa08

Adesuwa08

I was taught back then in middle school that you have to read from the front cover of the book to the back cover, I didn't pay attention to all they said back then, I never knew how important it was till our teacher came to class and gave us a test to memorize what we can recall from the first page, I failed the test woefully.

Since then I don't joke with any pages in a book, because I feel something like that might happen again, I didn't want to learn that same mistake over and over again. You might not get to go through the kind of thing I went through or you might never, it is important that you read from the first page because there is still information there to read through.

9 years ago

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ktaner

ktaner

I do skip parts of the books a lot since the topic might be dry.! Play cookie clicker game!

6 years ago

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