And I’ve no beef with the slowing down bit; indeed, when reading the words of a writer who inhabits a large part of my mental constellation, I’ll often read several times slower than I would otherwise. This is coming from somebody who doesn’t read very fast in the first place.

But I still maintain that it’s good to run lots of laps, if nothing but to lessen the probability that you are doing something that has already been done many times.

I suppose if you have a vision that is strikingly original, there’s an argument for honing your reading so as not to dilute your own very singular perspective.
But my experience has been that the best draw from a wide variety of sources, and few writers are as original as they seem at first.

I am a writer. I haven’t made the big markets yet, but my work has been published, print and internet, and I’m hoping for my first top-market sale this year.

I read some fiction for entertainment and some to help hone my craft, and when I’m reading someone that I admire, some one I would like to emulate, I tend to slow down and study what it is they’re doing that attracts me.

And I believe that the chef who overeats, and many of them do, is simply desensitizing her taste buds.

I think having a strong idea of what exactly you want out of a given book is the key to determining how you’ll read it. I can understand that it isn’t something everybody will, or should, worry about — but if part of your enjoyment of books comes from dipping your toe in a lot of different ponds, I think a bit of speed here and there really helps. But I’d never suggest everyone should be speedreading, or only caring about the number of books they read, the process and experience of reading itself demands to be respected as well.

(and thank’s for blogging about my posts, Benjamin, I forgot to say earlier)

I read for enjoyment; as you said, for the experience. if I have, let’s say, five hundred hours a year to read and I enjoy every minute of it, what difference does it make if I read one hundred books or two hundred?

Two generous cuts of prime beef, properly seared and seasoned, and eaten in the same time as I might spend eating one, aren’t twice as good. In fact, there is reason to suggest that the experience is lessened.

Just my dime’s worth.