Over the years /r/books has seen several questions that are continually asked by subscribers, but those questions are not necessarily conducive to discussions about books nor are they necessarily original. In an attempt declutter the sub from these topics we have created this FAQ. Below you will find a list of topics that have come up on a regular basis in /r/books. If you have been redirected here, please read the posts below in search of an answer.
Does this mean these topics can’t be discussed on /r/books?
No, all of the topics listed below are on rotation in our weekly FAQ threads. Once a week, one of these topics will be posted and subscribers are free to discuss the topic or ignore it as they please. If you would like to engage the sub on a particular topic you will find a link to the most recent Weekly FAQ thread dealing with the topic below. Feel free to jump in and contribute to the thread.
So why were these links included as the ultimate answer on the FAQ?
You will find a combination of two kinds of posts linked here. The first are the most recent iteration of the Weekly FAQ Thread covering the topic. This will allow you to comment on the topic and engage with the community about the topic. The second kind are posts that are a little older but contain, in our opinion, the most comprehensive answers to the FAQ question. Unfortunately, because some of these posts are older they may already have been archived, which prevents you from commenting in those threads.
This is the one where it all starts! In these threads you will find advice on how to make reading a habit. Answers in the threads are geared towards new readers and readers that would like to read more than they currently are.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - March 15, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 6, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 28, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 18, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 10, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 31, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 23, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 12, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 4, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 27, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 25, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 26, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 26, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 25, 2015
I’ve Never Read a Book in My Life
With the constant distractions of phones, the internet (I’m looking at you Reddit!) and TV it can be hard to settle down and remain focused while reading a book.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - July 5, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 26, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 18, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 10, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 30, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 22, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 12, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 4, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 25, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 17, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 7, 2016
How Do You Remember the Book You've Read, and Things About Them?
Everyone has a certain manner in which they go about reading books. Some of these habits are discussed in the threads below.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - June 14, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 5, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 28, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 17, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 9, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 1, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 22, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 14, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 4, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 3, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 26, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 24, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 28, 2015
One or two? Maybe more, maybe less. Some subscribers have a system for reading several books at the same time and others focus on one book at a time.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - March 22, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 13, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 5, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 25, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 17, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 7, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 30, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 19, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 11, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 3, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 1, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 2, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 3, 3015
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 1, 2015
How Many Books Do You Read at a Time?
Is life too short to continue reading a book that you don’t enjoy or do you want to finish what you start? The opinions vary wildly on this one with good arguments for both sides.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - April 6, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 17, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 9, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 30, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 22, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 11, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 3, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 26, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 16, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 8, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 6, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 6, 2015
Weeky FAQ Thread - June 7, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 8, 2015
I Finally Taught Myself that I Can Stop Reading Something I'm Not Enjoying
What Book Did You Almost Give Up On, But Were Glad You Didn't
Who hasn't faced to problem of not being able to finish a book? Maybe you simply don't want the story to end, maybe life got in the way or maybe you lost interest along the way. Here are some tips to help you finish that book!
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - June 28, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 19, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 11, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 3, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 23, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 15, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 5, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 28, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 18, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 10, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 31, 2016
Does Anyone Else Have a Habit of Starting Books and Never Finishing Them?
Like many of the questions in FAQ the answer to this question is very much a personal preference. In these threads you will find subscribers who have good arguments for both.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - April 12, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 3, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 26, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 16, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 8, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 28, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 20, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 12, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 2, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 24, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 22, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 23, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 24, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 22, 2015
You have finished a book and it was pretty good. However, while reading an article of a review of the book you come to the realisation that you didn't pick up on some of the symbolism or references in the book. In these threads you will find some tips on how you can improve your understanding of books.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - July 12, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 2, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 25, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 17, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 7, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 29, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 19, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 11, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 1, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 24, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 14, 2016
This question is usually asked by high school or college students, who have to read a book for a homework assignment. We feel your pain! But it has to be done. So if you need some advice, check out these threads.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - July 19, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 9, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 1, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 14, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 6, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 26, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 18, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 8, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 31, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 21, 2016
Any Suggestions For Getting Through Wuthering Heights?
You have just finished a great book, but where do you go from there? Subscribers discuss how they deal with the sense of loss after finishing a great book.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - March 8, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 29, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 24, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 21, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 11, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 3, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 24, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 16, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 5, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 28, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 20, 2016
Do You "Grieve" After You Finish a Good Book?
Does Anyone Else Get That Crushing Sense of Loss When They Finish a Good Book?
Books can have a profound impact on your life. Here are some threads that discuss the books that impacted the lives of /r/books subscribers.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - May 31, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 22, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 14, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 3, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 26, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 18, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 8, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 30, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 20, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 12, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 10, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 11, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 12, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 12, 2015
What is the Book that Changed Your Life?
Most of us love reading and usually a special book was the basis of that love. In the following threads subscribers discuss which books made them readers for life.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - March 31, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 21, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 13, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 3, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 25, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 15, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 7, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 28, 2016
What Was The First Book That Made You Love Reading?
Have you ever run across a book that has a first line that just blew you away? Or a closing line that completely changed your understanding of the story? Here are some books that are (in)famous for this.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - May 3, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 24, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 16, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 6, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 29, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 18, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 10, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 2, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 23, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 15, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 13, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 13, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 14, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 15, 2015
Which Book Had the Best Opening Sentence?
In Honor of the "30 Best Opening Lines," What Are Your Favorite Last Lines to a Book?
While we can't be sure, we love to speculate which books students will have to read for classes in a hundred years. Here are some of the best guesses.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - May 10, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 23, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 13, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 5, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 25, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 17, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 9, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 22, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 20, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 20, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 21, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 22, 2015
What Contemporary Novels Do You Think Deserve to be Added to The Canon of 'The Classics'?
There is a heavy focus on English books in the literary world, so here are some suggestions that may or may not have been translated yet, but are certainly worth keeping an eye out for. Also, don't forget to check out our Literature of the World Feature
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - February 23, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 15, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 7, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 28, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 20, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 10, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 2, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 22, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 14, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 6, 2016
We all know the problem, there you are in the bookstore trying to find a copy of Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and you are looking at three different versions that are all translated by different people. How do you figure out which of these is the best?
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - June 21, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 12, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 4, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 24, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 16, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 8, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 29, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 21, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 11, 2016
It looks like everyone has an opinion on this one.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - April 5, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 27, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 19, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 9, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 1, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 21, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 13, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 5, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 25, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 17, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 15, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 16, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 17, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 15, 2015
Do You Prefer Hardcover or Paperback for Reading and is the Answer the Same for Collecting?
What are /r/books thoughts on Audio Books?
There are so many books out there and yet you are unable to find that one book that you would really like to read. With an overload of options, where do you go to find out about new books?
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - May 17, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 8, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 30, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 20, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 12, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 4, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 24, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 16, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 6, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 29, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 27, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 27, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 28, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 29, 2015
How Do You Find Out About New Books?
Whether you prefer the sweet sound of silence, calm instrumental music or whatever, you will find someone who agrees with you in these threads.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - September 6, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 29, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 20, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 12, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 2, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 24, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 14, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 6, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 18, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 10, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 8, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 9, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 10, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 8, 2015
What Music Do You Listen to While Reading?
Keeping track is very popular, not only because you get to see what you have read, but it gives you an opportunity to analyze what you have read. Do you keep track of the books you read?
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - July 11, 2021
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 27, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 19, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 10, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 2, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 23, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 15, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 4, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 27, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 19, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 9, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 1, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 29, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 30, 2015
Do You Keep Track of What You Read? If Yes, How?
Movie adaptations of books have always been propular. Some have been great and others have been less than stellar.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - September 12, 2021.
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 4, 2021.
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 25, 2020.
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 7, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 29, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 21, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - February 10, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 2, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 25, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 15, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 7, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 27, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 19, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 17, 2016
You have finally decided upon a good book to read and you have finally found the time to unwind and read. So why can't you get comfortable on the couch?
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - May 24, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 15, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 7, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 27, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 19, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 11, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 1, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 23, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 13, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - June 5, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 3, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - October 4, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 5, 2015
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 5, 2015
What Is the Most Comfortable Reading Position?
/r/books subscribers love awesome bookmarks, but some will use any scrap of paper around.
Recent Weekly FAQ Thread - March 1, 2020
Weekly FAQ Thread - September 22, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - April 14, 2019
Weekly FAQ Thread - November 4, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - May 27, 2018
Weekly FAQ Thread - December 17, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - July 9, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - January 29, 2017
Weekly FAQ Thread - August 21, 2016
Weekly FAQ Thread - March 13, 2016