Poll: Which Do You Read More, Books or Blogs?

~ Bob Hayton

Blogs are a great source of information, each post can educate you on a specific topic. Trying to keep up with all the great blogs out there is what makes blogging fun. But it can be burdensome too, at times. So most bloggers have seasons where they stay away from all blogs for a time.

In my three years of blogging, I’ve noticed another side-effect of blogging. At times I get interested in books more, but often I find myself reading books less. The more blogs I follow the less book reading time I have. Personally, I think reading a well-written substantive book is more impactful than getting lots of information piecemeal over the web. But then I like the variety of the piecemeal info, too!

So let’s run a poll here. Which do you read more, books or blogs? And which is more important ultimately? Any thoughts on how blogging and book-reading are at odds with each other? Or do you think there’s a symbiotic relationship and blogging encourages more book-reading? I’m asking for you the reader to respond! Thanks in advance for those who do 🙂 .

11 thoughts on “Poll: Which Do You Read More, Books or Blogs?”

  1. By making my blog a journal of my reading, I’ve used my own blogging to make myself read more books. I set a goal this year, of which I am about to fall far short, of averaging one book per week (not too impressive, I know). Blogging my books has pushed me to read more.

  2. I’m starting to do more of that myself, Dave. In fact, of late, I’ve been getting free books on condition that I blog my review of them. I’ll post more about that in the future, though.

    I have to say that for me (I haven’t voted in the poll), blogging has kept me more intellectually and theologically active/concerned. And as a result I’ve read more than I would have (fiction works aside).

    Thanks for dropping by and adding your input.

    Blessings from the cross,

    Bob

  4. I voted other. As a Mom of 3 and a homeschooler, I find it’s different every day… sometimes hourly. 🙂 Blessings!

  6. I read blogs more than books, but I am random about the blogs I read. I like the diversity of thought I run across in blogs. You can read some heavy, in-depth material online. I find those articles/series could be material for a book later. They are more difficult to read online because they have not been polished into a cohesive book style. But, this has cause me to change my reading preferences a bit. I find that some books have more boring fluff tying thoughts together, than I prefer. Books are great… but, I’m not a fan of rambling. Um… perhaps that is what I’m doing now. 🙂

  7. Thanks for chiming in Renee. I do think the relationship between books and blogging is interesting. It’s mainly readers who blog (I’m thinking in the theological blogger world here).

  8. I’m the one who “reads more books because I blog”, because it was through blogging and discovering good blogs that I’ve learned more about the great works of the Puritans and others.

    Previously, I despaired at the lack of good books at local Christian stores, but (thank God!) I’ve now discovered many alternative sources like Monergism and Westminster simply because many good blogs have mentioned them.

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