8 Common Types of Readers: A Hobby or Habit?

Some people consider reading as a hobby, while few individuals develop a reading habit. Hobbies are way different from habits as hobbies are activities done for entertainment purposes only and usually done during leisure time. While on the other hand, habit is an activity done regularly that is sometimes perceived as one's passion.

Reading is one of the main activities that humankind considers a hobby. However, every person is unique. Not all readers have the same type of reading preferences and agendas.

Determine What Reader You Are: A Hobby Reader or A Habitual Reader?

To know if you are a hobby or a habitual reader, here are the 8 Common types of readers that can help you identify your reading engagement:

1. The Partial to Non-Reader - Hobby

Partial readers are simply hobby readers as they only start reading a book and never finish it. Although there could be many reasons why they stop reading it, one thing is for sure: they are no longer interested in completing it. These readers belong to the Non-reader group. They slowly transition into no-read-at-all until they find a new good read that catches their interest.

Non-readers don't exactly mean that they are unable to read. They simply don't want to use much of their brain in reading as it requires active thinking. However, it is essential to use our cognitive mind from time to time. The best exercise for this is through reading.

2. The Series Maniac Reader - Habit

Series Maniac readers are habitual readers as they love binge-reading all the series of books that catch their interest. They will finish all the series of books they started and are usually not interested in reading a standalone book.

3. Bibliophile Reader - Habit

These readers resist the technology change when it comes to reading materials. They are not just into the contents of a book as they also value the process of the hardbound creation of a book.

The smell of the old books and the rustling sound of pages flipped are the two most irreplaceable qualities of a book from an electronic-generated book. They are known as habitual readers since they wouldn't be stacking themselves with many books if they don't read them all.

4. Digital Reader - Hobby/Habit

These readers are the exact opposite of Bibliophile readers as they embrace the use of technology in their reading hobby or habit. They don't overload themselves by carrying a hardbound book. Instead, they conveniently bring their gadgets such as phones, tablets, and laptops. These gadgets can access, download, and view online reading materials such as the following: e-books, audiobooks, online journals, online blogs, etc.

Some digital readers find reading a hobby digitally. They are usually in the entertainment category of online reads. While some habitually access the daily news in the online tabloid or read online journals for research purposes.

5. Emotional Reader - Habit

These readers experience a stirring of emotions while reading. They get emotionally attached to the characters' experiences in the story they are engaged. It is a sign that they are habitual readers who have reached the level of understanding while reading a good book.

6. Fad Reader -Hobby

Fad readers ride the wave of hypes of books that are currently trending. They usually integrate themselves into a book when a movie adaptation release is trending. This kind of reader loves to blend into discussions about it.

They are hobby readers who only get to read when a book is popular. However, these readers can soon improve themselves as habitual readers as soon as they try to discover more books that are not on the trending list.

7. Student Reader -Habit

This type of reader habitually reads books that are requisite for their studies. However, when they are about to exit their academic journey through graduating, these readers end their habitual reading.

8. Writer-reader - Habit

This reader usually carries a note-taking device to pinpoint the details that catch their critique attention. Some writers may not need to jot down everything as they have all critiques stored in their minds.

Writers are habitual readers as it takes an up-skill of reading proficiency to produce a substantial critique about a book. They may also take the role of an editor as they can see through the content of a book to its compositional process.

Hobbies and habits may differ in the intensity of involvement we do in a particular activity. However, they are only a few steps away from each other. As we engage ourselves more in our hobbies, we also habitually develop our participation in these activities.

Generally, reading is a form of a hobby or habit that will benefit everyone since it will lead to the comprehensive development of one's brain and personality. Also, reading is susceptible to all ages. It is a good thing to start during the early stage of a child.