A few weeks ago I saw a woman reading a novel while walking down the street.
I mean, she was completely engrossed in what she was reading. Her body swiftly avoiding light posts, dogs, cars and children with ice cream cones in a supernatural way not seen outside of science-fiction movies.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take a photo of my Super-Speed Reader as she was too fast, but ‘edenpictures’ seems to have been able to catch a young one in training here!
I stopped to watch her in awe. She must have glanced up from time to time as we all do when walking and texting but I wasn’t able to catch her doing that in the time I observed her.
I envy her for a couple of reasons:
- I wonder what book she was reading that had her this captivated that she so casually risked her life (her speed prevented me from reading the title of the book).
- I so wish I had her supernatural ability to read (and I mean really read – as in fully engage with the text with complete disregard to everything around you) and walk without pausing to your destination.
I’m sure we all have a Super-Skill we dream of having…. it may seem odd, but this one is mine…..
reading interrupted. 
That level of integration with “what we are doing at the moment” is commendable indeed ! We would be super-humans if each one of us did what we love- all the time 🙂
You are so right, Tatsat; well said!
ditto on Tatsat’s comment with the one modification: we would be more human.
I was thinking of that after pondering on Tatsat’s comment for a while, that the pursuits of our passions make us more human. Maybe that’s one way of defining super-human 🙂
Thanks for the interesting comment!
I wrote a post once on walking and reading that resonates with this:
http://samirchopra.com/2012/01/14/walking-and-reading/
I love it! Thank you for sharing it with me 🙂
I saw the same thing the other day, a woman reading while walking from work. I could never do that, don´t even read in cars our busses 😛
I can read and walk if I constantly look up to see where I’m going but then I can’t really get into the plot of the book – that’s my biggest problem! Reading in cars is tough too, I admit! Buses and trains are ok though 🙂
I think it is so wonderful to be so captivated by a book…. Few things in life give us so much joy… I was in a subway in Paris and was so into the reading of the Three Mousqueteers that I missed my stop for work….
Francoise
I agree, it’s one of the great pleasures of life 🙂
I think it would be great to be so captivated by a book! But it led to a thought: I am often captivated by movies… like I really get engrossed in them. This goes to the point where people sometimes try to talk to me, and I really can’t hear them or break out of the movie enough to respond with anything more than a “Uh-huh”.
When you put it in a movie context, suddenly it becomes that I’m rude and maybe I can’t multi-task enough. Do you think that there’s a bit of book/movie bias here?
I do agree with you that sometimes someone engaged in a book will seem charming and intellectual (regardless of the book) and someone engaged in a movie can seem withdrawn and grumpy (regardless of the movie). There’s a bias there for sure! Having said that, I’ve noticed that sometimes reading around others can seem like a strong anti-social act; whereas watching a movie, hopefully, can bring others in, as they can watch the movie with you. What I really love is that we all have our passions that we just lose ourselves in 🙂
I just watched this documentary called Indie Game: The Movie. Wow those indie game makers are really really REALLY passionate and invested in their games. It’s so inspiring! You gotta check it out!
I definitely will, thanks for the recommendation, Drew 🙂
When I read while walking, I always run into something! Kudos to that reader.
That’s what I’m afraid of, which is why I keep looking up from my book! 🙂
super awesome skill 🙂
I know (-sigh-) I wish I had it 🙂
Then again, it’s also important to live in the present, enjoy the walk, and avoid walking underneath the wheels of a Mack truck.
That is also very true as well 🙂
My housemate does this and I’m totally in awe. Some mornings he manages to walk to work with a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. I, on the other hand, am lucky if I don’t trip over a pot-hole while trying to do something as simple as change the volume on my mp3 😦
Reading, avoiding traffic, and drinking tea… now that’s impressive!
Well, I just learned how to stand up paddle and one day I hope to master the skill of reading a book while paddling myself along the shore…it will take a lot of balance especially if a few small waves decide to interrupt the calm waters that I am in. Whenever I was paddling for hours on end and seeing some beachgoers under the sun reading books/magazines, all I could think about was what book I could be reading at that moment.
Reading and stand up paddling at the same time – that would be amazing! I can’t imagine having such balancing powers 🙂 If you ever succeed, let me know!
Better walking than driving! I used to know a woman in Arizona who drove the interstate from Benson to Tucson for university classes and she said she read while driving, with a book propped on the steering wheel. I don’t know what happened to her but I wouldn’t have wanted to be her insurance agent.
I’ve seen people in traffic jams reading the newspaper but not actually reading and driving; now there’s a talent I’d rather not have!
I swear those who can read and walk simultaneously are wizards masquerading as humans. You’re going to laugh, but I spent a good portion of my childhood practicing this (and failing miserably) and trying to fly. Oh, I failed at the flying attempts, too. ; )
I think that is SO cute that you used to practice doing this as a child! I can just picture it! 🙂
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I’m having a ball going back through your older posts and just got interested in everything you’ve been writing about, so I’m hanging out here for a bit. By the way, Regarding an earlier post, I’d love to see you dance while you cook. Really! About this post, I do read and comprehend that way. I was almost deaf until the 4th grade when I did get full hearing so I was addicted to words at a very early age. Books were and are my world. My family is used to it but I am lost when in a book and I read fast and for comprehension, didn’t realize it was unusual until high school, then it came in handy. 🙂 Great Post.
Thanks for spending part of your evening reading my blog, Penny! I wish I could have kept you company and responded to your comments sooner 🙂
I can imagine that being almost deaf as a young child drew you into the world of books even more than the average child and encouraged a strong ability to focus that you carry even now.
I actually find that I need some distractions around me in order to concentrate on my book – I have trouble reading in a library, for example!
I can understand that! It’s your personal connection with the world going on around you while enveloping the words in a book, letzia, cool, 🙂