The Uncomfortable Truth About Reading Positions
Journalist Luke Winkie, writing for Slate, investigates why there is no truly comfortable reading position. He recounts personal struggles with reading in various positions—on his back, in an armchair, or on his stomach—all leading to discomfort. Winkie finds that others share his frustration, including Slate deputy editor Bryan Lowder, who stacks pillows to read Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea cycle, and a friend who reads Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov in a diagonal position on an armchair. Some, like Slate editor Tony Ho Tran, embrace discomfort as a sign of virtue. Physical therapist Ryan Steiner from a Cleveland clinic explains that reading forces the body into unnatural postures and recommends frequent position changes. Devices like adjustable e-reader mounts with Bluetooth page-turners offer solutions for digital readers, as demonstrated by CNN's Chelsea Stone. For traditional book readers, Winkie concludes that little can be done, noting that humanity has been reading for a millennium.
Key facts
- Luke Winkie wrote an article on Slate about the lack of a comfortable reading position.
- Winkie tried reading on his back, in an armchair, and on his stomach, all causing discomfort.
- Bryan Lowder, deputy editor of Slate, stacks three pillows to read Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea cycle.
- A friend reads Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov in a diagonal position on an armchair.
- Tony Ho Tran, editor at Slate, considers discomfort a sign of virtue for concentration.
- Physical therapist Ryan Steiner says reading is unnatural and recommends changing positions often.
- Chelsea Stone of CNN uses an adjustable e-reader mount with a Bluetooth page-turner.
- The first novel, The Tale of Genji, was written in the early 11th century by Murasaki Shikibu.
Entities
Artists
- Murasaki Shikibu
- Ursula K. Le Guin
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
Institutions
- Slate
- CNN
Locations
- Cleveland
- Ohio
- Chicago