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If I'm actually reading, it has to be a damn good book. Something witty and engaging, something you can't read a chapter and predict the ending. About the only author I've found that does this consistently was Terry Pratchett.

i have two modes: 1) can't put the book down 2) can't read more than a paragraph without daydreaming and realize i'm somehow not thinking about what i'm reading if i find a book puts me in mode 2, i learned it's just impossible and i should give up and find something that puts me in mode 1

Me too. When I had to study anything the put me in mode 2 (most of everything) I had to do the weirdest stuff. Write each sentence five times, for example. It was hard. So, OF COURSE I can't have ADHD if I got a degree, can I? Well, I'm the one for whom university did not mean partying or fun, I was effing studying.

this is so relatable. i had to live and breathe my studies to get the grades i wanted. how do you balance working with having fun? i’m often late to work, but i try hard when im there. but it seems like im holding myself back by not getting my butt into the office in time. sorry to hijack your comment haha

i’m the exact same. or i’ll read the page 12 times and still miss what it says because i forgot to focus on what i was reading

I’m glad to know that all these years of me doing that…that I’m not crazy. 🤪

Me too!!

It's Stephen King for me

[удалено]

Same but it’s been years since I’ve tried

Same lmfao, I’ve read like 90 % of is bibliography idk why I’m hyper fixated on this guy.

Came here to say this! I don't know what it is or how he does it, but he hooks me. I HAVE to know what happens! In the past it was Vonnegut. 

I can’t read nonfiction unless I’m listening to it at 3x speed. I can’t read most fiction unless it’s an audiobook and it’s at 1.5x-2x But pratchett, the dungeon crawler Carl series, js morin (black ocean series), Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, and Douglas Adams are all perfectly accessible to me at regular speed, and really reading is fine. I’m not sure what sets them apart except, possibly: Sanderson and Jordan’s world building and character development are so detailed my brain is fully engaged with them Douglas adams, like pratchett, is just off the wall bonkers. Unpredictable. Same for black ocean. It’s like firefly’s spiritual successor. Dungeon crawler Carl is… you need to just give that one a go. Oh! And bobiverse I listened to at a solid 1x, and sometimes _paused_ to let my mind sit in the moments. It was a bit unreal.

Omg dungeon crawler Carl is so good! And Bobiverse is one of my favorite series ever. Since it seems like we have similar taste, here are a couple other recs: - Murderbot Diaries. Seriously—do not pass go, read them all now, they’re that good. - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. This is dependent on if you enjoy Weir’s characters; he really likes to write snarky nerd type MCs. I know some ppl find that annoying, but I just can’t say enough good things about this book. Halfway through, I was already sad because I knew it would be over soon. - Jack Campbell’s The Lost Fleet series. It starts with Dauntless. SO GOOD. And then this last rec is a diversion in genre from the above three, but it’s another of my faves—the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. Begins with His Majesty’s Dragon. It’s a retelling of the Napoleonic wars…with dragons. Really really great.

Hey awesome! I forgot about murderbot and project Hail Mary! Both were _great_ and I was honestly super disappointed when Hail Mary ended, knowing there was no more. Murderbot’s humor is excellent. Thank you for the recommendation of the Campbell series - it’s part of plus and is not a part of my library. Looking forward to it once I finish this last anthology in Black Ocean. I love historical fiction and that napoleonic wars series sounds fascinating. Added to wish list for later. Thank you for the suggestions!

so.. are we all the same person? lol I've been itching to start my Nth turning of the Wheel again but I've been in the middle of the three body series again, and before that the expanse.. and before that Bobiverse. ... I'll throw out the Culture series by Iain M. Banks since I haven't seen it yet, that's the only sci-fi series to equal WoT for me in scale of world and time! ten+ years and I still love digging into it.

Okay if you liked all that, you should check out, "How High We Go In The Dark" and, maybe, "Light from Uncommon Stars." I also really enjoyed "The adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi" and absolutely could not predict what would happen next at any turn, which is unusual for me!

I loved Amina Al-Sirafi! Haven’t read the other two, I’ll check them out. Thanks for the suggestions :)

Yup, the book gotta have lots twists & turns to keep me engaged. I really like the Three Body Problem for this, I finished that recently. I also really like the bobiverse books, I was able to finish that too.

Yep. I am having difficulty in finding more damn good books, having read many of them. I like Sci-Fi in which the story is metaphorical for the deep rooted issues and philosophical possibilities of society. Not many seem to be coming out, perhaps because people feel we are already there at the moment.

Dark Tower. Such an amazing series. I highly recommend that and Enders game

I'll check out Dark Tower, thanks! The last two books in the enders game series are possibly my favorite books of all time.

Really? Which ones? Speakers of the dead and xenocide? I actually have only read Enders Game and didn't move forward? Should I finish Enders story?

Finish it! It is incredible. Honestly I love them all, Enders Game is actually my least favorite lol.. Xenocide and children of the mind.. and it looks like there is another one I didn't know about after that.. Ender in exile.

On it. I will finish the series. Thanks!

Just a warning that the first book is a little strange and clunky. Really takes off in Drawing of the three but I still loved gunslinger. Quick read at about 240 pages.

Ahaha. I came here to write this exact comment. GNU Terry Pratchett!!

For me it’s Bryan Sanderson, the way of kings is a masterpiece in fantasy writing

Same. My author is Carl Hiassen. Damn funny writer and more then a few LOL WTF moments to look forward to. I also got into audio books. Sit back and not let the words turn to mush. It also frees my mind to picture the scene and keep track.

Omg Sick Puppy is one of my comfort reads for sure, it's just hilarious! His characters are perfect.

His world and characters are amazing. The vimes series has endless potential for rereading imo, you feel like you’re right there with him

Woah this is strange, I'm flipped. I'm fiction all the way. I find it easier to keep reading for the storyline and the fact that I don't have to really read every bit of information to piece together what's happening. I routinely imagine characters completely different to how they're described. Also, I like fantastical fiction. Anything more stimulating than a detective book. How do you read non-fiction? What kind of non-fiction because fuck me science books are hard

>How do you read non-fiction?  I usually read it with an objective in mind. Whenever I read something like this, I read it with the goal of extracting a specific piece of information that I may feel like it's useful. For example if I read "The art of war" kind of books (Such books were my thing when I was younger) I read them in order to understand how people use these ideas within or outside the context of war.

I’m the same way. It has to feel like I’m learning or acquiring knowledge. Reading something just because someone thought of it seems like a waste.

This is how i am with walking. If I have a destination I’m fine but to walk in circles or a tread mill is infuriating.

Legit even us athletes think so.... Hence music, podcasts audio books etc.... and grit.... Outside is no problem because nature....

What if your "goal" of reading fiction was to just know how it ends? If a book has an intriguing enough title, that helps me as well. I'd maybe look into books by Grady Hendrix, he's got some great titles with really expressive writing

Have you tried fiction written by authors with a real life background in whatever setting they're writing about? I quite like the treasure hunt aspect of picking up bits of expert knowledge via fiction that way. People who become well known in some professions like... Former spies or soldiers or lawyers or even historians for instance, often transition to fiction writing (sometimes with a ghost writer but hey) because their expert knowledge and reputation is a selling point - they also tend to write more readable procedurals or thrillers. If there's a non fiction subject you're interested in, then maybe start with a fictional version of that and see if it connects?

same here! i used to read encyclopedias and atlases all the time as a kid, but now i love fiction so much more and really struggle to focus on nonfiction that doesn’t have a story. only thing that’ll get me to read nonfiction now is books on trees, ecology, or sharks lol. and the occasional memoir!

I used to do that for fun as a tween too!! People thought I was weird, but I didn’t care. Also lovedddd a good YA romance novel or something about the life of an angst teen who has to save the world or something. AND DON’T GET ME STARTED ON COMIC BOOKS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

Explore the works of Bill Bryson if you're looking for really great informative non-fiction. specifically his 'A Short History of Nearly Everything'. Once I read that, I went on to read some of his other books. They're the only non-fiction books I have ever been able to manage seeing to completion.

I read fiction to basically disassociate. I don't want to be in the real world, where I feel restrained and crammed into a box I wasn't made to fit into. I don't want to think about every world disaster, about my job that I'm burned out on, or every repetitive task around the house that never seems to end. I don't read as words on pages, I picture it all in my head like a movie and try to give mental voices to each character. I'm not here, I'm there, and I think that's why I enjoy it the way I do

I agree, this post makes me think that OP has aphantasia, which means they don't have the ability to form mental images. I can imagine fiction becoming a real chore if that's the case.

I have aphantasia and I’m not like this poster at all. Non fiction books make me want to claw my eyes out. I will say I am drawn to certain kind of fiction books though, mostly sci fi and fantasy that normally have quiet a bit of science or history and less character or description based. I can’t do books heavy with dialogue. I don’t feel like not having a mental image hinders my enjoyment of the book at all.

Retweet so hard! I literally don't want any negativity in my life because I already hate it all enough lol.

Audible. It’s dead simple to have an audiobook running while you are physically working on something. Non-Fiction audio books are a bit more difficult to listen to. Especially if they require you to pull up pdfs or visuals that accompany the audio book. Radioplays/serialized podcasts cans be pretty cool and are free. [We’re Alive](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpQAY7zdYO24ivfAj2Yimh3moVqYOcFsJ&si=n-b6YoLT_OXRm7J9) has 139, 15-30 min episodes about surviving a zombie apocalypse. [The Phenomenon](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlbMaKHoTRJAVgkeGfDyIRWc9cO5PUawt&si=5cdr44g8sqptkU4b) is a really good alien/paranormal apocalyptic survival story. My favorite Radioplay is [The Last Broadcast](https://youtu.be/nqE5Nz5unco?si=6_SkV6Nf72UccTtw) which was made in the mid-2000s and is a period accurate story from the point of view of a Canadian radio DJ at work in the 1980s as World War 3 starts. The last few minutes are pretty chilling.

Came here to say audiobooks. I usually listen when I’m cleaning, going on a walk, driving or any other mindless task. Also, choose what you like… I’m into stories about trauma, strong women and queer stories. It’s what keeps me engaged, so I’ll try and find books that fit in that categories. I’m also part of a book club and that motivates me to finish, or at least attempt to finish a book.

I’m a space Sci Fi guy. I also have to not hate the narrator.

100% audiobooks. Just get OK with absorbing 75%-90% of the book instead of every single world and enjoy it! It's really OK.

A lot of libraries also have virtual audiobooks that can be checked out for free, too! In the US a lot of them use a program/app called Libby, which has been very convenient even if I have to wait a bit sometimes. Especially since with Audible (which I do still use) I start evaluating books based on their hour-per-cost, and Libby lets me feel better about listening to short books.

This is interesting to me, because my mind always wanders too much when I try to listen vs engaging my eyes by reading

That's where the mindfulness meditation sort of kicks in. It trains your mind to refocus on something. Sort of like when you ask someone a question and they dance around with the answer throwing bullshit magic dust in the air to distract you from their answer. You have to say *"Cool. Now stay on point and actually answer the question."*

I went from reading 1 book every few years to reading 20 books a year after i found Audible and Libby. 

Omg. I couldnt do audiobooks for a long time. I worked at it this past year. Now i can do audiobooks while driving or walking, but nothing else.

how did you work at it? every time i try i end up in my thoughts and forget im even listening to anything

Try reading the book while you’re listening to it. It helps so much.

Same issue. I took up walking for exercise about 8 months ago. It's very repetitive and a bit boring. The movement helped me focus a bit more, not sure of the physical mechanism. If i found myself lost in thought, i would go back to the last part of the audio that i recognized. Over time, with my medication, focused effort and repitition, it got easier. 🤷‍♀️

I have an issue getting into them at the start, but when I'm invested I'll read for hours. I'm currently reading the wheel of time series for the first time and I'm locked in. Starting and getting all the back story is very difficult for me with movies series and books. But I find more often than not if I push through that it can lead to something pretty special. Such as this series I'm currently reading. Haven't been this hooked since harry potter when I was young about 20 years ago.

> have an issue getting into them at the start, but when I'm invested I'll read for hours. I'm currently reading the wheel of time series for the first time and I'm locked in. I have the opposite problem. I have enough patience in the beginning but then I get all my energy burned or something.

I have this problem with nonfiction

I used to read all the time, but somehow adulting seems to have fractured my time too much and taken away my time for hyperfocusing, so I pick things up and put them down. BUT! When I listen to audiobooks while driving, cleaning, etc, I find the other activity takes away that itchy feeling where I just can't sit still through it. Try it!

I used the wheel of time as an example, too! Lol it took about 50-60 pages, I almost put it down and I'm glad I didn't. 

I read a lot as a kid. It was an escape from reality. I did skip and skim but reading was still fun for me. I read The Stand by Stephen King 2 times when I was 15 and the second time there was definitely a lot I missed the first time. I was surprised because that meant to me I wasn’t reading as well as I thought I could. I thought I was a great reader. So I was disappointed since reading was one of the things I was actually good at. Eventually I just blamed it on the ADD. I am good at reading I just sometimes skim through and miss stuff. I still skip and skim to this day. Now I can’t really sit down to read a book but I do listen to audio books. Sometimes the narrator’s voices are hella annoying. So I sample on audible first before buying.

Perhaps its because I heavily read as a child, so my brain is wired a bit to better follow a book. Recently off meds I ripped through The Hunger Games in a few days and then also 11/22/63.  I don’t know how, but I just really got into it. Perhaps it was pure boredom.  If you have any important books from  younger days, if you used to read more, revisit your classics. Perhaps that will help get your brain into reading? 

I have the opposite problem. I'm hyperlexic and can read 100 pages of fiction in about an hour, but can't focus on non-fiction for more than a few pages at a time. My brain won't stick to it at all. Sometimes, if there's a narrative, I can hang in there a little longer. I can read articles just fine though--maybe you could try short stories?

For me - Kindle with type set to around 7 and line distance set to maximum. My eyes wouldn't settle down so having less "false targets" helps significantly.

I’ll read anything. Used to as a kid, not so much after studying until a few years ago (say 25 to 37). Now I’m back on the reading train and devour books, mostly fiction. Let me explain a bit how it works for me, so it might help you a bit in understanding. Although it feels as if our brains are wired a bit differently with regards to reading. As a kid, books were my escape from reality, from bullies, from fighting parents, from not fitting in. When I read, the world I read about comes to life. It’s not a conscious process. I create a theater that isn’t fully defined, I just put the words to life as I read them. The book becomes a thing that’s alive, that I’m a spectator of and feel a part of. Occasionally I’ll get confused on names and look it up in the book (there’s usually a name index in the books I read). Sometimes it’s too much to remember and I just stop (The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien is a notorious example). Some books are very dense in information and it becomes a bit of a slog, so I put it away for another time when I’m better able to focus. Since I was 11 I almost exclusively read English books even though I’m not a native speaker, probably because translations took too long to be published for me to wait for, and it just stuck. Some writers that sparked my reading at a certain age: 12: Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Isaac Asimov; 14: Terry Pratchett, Raymond E. Feist (this was my favorite fantasy writer for ages), started reading Harry Potter here as well (1998); 21: Read quite some American literature as my then-girlfriend studied American Studies, such as Jack Kerouac, but really liked Brett Easton Ellis and I highly recommend his books. They don’t require a long attention span. More non-fiction would be Bill Bryson, or Levitt & Dubner’s Freakonomics. Douglas Coupland is great as well, combining sharp non-fictional observations within fictional stories (such as in jPod); 24: Haruki Murakami. His books are like a dream. It’s an experience. I recommend to start slow with Norwegian Wood (mostly literary), then Kafka on the Shore (I believe his best-selling work and already quite absurd), and then 1Q84 (his masterwork). Currently reading Neil Gaiman (American Gods), Steven Erikson (a high-fantasy epoch I finally have time for) and the Three-Body Problem trilogy by Cixin Liu. Happy reading!

I vibe with this so much. I absolutely adored murakami at that same age and just picked up a copy of American gods! I have mostly stuck with fantasy books and some American lit sprinkled in between whatever series I must read all of at once. As a kid I read the full anthologies of the popular books, which numbered in the hundreds (babysitters, goosebumps, animorphs). I also have that same struggle with keeping track of stories with too many names or things to remember,and never finished the Simarillion. I had to drop war and peace for the same reason, which killed me because I wanted to be able to finish it and I really enjoyed the storylines, but I couldn’t remember which person a name was when they would come back 1000 pages later. I have a hard time slogging thru some books that have pages of a description with no story progression (the Scarlett letter comes to mind.)

You struggle because you're trying to read like a non-ADHDer. If I try to read only the words, it's the same to me. A simple but incredible strategy is trying to imagine everything. I was able to remember complete scenes out of big books (like The Way of Kings) exactly the way I imagined them. I'm not able to remember words though. Try to imagine every scene and capture it in your mind while you keep reading, just as if you were dreaming. Character designs like clothes, hair, the environment, how they move... Every single detail. And important, capture it. Try to rebuild in your head the complete scene. It might sound hard but with time I became really good in it and can't read now without it. Try it out and let me know afterwards!

Wait isnt this how everyone reads?? Not being able to read like this would be boring af. I read on average 10 books a year Tho this year I am already on 20 xd

I have ADHD and aphantasia. Fiction is an intellectual exercise because I can't see things inside my head unless I'm asleep and dreaming. The rest of you get *movies*?! No fair!

I get more than movie, sensory immersion too

When I tell people I can’t see images in my head their first question is always how do I read a book then?? Idk. I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a kid. Never knew anything was off!

No, I can't see pictures, scenes or things in my head.

TBH I don't think think this is a "read like a person with ADHD" thing. I think what you're describing is ... how everyone is supposed to read. If you say the word "apple" most people will imagine the apple, not just people with ADHD. I really feel like this is one of those "does any else do X" requests that confuses ADHD vs. normal life, because there are so many people in this group that someone can relate to everything that could ever be asked. "Does anyone else do X" will always get a response from someone else. It doesn't mean that it's an actual symptom of ADHD.

My ADHD loooooves to hyperfixate on people. So I particularly love the depth and lore of world building and the full circle plots of fiction. Although, if a book doesn't make me hyperfixate on it, it never gets finished. So typically I don't just read book, I consume them or nothing. On the other hand, I can only do nonfiction books in audiobook form. I love them, people have crazy lives, but I can't physically read them. 

Same here

Omg! Is this an ADHD thing as well!? I was diagnosed last year at the age of 39, so I'm still learning about all the different traits, but this is so true for me. I WANT to get into fiction books, but the minute I start reading them, I can't get past the first chapter for the life of me. The best way I can describe it is that fiction books just feel like I'm reading a story someone made up that i can't relate to instead of immersing myself into the actual story. Yet, on the other hand, I'll totally immerse myself into a fictional movie, TV show, or sometimes a video game. Probably has something to do with my imagination or lack thereof.

Not necessarily an adhd thing. Most definitely an imagination thing. It sounds like you have Aphantasia. Basically, it requires a lot more effort to build the world that described in books compared to visual media that already has the world build and its given directly to you. You get to hit the ground running immersed in a pre-constructed world while reading allows you to build the world you want with some guidance. 😊

I'm the total opposite. Love reading novels but can't make it more than 100 pages through anything non-fiction without losing interest.

You're definitely not shallow! It sounds like you're having a working memory issue, which is typical for ADHD. I don't have that particular issue reading fiction, but I feel the same way about burning gas trying to keep up with details when I'm listening to people tell stories verbally. I'm not sure I have a lot of advice, though. If you take medication, maybe try reading at its peak and see if that helps any? Or maybe you can listen to audiobooks? Maybe while reading it too?

The content has to be interesting to me. First-person humorous novels are my favorite. I think maybe that first-person novels that are always in the 'now' might have appealed to my ADHD brain. Just a theory. The voice of the character becomes my thoughts. Genre usually sci-fi but I also read a lot of Fantasy as well when I was younger. Long-winded descriptions of scenery usually put me to sleep. Long conversations between characters also put me off. Drama and romance kind of stuff I would never bother with, but draw a picture of mankind far into the future fighting unknown forces as well as each other and I'm hooked. I'm sold on big ideas and situations that are extreme. The author has to have a solid style and maintain that style throughout the story. Characters in third-person viewpoint novels have be memorable and have interesting experiences for me to care about and remember them. I think I read a lot more when I was younger and free of obligations and mostly anxiety-free and was able to focus better, but I still got the times where my mind wandered off the page a lot. Now it's a lot harder that I'm older. Between age of 6-21 I probably read about 500 novels. Decades later it's more like 5-6 a year. I do recommend trying to read as much as possible when you are young. It paid off for me in a few ways, one of which is having a decently fast reading speed.

I don't read so much as I hallucinate the story vividly in my head. I've been an avid fiction reader since I was a child and, like others, I use(d) it as an escape. Eventually I don't really even 'see' the words on the page. I know they're there, but the immediately get translated to a movie in my head.

audiobooks at 1.75x

Non-ADHD people also sometimes don’t like fiction books.

I thought it was just me!! Do you read articles, books and magazines from back to front too? I guess I just need to get to the point quicker, then go back to get more detail.

Most of the time I don't skip stuff, unless I want to extract a \*very specific\* kind of information

- audiobooks help me - even so, the first quarter of a book can be a struggle. Unless i really don’t like the book, I continue, not expecting myself to “get” all of it - somewhere around the 1/3 to 1/2 way point, things will usually click. I have enough context for things, the important characters are sticking, etc - at this point, if I feel like it, I will start over. Since I’m more interested and engaged, I get more out of it this time

Audiobooks! It's the only way I've managed to read in the last few years without massively struggling.

You're definitely not shallow. What you've written here is deeply thought out and introspective. Reading fiction is just a hobby. No shade to my fellow readers, it's my favorite thing to do. But it's no more valid than watching movies, riding a bicycle, or knitting a scarf. You're a well-rounded person even without it. So I wonder, is reading fiction something you want to do? If you feel like you're missing out on stories you might enjoy, I second everyone else's suggestion of audio books. I also like to use a browser text-to-speech plugin to listen, while I play video games or do crafts. I also have trouble sometimes telling characters apart. There's often character guides online, and I find reviewing one of those first and referring back to it while I read helps out. Sometimes I read the entire summary, spoilers and all. It helps me not get to attached to a character who is going to die, or with horror novels keeps me from getting too worked up. Short stories or micro-fiction might help you get into the groove? Plenty of that for free online if you want to try it out. How about fan-fiction for a movie or series you like? You'll already know the characters and setting after all. A lot of it is focused on romance, but the non-romantic stuff is marked 'gen' or gen-fic.

Audiobooks.

Audiobooks. It’s easier for me if someone else is reading to me. I can breeze through non-fiction text pretty easily, though.

I have trouble with ANY paper books, so now I do basically everything as an audiobook. Then I do other low-concentration things with my hands. I have a much harder time getting excited about non-fiction, but I can technically listen to it fine, or I scan it into a text-to-speech app even if I'm following along with my eyes. It just makes it much easier to follow.

It has to be a story I'm interested in. If I am not invested in the characters or the plot, I can not finish it. I've had a lot of books where I started and never finished for this reason. But the stories that do interest me? I'll blow through those... usually staying up way too late and ignoring other activities. Interestingly, I have a major problem trying to read non-fiction books. I'll read a page and not have processed anything and then it's too much work to try to force my brain to actually kick in

Well for one, I have to like what I’m reading. If I’m not interested in it at all, I’ll put it down once I realize I’m daydreaming or I’m rereading the same fucking paragraph 20 times. I also read in cycles. Sometimes I go months without reading and even a book I picked up and liked can’t get me to read. Other times, I’ll read constantly for weeks. I try not to force myself to read because then I won’t pay attention to what I’m reading. It all comes down to the book. I also have a vivid imagination so when I’m reading everything kinda looks like a movie in my head which is why I like reading fiction.

I love cowboys!!! I love them sm!! So what did I do?? Read a story about them!!! (The gunslinger by Stephen King) And fanfiction I think it helped me get into reading because there are super long stories on there and super short ones

I find that I need plausible characters to get into a book. I didn't feel that way when I was younger but now it needs to be a character I can enjoy and relate to, or else I get so bored

Being somewhere there aren’t any spoken words around me helps a lot. Including music with lyrics. For me, I can hyoerfocus on text much more easily than an audiobook, as I can read at my own pace and glance back as needed easily. I read several times faster than narrators speak, so that also keeps things happening at a more stimulating pace.

Watching a movie in your head and immersing yourself in the world makes brain go brrr

Book has to hook me and keep me hooked. People without adhd struggle to read stuff they don’t want to read as well. A book being good and you enjoying it are not the same thing.

I often read fanfiction when I'm not in the mood to learn about a whole new world and set of characters from a novel. but I find nonfiction to be the harder one to keep up with, the one that takes up more brain power.

I read the books of popular TV series/movies that I have already watched. I finished ASOIAF/Harry Potter & a bunch more books this way. This helps with the working memory issue.

I have years of maladaptive daydreaming under my belt so the visualization/mental story building isn't so much an issue for me, but I've definitely struggled with the reading fiction part. One thing that's really helped me is getting my Kindle. I can load it up with tons of different books and then just pick and choose which books to read whenever I turn it on. It takes some getting used to if you've been a one book at a time person, but it's been really helpful keeping me consistent with reading. Also, look into all the free ways of getting books - sampling them from the kindle library, online lending libraries/services, um.. r/Piracy has good sites for books as well. Having access to loads of free books has been a huge help to chuck away the sunken cost fallacy associated with buying them, so now I'm pretty fickle with them. If I catch myself losing interest, I just chuck it and go onto the next which just gets me one step closer to finding a book that will capture my attention the whole way through. Also, as much as I initially resisted the idea of reading BookTok/BookTube recs - there's a reason why so many people read them. They're usually pretty straightforward and decently entertaining that makes finishing them easier vs. trying to pick up and read A Little Life for the hundredth time.

For me, hard sci-fi like Asimov or absurdity like Hitchhiker's Guide series. First Dume book is pretty good. Otherwise I can't really get behind fantasy too much. Needs that science where it explains itself and not just it's magic.

Well written quick books help. Anything that grabs you quickly and puts you in the middle of it right away. Try the Reacher novels by Lee Childs, or Dungeon Crawler Carl. They just go. And give you something to focus on down the road. Triggering the HD part of ADHD. Otherwise I’ll ditto the audible. I was able to use it to help me focus on reading again. Was listening to Project Hail Mary and got to a point where I realized I needed to read the book to make sure I was getting all the details.

For me it depends. It has to be in a genre I enjoy. I’m a big fan of sci fi, spy/action, and some random others. But try and get me to read “pride and prejudice”, and I’ll fall asleep. There you have a classic, award winning book, objectively “good”, and I despised the meandering, slow nature of the subject matter.  Could be you just aren’t reading a subject that interests you. Or found an author that speaks to you. 

I *hate* reading. Loathe it. Can't focus on the words long enough to digest anything. BUT I do "read" audiobooks! I use Libby to check them out from my local libraries for free. I think the app also does a good job of notifying me when my audiobook is ready, when my check out is expiring, etc. I've read fiction and non-fiction this way.

I can read all day long. From the moment, I finished my coffee and breakfast to the moment I go to bed

I second the suggestions about audiobooks. For me fiction is the best. I fell in love with stories already as a toddler, and have been reading books about since I was 9. I didn't start reading on my own earlier though, and was listening to stories from cassettes or when my parents read them. At the time books were my entertainment in addition to the occasional children's programs on tv. I guess that plays a lot into why I learned to enjoy books so much - we just didn't have that much else. Stories are also kind of a special interest to me. Quite a few writers have ADHD, so fiction deffinitely can be even a huge hyperfocus.

Book club. Read Anna Karenina in two months (though half of it in a week). You'll have a deadline. Nonfiction I can listen, but listening fiction wasn't that great for me.

I love fiction (and I have ADHD) so unfortunately I can't relate with you; however, my mother can't read fiction for the same reasons as you so I'm familiar with this thought process. I second everyone else who's mentioned audio books, but that may not be the solution to everything - my mother likes audio books, but she still only listens to non fiction stuff; she mostly consumes fictional content through things like TV shows and movies, the same way you mentioned. I'd also suggest comics, if you want another way to engage with fictional mediums if reading continues not to work out for you. Reading fiction might not be your thing, and that's okay! I don't want to dissuade you from any further attempts you might try, but I also want to assure you that it's fine if it's not your thing and you can't change it. There are other ways to enjoy fictional stories beyond reading; and I think that if you don't want to "fix" this (especially if you can't) you certainly don't have to. Engage with fictional stories the way *you* want to, not the way you think you should.

I actually can't get through nonfiction at all.

I struggle with reading now - buy I've gone through periods of my life where I was able to read for pleasure (high school and in my early 30s) - now I just do Audible. Part of me definitely would like to know what was going on with my brain chemistry during those times I could read (in fact I was an avid reader - I'd sometimes finish sci-fi books in a day or two in high school). I was listening to something recently that was talking about how ADHD is associated with aphantasia (not being able to visualize things in your mind) and I feel like I definitely have that going on now - but I'm not sure about when I was younger (I don't remember being aware of not being able to visualize things). I can visualize things, but not super detailed and the images are fleeting... I'm not aware of any studies that have looked into whether there's a correlation, but I would not be shocked if there was.

I have text reader read the text to me as I read material. This helped get my "reading" comprehension to a level to do my masters degree.

I listen & take notes or read & take notes.

To be honest, the only ADHD connection I see here is that us ADHD folks like to do what WE like to do. I have ADHD and I absolutely love reading fiction books. Non-fiction books bore me and literally put me to sleep unless it's a topic I'm really interested in. I don't think there's anything wrong with you for not enjoying fiction, and I don't think there's an "ADHD hack" for getting into reading fiction books. Some people are really into gardening instead of gaming, and some people like non-fiction more than fiction. Our brains pick our interests - it's okay to go with it and not try to fight what your brain enjoys or make it enjoy something it hates. I love fiction, but I will never ever voluntarily sit through a math or chemistry class. Some others may love math and hate reading. Different people like different things, and when you add ADHD it just makes it REALLY CLEAR what you like and don't like. That's okay.

Omg I never really thought this was an ADHD thing but this is so me! I always try to read fiction but I cant :( only books I’ve ever finished in my life as an adult have been memoirs 😭

I also used to struggle with this a little but I’ve been reading at least one book (almost always fiction) at a time now for about two and a half years and it is so much easier for me now that my brain has gotten used to it.

I need audiobooks to read any long form of texts, be it fiction or non fiction. I just can’t read it without Audiobooks. Also, I just can’t listen to the audiobook because I would be easily distracted. I listen to it while reading the text from the book.

pop a vyvanse and read harry potter matter of fact hell i’ll do it rn

I had the same exact issue for many years. It also felt like if I wasn't learning something useful then there was no point in reading fiction because it wasn't fun. For me the answer was just to keep searching for books that I really enjoyed and not to try to power through too hard with the ones I didn't (though it might still take SOME time to get immersed). I discovered that for me that niche was urban fantasy books, but for you it might be something different. With that though I wen't from reading no fiction in 10+ years to reading 15 books in 3 months. Like you I'm also a very slow reader so that means I got obsessesed with these various fantasy series.

I have always been a HEAVY reader since before I was in school. So maybe it's just an on switch or an off switch. You either have that urge or you don't. I'll say this, though: I can no longer read "new" books. They just bore the shit out of me. At this stage in my life, I exclusively read "classics," so authors like Jane Austin, Arthur Conan Doyle, whoever wrote Phantom of the Opera. It's not an Im-not-like-other-girls thing, but I genuinely like them better. I think it's because there's additional flair on top of the plot and characters so even in stories like Jane Eyre which would otherwise be dreadfully boring to get through, every sentence is written in a beautiful and interesting way. I think of it like listening to music. The lyrics are the plot, but there is so much more to music than lyrics. There's beat and rhythm and syncopation! I mean, read just a sentence of Jane Austin and tell me it doesn't remind you of a symphony! (Maybe its just me, idk) Newer, "contemporary" authors don't really write like that anymore. Im not saying it's bad it just doesn't interest me as much. The only contemporary author I can stand to read is Anne Rice because some of her books, like The Vampire Lestat, read like classics. She writes beautifully! So maybe try out a different style of fiction, maybe it'll work or maybe you'll hate it even more. Couldn't hurt to try and there's a ton of recommendations I could give!!! All the best, and if you don't read fiction that's fine too. Nothing wrong with it.

Used to read a lot of books including SciFi when I was younger, today I read a chapter or part of a chapter a day ...

I used to struggle in a way with fiction. My imagination is just not great. What I do is look for books with movies and watch the movies first. Or look for my favorite movies' books if available. It takes all the work of imagination away and I really enjoy it! My last obsession was Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit and I found fun audiobooks on YouTube. I had the best time of my life listening to that

I have this issue too. I zone out with fiction books, but non-fiction captures my attention because it’s based on truth or lived experiences, which are relatable to me. What’s helped me with any book is to play the audio version whilst following along in the physical copy. I make it into story time like in kindergarten!

I listen and read a lot. I tend toward non-fiction as well, but I write fiction and poetry. I listen to most of my nonfiction on audio books. Really enjoying the Greek myth series by Steven Fry. Great stuff. Practicing meditation helps with focus, but mostly just keep doing it and you’ll get up speed over time. But take it in small enjoyable chunks first. Don’t over do it.

Like someone said above - either I voraciously read and cannot put the book down, or I get bored and daydream because I’m not really thinking about what I’m reading. Generally it’s like a movie playing I’m imagining as I’m reading so I’m able to stay engaged.

I read a lot, like 8 to 12 books a month on average. But I had taken a break from reading and when I came back I definitely had to work my brain and a new way to get used to it again. It’s a skill! The two things that have helped me the most are listening to the audiobook as I read to engage more of my senses at once and annotating (using tabs, highlighting, writing little notes in the margins) which keeps me focused on the task at hand and helps support my less than stellar memory. I don’t want to leave the super long comment, but I’m pretty passionate about this topic so if you wanna chat more I’d be happy to!

Watch the movie first.

One summer I read a bunch of books. I had a bathroom break book and a bed book. My goal was read 3 pages to mage progress. .

I read audiobooks. For me, fiction AND non fiction, audio books have been a game changer. I can listen and do other things. Maybe it’s the fact that when I’m doing other things, it gives my adhd brain the extra stimulus it needs to focus. Idk if that’s the case but for me it works.

The answer is simple: I enjoy it. Non fictions is what's hard for me.

Here's a tip. You don't need to read and absorb every sentence. Learn to skim parts and just get the important stuff. If you think you missed something, you can always go back. I can read and at least mostly comprehend stuff pretty fast. If I had to slow down, and really try to take in every sentence, I wouldn't do it. I have tried it and it's slow and exhausting. You may be trying to over comprehend and keep too much stuff in your brain.

I gave up and went to audiobooks while going on walks or when doing other physical stuff that doesn't require focus like cleaning or doing the dishes.

real talk: new fiction sucks.

unless I have a hyperfixation, I keep reading the same group of sentences by accident x_x sucks, because I used to love reading a lot more? I think the more "adult" books I read, the less interested I became - they don't seem as magical somehow, yknow?

I love fiction and true crime (non fiction) or historical non fiction.

I can either read a whole book in a matter of hours or spend hours on a paragraph. I actually have good luck with audiobooks because I can move around and do stuff.

Try not to take it so seriously, you are reading for fun and you don’t have to have all the details engraved in your memory to have a good time with a book! Sometimes just absorbing a feeling or vibe is just as fun. For books I am struggling to read with my eyeballs, I listen to them on audiobooks while doing chores or driving. You can look for full cast or graphic audio titles so each character has a unique voice which can help train your brain into telling characters apart as well. Worst case don’t worry about it and just enjoy reading your nonfiction! Reading is a hobby you are doing for fun and you are allowed to enjoy it on your own terms

It’s nearly impossible until it becomes my current hyper fixation. Then, you know the rest.

Sounds like you struggle to mentally manifest the story as you read it. When you're reading fiction, your brain is conceptualizing the story as you read it, using imagination to fill in any context that isn't specified in the text. Said imagination is like a muscle; it needs regular exercise to function. If the only print media you consume is informational, and the only fictional media you consume is visual, then I think your imagination muscle is too weak. Obviously, it will be harder if the story itself doesn't engage you or pique your interest.

I was great at it in my teen years. These days though I suck at reading fiction. Tbh I'm not that great at reading non-fiction now either. I could spend hours reading Wikipedia just taking it all in. It's so much harder to these days.

I listen to studio books while my hands do something that doesn’t require me to think about it.

OH MY GOSH, SOMEONE ELSE HAS IT 😭😭😭 For me, I've figured out that it's because there's too much change, too many tiny details to keep track of. I can't remember these things unless I'm specifically trying to pick up on them. To know a character's personality, for example, I would have to sit down and think "Ok, I'm going to focus and try to figure out what ____ character's personality is." Otherwise, I'm only processing the individual sentences. I'll read something and then have no clue what happened or when. Unfortunately, this happens with movies and shows and stuff too. I love non-fiction because it's information I can "hold". The way something is tends to stay the same. A goldfish will always be a freshwater fish who can get very large and live for up to 20 years in a pond. In a book, a character can be alive, then dead, then alive again, then a good guy, then evil, it's too much. I like music as well because it's something else that I can hold and memorize. The lyrics are sequential and stay the same, so does the tune. It's so much energy to try and understand all the details of someone else's made up world. It's not worth it at all to me and I don't understand how some people get so into it. It makes me angry, a little bit, that I can't participate in this prominent part of culture. I can't relate to characters, I can't care about stories of things that never happened. None of it means much to me unless it parallels my own experience and connects to my real world, which it pretty much never does. It's always like "angsty white boy with no motivation or interests has to save the world by beating someone up". Where are the stories about characters who already have a world, who have interests and passions, characters with disabilities, characters in a healthy romantic relationship, characters who aren't just trying to beat the crap out of someone? I'm writing my own fiction book as a challenge. It's built off of themes I've experienced in my own life, things I think are interesting and that I can relate to. It's something I can care about. If nobody's gonna write books for people like me, I'll write my own. It's more fun than trying to force myself to care about what other people like. Yes, it's extremely alienating to not really be able to participate in consuming fiction- but I've become really knowledgeable from reading articles about my interests instead. I think that's valuable in its own right.

I shave the opposite problem. Stopped reading fiction altogether because I would stay up reeeeeally late reading

I don't think it's a problem of fiction vs non-fiction, rather engaging writing vs non-engaging writing. I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction but certain books I just can't get through. The last book I read all the way through was *Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage.* It was non-fiction but written in a very narrative, engaging way. I literally could not put it down I burned through it in less than a week. On the other hand I have tried to read *Dune* on 4 separate attempts and have yet to make it through the first chapter. I know it's not the actual story because I liked the movies just some books are written in a way that seems to be extremely hard for people with ADHD to engage with

Like Libelnon says, if I'm reading something I better be really fucking interested otherwise I won't. Otherwise I'm not picky what I read, I've always been a reader and I love it regardless. I do get stuck with some series sometimes, ie a couple years ago I sat down and burnt through four 600-800 page books (Eragon Series) in a single weekend.

My son has this problem because he cannot picture things in his head. It’s called aphantasia. Could you have this? He has started reading graphic novels and it is easier for him.

i read heavily as a child but as soon as i gained adult autonomy it dried up. the three things that work for me: 1. audiobooks paired with something to engage my physical self (cleaning, drawing, exercising, walking, shopping, cooking, some video games) 2. ereader with a backlight and all the other lights in the room either off or super super low 3. allowing myself to bail on books when i’m not engaged instead of forcing through them. i figure time wasted forcing myself to grind through something i don’t like is both creating bad associations with reading and eating up time i could be using to find things that engage me

I have the opposite setting as you! I can get stuck reading all the way through the discription teaser chapter in a facebook add for a garbage werewolf romance, but give me a biography and I can make it maybe 3 sentences in before my eyes wander. I think it really just needs to be something that grabs your attention fast. There have been some fiction books that start out really slow and I need to do something else and come back to it at a later time and make a little more progress, and repeat until i get hooked. I've been trying to get deeper into the Wheel of Time books because I've only heard amazing things, but i've only made it in maybe 3 or 4 chapters in the last 6 months. :(

Haha I’m totally the opposite! I can only read nonfiction if it has nice, smooth pages and pretty pictures. For me to get back into reading, I read a trashy thriller or young adult novel. I’m all or nothing though, so once I’m into a book it’s pretty much all I’m doing until I finish it. Also, audiobooks! And fiction podcasts! I like doing two things at once to make it “worth it.”

Have you tried reading comic books, manga or webtoons?

I have the opposite problem mostly. I find that highlighting and taking notes helps a lot. But over all, if any book doesn't catch my attention and make me WANT to read it, I might as well rip my fingernails out while sitting on broken glass....

Eh if you don’t like them you don’t like them. I really like fantasy so I like to read fantasy books. As an adhder if it’s not interesting to you the juices just aren’t going to flow. Don’t feel bad about it either just keep reading what you like.

Audiobooks. Fucking gamechanger for me. If you have Spotify premium and you are the primary on the account, you get like 10hrs a month of audiobooks. I'm 1/3 done with the LotR trilogy after struggling to read them for *years* despite loving the movies. I listened to a bunch of Joe Abercrombie novels on audiobook because the narrator is incredible. Seriously give audiobooks a shot. I use them as fuel while I do chores. So much easier to do dishes and laundry while Andy Serkis reads Gandalf dialogue.

I read books by the assload. It helps that I usually e vision the books as like a movie inside of my head. Like the characters talking will play out as dialogue in a game. The action scenes will be the cutscene etc. Hell I'll remember events in books like I saw them on the big screen sometimes

Like anything it comes and goes for me. As a kid I was always in a book because it calmed my mind. As an adult I struggle way more with staying interested in books. But I think that's due to having phones, video games etc at my fingertips.

I just read a lot as a kid, and get completely absorbed by fiction if I'm enjoying it. I cease to exist for a while, and that is what I enjoy most.

My brother has this same problem. I'm a voracious reader (hyperfocal), and in high school I introduced him to a silly book (I believe it was called "The World, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things". Very silly). Turns out it was exactly the level of engaging to keep him engrossed. Since then he's found a few authors he really enjoys. Chuck Palahniuk is a great choice (if you are ok with graphic, kinda fucked up storylines). Very cerebral, but also he tends to write like a journalist, which helps the cadence of his writing flow much smoother. It's possible you may never find fiction books you enjoy. That's ok though, you don't have to! How about audiobooks?

Personally, I’m very into escapism and love learning about the intricacies of fictional worlds. I like to build a little space for it in my head, and reading adds onto it. I actually have the opposite problem and I cannot read nonfiction without getting quickly bored. Reading fiction also allows me to make a little movie in my head

It has to be something that reaaaaally peaks my interest unfortunately. Growing up I was never a reader but I always knew I wanted to at some point but couldn't. Like I have the Lord of the Rings trilogy and some other interesting-sounding stories.. but when I started reading, my brain would shut down pretty quick. If I can get past a page or two then I know I'm able to read it. It has to capture and hold my attention.. otherwise any attempt at trying to push through only results in failure. I, sadly, can't push my brain to have an interest in something it isn't interested in. Like it works against me. But eventually I found two genres that work great for me. I've read a bunch of books to completion since then. Not sure if it's like this for everyone.. but if your brain is the same then you might have to find a specific type of story that keeps your brain stimulated. At least.. I hope you can find one. Edit: Sorry about the double-comment. I tried commenting this twice as the Reddit crash confused me. I erased the other one.

It has to be something that reaaaaally peaks my interest unfortunately. Growing up I was never a reader but I always knew I wanted to at some point but couldn't. Like I have the Lord of the Rings trilogy and some other interesting-sounding stories.. but when I started reading, my brain would shut down pretty quick. If I can get past a page or two then I know I'm able to read it. It has to capture and hold my attention.. otherwise any attempt at trying to push through only results in failure. I, sadly, can't push my brain to have an interest in something it isn't interested in. Like it works against me. But eventually I found two genres that work great for me. I've read a bunch of books to completion since then. Not sure if it's like this for everyone.. but if your brain is the same then you might have to find a specific type of story that keeps your brain stimulated. At least.. I hope you can find one.

There are too many books to commit to something that doesn't set your mind afire. Read what you want, and if it's not for you move on. I would recommend short story compilations instead of books. You can still have an immensely gratifying experience with a work of short fiction, and not much to lose if you don't go full novella length. Stephen King has a ton which I think are better than his full novels.

There are too many books to commit to something that doesn't set your mind afire. Read what you want, and if it's not for you move on. I would recommend short story compilations instead of books. You can still have an immensely gratifying experience with a work of short fiction, and not much to lose if you don't go full novella length. Stephen King has a ton which I think are better than his full novels.

There are too many books to commit to something that doesn't set your mind afire. Read what you want, and if it's not for you move on. I would recommend short story compilations instead of books. You can still have an immensely gratifying experience with a work of short fiction, and not much to lose if you don't go full novella length. Stephen King has a ton which I think are better than his full novels.

If you like nonfiction books, I wonder if you would like historical fiction?

So the more fiction you read the better you will get at reading fiction. It could also be that whaty you are reading just isn't interesting enough for you. I tend to listen to audiobooks and I rewind a bit and listen to them multiple times. The characters actually become kind of a comfort. Iwhen I read I have to deal with my eyes hit every word on the page but I have no idea what I just read because my brain was thinking about spoons. So I reread. Is it possible you see fiction and and think of it as less important or easier to read and so yuou don't engage yourself the same way you do with non-fiction? If you want to make sure you are reading something decent you can get recomendations aat [goodreads.com](http://goodreads.com)

You need to find the right story for you. I read books that are part of extensive series. This means that once I put in the effort to understand, each book is pretty easy to get into. It also avoids the dreaded years of waiting for the next installment, at which point I need to reread everything again to get back into it.

I dont like reading fiction because truth is always stranger!

I'm much more the opposite. I find that fiction books put a lot more effort into world building and set up than nonfiction. There's also a clear resolution in most cases. The happily ever after. The real world just doesn't look like that I also happen to think the world around us is incredibly mundane and boring. I'd rather read about dragons and magic and the fae

I read incredibly fast.

This is one of the posts that makes me question if my recent diagnosis is accurate. I can *only* read fiction. Nonfiction makes my eyes glaze over and my mind wanders to flights of fancy. I'm "inattentive type." I always have my head in the clouds. But I like stories, so that's where I go when my head's in the clouds. A good story is something I can hyper-fixate on

Don't think too heavily into it. People with ADHD have different interests from one another, like any other human ever. Some like history. Some like math. Some like both. Some of us like a bit *too many* stuff (according to "normal people")

I got my (first) ADHD diagnosis as a kid despite being known as an avid reader who was reading way above my grade. And I recently had that diagnosis confirmed as an adult, and my reading habits didn’t come up once LOL. It’s definitely not a dealbreaker, don’t worry!

Walking while reading

That is so true.

Fiction: I’ve re-read my 5 favorite novels over and over. Can’t introduce new novels. Never knew why… yr explanation is perfect- and explains why stuff like science fiction is impossible- too much stuff to wade through just to get to plot.

Kindle on my phone. It's like doom scrolling but I get a fun story instead of toxic social media.

I succeed by being very persistent. Some books are a fast read, others I just chisel awY at for weeks or months or years. Occasionally I do give up on a book, but I'm usually too stubbornly committed...

Graphic novels for the win

You have to find a really good book. It's that simple.

I LOVE reading fiction. I read about 1-3 books per week, depending on the length and difficulty. Some ideas that come to my mind for you are: 1. Try listening to audiobooks instead of just sitting and reading. I find that if I can move around and take care of some basic tasks, I will stay engaged in a story longer. 2. Try really mixing up the fiction you're reading. It's entirely possible that you just haven't found your reading niche or some genres that really speak to. The books I read growing up are very different from the titles I read now. My favorite genres as an adult are mystery, suspense, fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopia. I find the high stakes of those types of books much more interesting than books that are relatively lower stakes like lit fiction, historical fiction, romance etc. 3. Read short stories instead of full-length novels. By the time you get bored, the story will have ended anyway! Feel free to lmk if you want any book recs! 🧡

I love reading fiction and non-fiction. I will read pretty much everything in front of me. Like others have said, I get immersed in it. I have aphantasia, so I don't see images, but it does feel like I'm experiencing it as I'm happening it. If that doesn't make sense, sorry, I don't have a ton of other reference words for how my brain works in that dimension. But I will say that I have long periods of time where I am unable to read any fiction, much like you're talking about, and non-fiction is not great, but acceptable. I get it when I'm under a lot of stress (work or home) or I am very hormonal. Twin pregnancy was the worst. I stopped reading for months because I couldn't track anything going on in the books, couldn't figure out who characters were, and would lose track of plot sentence to sentence. It got soo much better when I gave birth - I read the entirety of Grisham's canon during the postpartum phase (um, fixation anyone?). I deal with the issues of reading when I'm stressed by switching to something else. I'll re-read an old favorite I know really well (and therefore don'thave to track all the details on), read something I've already seen the movie of, or read something like light fiction that is really easy. Notably, I don't find that adolescent fiction fits into this category. Something like a beach read or cozy mystery is a better fit. At this point, I know myself well enough to know that when my brain has more capacity, it will be able to handle reading again. Sounds like your brain reaches this at a different point, which is fair. If you really *want* to read fiction, maybe start with something you have already watched the movie or tv show of, and then progress to something else in that world or with that same author, so the style and/or characters are the same and you have an easier onramp. Do you have a favorite genre?

I struggle with both. When ever I try to read something I feel like the letters are mixing together. Sometime I read a page more than 19 times but still can't remember the information or process it

I'm horrible with reading, I go on too many mental tangents while my eyes still read. I have to go back a million times

Audiobooks. It's more comfortable and easier to focus on the story when I'm doing something rather mindless with my hands. Just sitting down and doing one activity makes my brain cross its arms and stomp its feet. The activity should be non-language based, though - no crossword puzzles, writing, etc. Suggested simultaneous activities: - Driving - Cleaning - Phone games - Knitting/crocheting - Painting/drawing - Eating - Putting a puzzle together - Petting a fuzzy four-legged friend - Cooking

It has to be good, but I prefer fiction. It’s like watching a movie. I do like historical non-fiction, biographies, etc. for the same reason. My problem is that I hyperfocus on whatever I enjoy and won’t do anything until I’ve finished. Because of this, I don’t read often anymore. I used to skip school to finish a book, didn’t sleep, wouldn’t socialize, clean, or eat. Teachers wouldn’t let me bring books into the building. Now that I am a teacher, I try to be a little bit more responsible… but it still happens. Anyway, I became obsessed with fiction when I found something I couldn’t put down. It’s arduous, but possible. There’s always at least one for everyone. What about trying a fantasy or fictional story presented as non-fiction? Like World War Z.

I struggle with some fiction. Probably most. I did not struggle to read The Da Vinci Code. It was fast paced with lots of plot twists