[chelviweeme]

That is a question I asked when I first came to Thailand over ten years ago. There wasn't much of a selection of books in bookstores and students at school only read cartoon books. In fact, wherever I went I saw both children and young adults reading these Japanese imports - many of them with graphic violence and nudity. But, there wasn't much of a selection of good novels. I wanted to encourage my students to read (Thai) books but there just wasn't much to read. To give you an example how bad things were, just about all of the computer books were imported English versions. Hardly anything in Thai. Now it is very much the opposite. Both reference books and novels from the West are now being translated. Thai authors are also writing many more books now. The book fairs in Bangkok get bigger and bigger every year. I went to the last one at the weekend and it was packed. It was so good to see so many Thai people with a love of reading now.

For the youngsters, you can of course thank Harry Potter. I think it was a translation of that first book that first got my students intereted in reading novels. At about the same time a number of other classics were translated. Everything has snowballed since then. Back in 1995 an average of 13.1 books were published per day. Now this has risen to 31.9 books per day! So, what is the nation reading these days? Are they all reading novels? No, the sad fact is that only a small percentage of the nation read any books on the bestseller lists. What is happening in Bangkok is not happening in the provinces. Not yet anyway. A recent survey showed that 72.9% read newspapers, followed by 45.4% novels and comics, 36.9% magazines, 10.2% textbooks, and 5.7% religious books.

[QvhhbjLy]

Very interesting question! And not very easy to answer, I guess it's because of parents encouragement or create the environment for them at first, then, at school, Thai schools are sometime boring about pushing too much, Bangkok might be best places for many sources of books, publishings and environment. But doesn't mean they will like to read, cause too much time in schools, they want things more relax and keep away from books. Something easier to entertain, eg. movies, games, tv, computers.

And another reason is... fashion, people who read books lots might tend to be somebody who is not fun..

My personal opinions, I can't say it's from all Thai.

[chelviweeme]

So, do you read much?

[QvhhbjLy]

well, that's reason I wear glasses, maybe

[LomodiorCon]

I doubt reading is too much of a practise in most Asian countries except in the major cities? In smaller towns, where communities are strong, and space more, there is a lot of incentive for young people to venture out and spend time in sports, markets etc? Staying home and buried in a book would sound very insulting to friends, I feel?

Maybe my reading of all this is shallow, but this is my first impression.

[DownloadMan]

Television is one of the main reasons that Thai will not read, and it makes me mad.
Seems like they only want to watch mind deadening programs or stupid movies at that, and the best Thai programs are still in the keystone kops era of where US TV is today, maybe in another 10 years Thai TV will be up to the 3 stooges era.
We have UBC with all the goodies and our 16 year old girl will only watch Thai programs such as MTV, nothing for the mind, ask her where india is and she migh know the general direction, but where holland is and she is had, same with any history, even most Thai history she has no idea.
But then my wife is a teacher with a univ. education and she will not read for enjoyment either.

[!!Aaroncheg]

I don't really want to generalise, but after those 10-hour Thai-style working days Mon-Fri, plus Saturday mornings, I hardly ever felt like reading a book. I can easily imagine it's much easier just to sit in front of the tv and stare blankly, or spend some time with friends and family.... doing chores.... as I see most Thais work much more than we do back in the west.... and schooldays are also much longer. that's my guess for a possible reason.

[verybigf]

It is more like parent guiding not just Thais, American kids have the same problem,they have TV programs over 100 chs. 24 hrs cartoon chs. Nintendo games play in the houses and travel with hand held games plus movies in the cars.

My wife is the book worm, she sets good sample for my daughter without telling the kid what to do, she imatated and pretented read book along with her mom when she was one year old, now I am not worry about her future.

[boltondd]

Television is one of the main reasons that Thai will not read, and it makes me mad.
Seems like they only want to watch mind deadening programs or stupid movies at that, and the best Thai programs are still in the keystone kops era of where US TV is today, maybe in another 10 years Thai TV will be up to the 3 stooges era.

I hate to contradict you but I'm afraid US television is strictly for the brain dead. You either have violence, dead bodies all over the place a.k.a CSI and it's derivitives, same old hospital programs with more dead bodies all over the place, or situation comedies written by morons. The best you can get is on public broadcasting and even then a good part of the programming is the re-broadcasting of old british comedies and dramas.

On topic, the wife reads but she says back home she never had much time to read what with working 6 days a week and then on the seventh, having to catch up on domestic chores.

[ephennaCypota]

I have often pondered this and have come up with two theories.
Firstly, reading is something that you tend to do alone and Thais don't like to be alone from what I have observed. Reading is probably not seen as sanuk.

My other theory- and this is where I might get in trouble- is that Thais tend to lack a natural sense of curiosity. They (or the ones I know at least) are not interested in anything if it's not about Thailand. In this sense they are sort of like Americans I feel.

I've been buying Thai versions of novels for my wife for years, DaVinci code, The Otori trilogy, some Thai chicklit, seldom with with much success.
Having said that, since last night she hasn't taken her nose out of a new book she brought home yesterday called, "Hiyowlianbab" (sorry for the spelling!) by Janet Kiow, with laughter even peeling out of the bathroom at all hours.

[DownloadMan]

I still say TV [electronics] has ruined Thailand.
It is acceptable and expected to watch TV at any time of the day or night that you are not asleep, even have it on and running then if you can.
Go to a Dentist and they have a TV in every room, even have one running for the Dr. to watch while he is working in your mouth.
Every resturant and food shop will have one running where people can see it while eating.
Every cashier has one going, service station, Hospital cashier, Every where you look there is a TV.
Then there is the cell phones, every one has one, when 4 friends get together to have some lunch and visit, everyone has their cell phone on and is thumbing thru the screen, 2 of the 4 will be talking to someone else or each other maybe,But very seldom will talk to anyone without using a cell phone. A young couple out on a date, he or she will be on the phone talking most of the evening and have no respect for the people around them.

[LomodiorCon]

But then were Thais (except in Bangkok and any other big city) reading before the TV came?

[Caursedus]

I never read novel's for the simple fact, no author has a better imagination than my self, why would I want to read some one else's mind, when my own mind is so much more interesting.

[!!Aaroncheg]

Paul, this beats everything you have said so far.
happy new year!

[ephennaCypota]

Oh no, I can foresee a deluge from FiP and VC coming this way......

[denwerdinoss]

My wife and at least two of our good friends (all Thai) are voracious readers and book collectors. They ain't city-folk either, and they're not antisocial... ok, well maybe a little bit. Anyway, how do those stats stack up against USA, for example? It doesn't seem that a whole lot of reading is getting done over here these days either.

-mike

[Wachearex]

I have not met many Thai people that read much at all either but i was interested in the point Jerome said about knowing Thai people that are often interested in only Thai things which always did remind me a little bit of American's. Here in England everyone i know's tries food from all over the world possibly because English food isn't world renowned but whenever I ask any Thai friends have you tried this or that from various other countries they usually havn't. Thai food is absolutely great no doubt about it but there is so much other world cuisine and it just always striked me as being a bit cut off in that sense. Is it down to Thailand being a lot more patriotic as this seems to be the same as in America, I was always amazed at how many flags you see flying :O that was one thing i noticed because in England you would be very hard pressed to find the Union Flag or St.Georges Cross flying anywhere but in Thailand it was amazing how you couldn't move without seeing one :O. Sorry for the Tangent a bit but i was just curious

[nryFBa9i]

Sorry may be u may get thai people wrong in the reading-style.. everybody surely reading their selection included the comic books but anyway thai culture is sharing culture so one book will have at least 4-5 people read together. And the style we're reading more magazine and disposable papers such as newspaper.. many thai read it in every pages and one paper they read together (that's why the paper must to be separatable--55) and one of the reason foreign may not know that thai people is reading cuz normally it's not our culture to show much that what we are reading and discuss about it ( if u are israeli this is important--i've heared)
And as u try to learn thai may be u know how difficult of reading thai and writing too.. anyway it's fine languge and have many books translated from other languges also.. My family many bros and sis each buy their selection and share to read also.

[Caursedus]

One person raised in Thailand and now living in the US indicated to me that reading fiction was disfavored as a type of escapism inconsistent with living fully in the present. Not sure whether that is purely a personal view, a religious principle, or is "cultural."

[cauddyVab]

When I was at school and Uni many years ago I didn't get to read many books apart from school books and text books (may be I wasn't interested in other books rather than my school books and text books). In my spar times I often spent time with my family and friends to catch up with what I had missed during my study. One of my sisters though is a book worm but she only reads romantic novels which I found very stupid because she doesn't feed her brain with useful information. She learns nothing from that Stupid Thai Novels.

I would love to read more Thai books but I found it is quite boring!!!! I prefer English books but I hate looking up words

Talking about Thai TV programs, they copy from overseas shows and the Thai series on TV are sooooooooooooooo stupid ALL ABOUT JEALOUSY BETWEEN THE GOODs AND THE BADs...

We say ' Ni yaai Naam Nao ( sewage or rotten water novels ) I feel sorry for those who watch them.