LITERATURE ABUSE: AMERICA'S HIDDEN PROBLEM


 SELF-TEST FOR LITERATURE ABUSERS

 How many of these apply to you?

 1.  I have read fiction when I was depressed, or to cheer myself up.

 2.  I have gone on reading binges of an entire book or more in a day.

 3.  I read rapidly, often 'gulping' chapters.

 4.  I have sometimes read early in the morning or before work.
 5.  I have hidden books in different places to sneak a chapter without
being seen.

 6.  Sometimes I avoid friends or family obligations in order to read novels.

 7.  Sometimes I rewrite film or television dialog as the characters speak.

 8.  I am unable to enjoy myself with others unless there is a book nearby.

 9.  At a party, I will often slip off unnoticed to read.

 10. Reading has made me seek haunts and companions which I would otherwise avoid.

 11. I have neglected personal hygiene or household chores until I have finished a novel.

 12. I have spent money meant for necessities on books instead.

 13. I have attempted to check out more library books than permitted.

 14. Most of my friends are heavy fiction readers.

15. I have sometimes passed out from a night of heavy reading.

 16. I have suffered 'blackouts' or memory loss from a bout of reading.

 17. I have wept, become angry or irrational because of something I read.

 18. I have sometimes wished I did not read so much.

 19.  Sometimes I think my reading is out of control.

 If you answered 'yes' to three or more of these questions, you may be a literature abuser. Affirmative responses to five or more indicates a serious problem. Once a relatively rare disorder,  Literature Abuse, or LA, has risen to new levels due to the accessibility of higher education and increased  college enrollment since the end of the Second World War.  The Number of literature abusers is currently at  record levels.

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