My Non-Fiction Issues

I'm not much of a non-fiction* reader. I admit it. And I usually have better intentions than results. I have stages in which I express interest in reading and enjoying non-fiction book. It goes like this...

• Stage 1: A non-fiction book sounds interesting. Something about the topic covered strikes my interest.
• Stage 2: I look into finding details about the book. I look it up on line or check out the table of contents and prologue or author's note, etc.
• Stage 3: I acquire (sometimes even purchasing new, though usually only at bargain prices) said book, fully intending to read it.
• Stage 4: I read some of it, either the first chapter or two, or I may even skim around it and read certain parts in more depth.
• Stage 5: I read it in it's entirety—over a lengthy (at least compared to fiction books) period of time.
• Stage 6: I read it in it's entirety and within a short amount of time.

I had one book actually enter that 6th stage last year—What Is My Cat Thinking?: The Essential Guide to Understanding Pet Behavior by Gwen Bailey.

Plus, I only had one non-fiction book even make it to Stage 5 last year—The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle's-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions by Scott Adams (which, to be quite frank, I'm not even sure it can be entirely considered non-fiction, due to the comics and outright lies written throughout).

If you are wondering what brought this discussion on...

One of the books I mentioned in the last Teaser Tuesday I participated in is falling into Stage 5. It has been well over 2 weeks. I'm approaching the end, and I'm still interested in it, but I'm not quite there yet. In the meantime, I've read several fiction books (I'm sure I'd have a lot more Stage 6 books if I didn't pick up any other books until I finished the current non-fiction).

* Note: This is discussion is in reference to adult non-fiction—not children's.