---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a great reader, believe it or…"
description: "\"I'm not a great reader, believe it or not. It's not the vocabulary - my father made me read the dictionary when I was little - but my attention span is..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/david-robinson-11635_attention_i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not_1017052.jpg"
---

#  I'm not a great reader, believe it or not. It's not the…

![“I'm not a great reader, believe it or not. It's not the vocabulary - my father made me read the dictionary when I was little - but my attention span is poor. Takes me months to read one book.” quote by David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/david-robinson-11635_attention_i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not_1017052.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/david-robinson-11635_attention_i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not_1017052.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/david-robinson-11635_attention_i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not_1017052.jpg)

> “I'm not a great reader, believe it or not. It's not the vocabulary - my father made me read the dictionary when I was little - but my attention span is poor. Takes me months to read one book.”

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reading difficulty stems from early forced vocabulary drills and short attention span.

**In simple terms:** Reading is hard due to early habits and focus issues.

Key Takeaway

Practice focused reading, break texts into chunks.

Themes

education attention reading

Mood

frustrated hopeful

Type

self‑help motivational

When to use this quote

- school
- self‑study
- leisure reading

Key Concepts

cognitive development habit formation

Questions to Reflect On

- What strategies could improve your concentration?
- Can you set realistic reading goals?

A Different Perspective

Improving focus may require more than just practice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention span](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-span/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/)

## Related quotes

> [“It is better to read one intellectually challenging book every 12 months … than to read 12 entertaining books every month.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/it-is-better-to-read-one-intellectually-challenging-book-every-12/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [“Mr. Mac, the most practical thing that you ever did in your life would be to shut yourself up for three months and read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mr-mac-the-most-practical-thing-that-you-ever-did-in-your-life-would/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [Like, every couple of months you read, they rewrite, you come back in, they've animated more stuff - they usually videotape you while you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goodman/like-every-couple-of-months-you-read-they-rewrite-you-come-back-in/)

[John Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goodman/)

> [The scholars and poets of an earlier time can be read only with a dictionary to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/the-scholars-and-poets-of-an-earlier-time-can-be-read-only-with-a/)

[Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/)

> [Read the dictionary from A to Izzard today. Get a vocabulary. Brush up on your diction. See whether wisdom is just a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/read-the-dictionary-from-a-to-izzard-today-get-a-vocabulary-brush-up/)

[Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/)

> [Actually if a writer needs a dictionary he should not write. He should have read the dictionary at least three times from beginning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/actually-if-a-writer-needs-a-dictionary-he-should-not-write-he-should/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“She would read anything from a dictionary to a treatise on turnips. Print fascinated her, dazed her, made her good for nothing...Kylie Tennant”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-tennant/she-would-read-anything-from-a-dictionary-to-a-treatise-on-turnips/)

[Kylie Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-tennant/)

> [I once tried to read the dictionary. It didn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-kenney/i-once-tried-to-read-the-dictionary-it-didn-t-work/)

[Emma Kenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-kenney/)

> [I used to just sit down and read the dictionary, and I read the Bible and Shakespeare from cover to cover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-used-to-just-sit-down-and-read-the-dictionary-and-i-read-the-bible/)

[Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/)

> [I used to teach. I quote American history and I love words. I've read the dictionary I don't know how many times throughout my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackee-harry/i-used-to-teach-i-quote-american-history-and-i-love-words-i-ve-read/)

[Jackee Harry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackee-harry/)

> [This is the great luxury of not working: the moment you read a book that has nothing to do with work, you know you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/this-is-the-great-luxury-of-not-working-the-moment-you-read-a-book/)

[Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/)

> [It takes me forever to read a book. I have such a small attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/it-takes-me-forever-to-read-a-book-i-have-such-a-small-attention-span/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [I sometimes worry about my short attention span, but not for long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-sometimes-worry-about-my-short-attention-span-but-not-for-long/)

[Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/)

> [College wasn't for us. We just didn't have the attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-bella/college-wasn-t-for-us-we-just-didn-t-have-the-attention-span/)

[Brie Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-bella/)

> [One of the great things about being an actor is it serves a short attention span, which is something I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-mack/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-an-actor-is-it-serves-a-short/)

[Allison Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-mack/)

## More by David Robinson

> [What I need to do is have a great positive attitude and a great work ethic. Those two things validate me. Yes, it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/what-i-need-to-do-is-have-a-great-positive-attitude-and-a-great-work/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [Just being raised in a home where my mother, from as early as I can remember, always taught me to be thinking about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/just-being-raised-in-a-home-where-my-mother-from-as-early-as-i-can/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [Marc Gasol, he's more of a true center. There are guys who play that traditional center role, but the game is also played differently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/marc-gasol-he-s-more-of-a-true-center-there-are-guys-who-play-that/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [It's an interesting juxtaposition, being student body president and leading others and learning how to effectively help people on the team in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/it-s-an-interesting-juxtaposition-being-student-body-president-and/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [You have to raise your game, you have to be ready to compete, and you've just got to give Hakeem credit. He was great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/you-have-to-raise-your-game-you-have-to-be-ready-to-compete-and-you/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [I was always curious. I wanted to learn a little about a lot of things, and I really had to get pushed to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-was-always-curious-i-wanted-to-learn-a-little-about-a-lot-of-things/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [A well-rounded education has always been an issue close to my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/a-well-rounded-education-has-always-been-an-issue-close-to-my-heart/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [It's tragic that there are so few farmer-direct coffees in Africa, but it's very tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/it-s-tragic-that-there-are-so-few-farmer-direct-coffees-in-africa-but/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [You are overboard in deep open water without a PFD (personal floatation device), or at least that's what your instructor is yelling. Sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/you-are-overboard-in-deep-open-water-without-a-pfd-personal/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [I know I will leave my work unfinished. I just hope I planted enough seeds in my children and grandchildren that they will continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-know-i-will-leave-my-work-unfinished-i-just-hope-i-planted-enough/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [Keep working and saving and striving for a better future for your children, and for their children, even if you won't be around to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/keep-working-and-saving-and-striving-for-a-better-future-for-your/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [I hope the young guys who are playing today realize what they have been given and will take it upon themselves to give back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-hope-the-young-guys-who-are-playing-today-realize-what-they-have/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [You're always going to face criticism, you're always going to face challenges, but those things are there to make you stronger and more committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/you-re-always-going-to-face-criticism-you-re-always-going-to-face/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [Defense is what matters. Scoring doesn't interest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/defense-is-what-matters-scoring-doesn-t-interest-me/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

> [My fouls used to be ticky-tacky, but I learned real fast to make them count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/my-fouls-used-to-be-ticky-tacky-but-i-learned-real-fast-to-make-them/)

[David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

[Explore all 59 David Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/)

## More Attention quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/)

[Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/)

[Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/)

> [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/)

[Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/)

> [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/)

[Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/)

> [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

> [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/)

[Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/)

> [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/)

[Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/)

> [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/)

[Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/)

[Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm not a great reader, believe it or not. It's not the vocabulary - my father made me read the dictionary when I was little - but my attention span is poor. Takes me months to read one book.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Robinson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not-it-s-not-the-vocabulary-my/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attention"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not-it-s-not-the-vocabulary-my/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/david-robinson-11635_attention_i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not_1017052.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/david-robinson-11635_attention_i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not_1017052.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/david-robinson-11635_attention_i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not_1017052.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm not a great reader, believe it or not. It's not the vocabulary - my father made me read the dictionary…” — David Robinson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David Robinson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm not a great reader, believe...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not-it-s-not-the-vocabulary-my/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not-it-s-not-the-vocabulary-my/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
