--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think when a reader reads a whole book…" description: "\"I think when a reader reads a whole book - which takes six to ten hours - that’s kind of a gift to the author. The gift of close, undivided attention. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/po-bronson-14479_attention_i-think-when-a-reader-reads-a-whole-book_2354791.png" --- # I think when a reader reads a whole book - which takes six… ![“I think when a reader reads a whole book - which takes six to ten hours - that’s kind of a gift to the author. The gift of close, undivided attention. To who else do we listen so closely for eight straight hours? And when readers give that gift to me, I’m grateful for it.” quote by Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/po-bronson-14479_attention_i-think-when-a-reader-reads-a-whole-book_2354791.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/po-bronson-14479_attention_i-think-when-a-reader-reads-a-whole-book_2354791.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/po-bronson-14479_attention_i-think-when-a-reader-reads-a-whole-book_2354791.png) > “I think when a reader reads a whole book - which takes six to ten hours - that’s kind of a gift to the author. The gift of close, undivided attention. To who else do we listen so closely for eight straight hours? And when readers give that gift to me, I’m grateful for it.” [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading a book is a deep, undivided attention gift to the author, rare in modern life. **In simple terms:** Reading a book gives the author a rare gift of full attention. Key Takeaway Value and cherish deep listening. Themes attention gratitude author-reader relationship Mood appreciative reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - book clubs - author talks - literary festivals Key Concepts Literary appreciation mindfulness communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we give authors more undivided attention? - What does this gift mean for the writer? A Different Perspective Readers may be distracted, limiting the depth of the gift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Author Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-gift-715259/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-readers-5745809/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Readers Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers-gift-5745810/) [Reads Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reads-book-1557123/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Think Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-reader-1372293/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Undivided attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undivided-attention/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“An author has a gift that is leant to others. seek not to teach; - entertain!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-e-woodham/an-author-has-a-gift-that-is-leant-to-others-seek-not-to-teach/) [Barry E. Woodham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-e-woodham/) > [I think that the reader should enrich what he is reading. He should misunderstand the text; he should change it into something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-think-that-the-reader-should-enrich-what-he-is-reading-he-should/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [In the most self-protective of ways, I don't think about the reader when I'm writing - I just think about the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/in-the-most-self-protective-of-ways-i-don-t-think-about-the-reader/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I do think of my reader, or listener, really, more often, if I give a lecture, for example, and I know that I'm talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/i-do-think-of-my-reader-or-listener-really-more-often-if-i-give-a/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [In general, I think, less is more, and that if a reader stops reading because a book is too icky then I've failed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/in-general-i-think-less-is-more-and-that-if-a-reader-stops-reading/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [I think that you have to keep the reader front and centre if you're going to write something that people are going to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/i-think-that-you-have-to-keep-the-reader-front-and-centre-if-you-re/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [I don't think about the reader in any conscious way that impacts the writing, as far as, Hey, most readers would like this! But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brandon/i-don-t-think-about-the-reader-in-any-conscious-way-that-impacts-the/) [John Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brandon/) > [“I think about the reader. I care about the reader. Not “audience.” Not “readership.” Just the reader. That one person, alone in a room,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-think-about-the-reader-i-care-about-the-reader-not-audience-not/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Who knows the flower best? - the one who reads about it in a book, or the one who finds it wild on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-david-neel/who-knows-the-flower-best-the-one-who-reads-about-it-in-a-book-or-the/) [Alexandra David-Neel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-david-neel/) > [The parent reads the book. The kid reads the book and then they can talk about the characters instead of talking about themselves. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/the-parent-reads-the-book-the-kid-reads-the-book-and-then-they-can/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [Anyone who reads a book with a sense of obligation does not understand the art of reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/anyone-who-reads-a-book-with-a-sense-of-obligation-does-not/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [“i really like when someone reads my book and then review and rate it. this is very important to me because it shows me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trouble-johnson/i-really-like-when-someone-reads-my-book-and-then-review-and-rate-it/) [Robert Trouble Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trouble-johnson/) > [Beware that the one who reads is the same as the book, the same as what is read, the same as the speaker and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-dib/beware-that-the-one-who-reads-is-the-same-as-the-book-the-same-as/) [Mohammed Dib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-dib/) > [“When you read a book, book also reads you! The book will know who you are from the sentences you underline!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-read-a-book-book-also-reads-you-the-book-will-know-who-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“My friend says she's smart. She reads a book to fall asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholaa-spencer/my-friend-says-she-s-smart-she-reads-a-book-to-fall-asleep/) [Nicholaa Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholaa-spencer/) ## More by Po Bronson > [Curiosity is a raw and genuine sign from deep inside our tangled psyches, and we'd do well to follow the direction it points us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/curiosity-is-a-raw-and-genuine-sign-from-deep-inside-our-tangled/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [“Darling found that permissive parents don’t actually learn more about their child’s lives. “Kids who go wild and get in trouble mostly have parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/darling-found-that-permissive-parents-don-t-actually-learn-more-about/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [It's not easy. It's not supposed to be easy. Most people make mistakes. Most people have to learn the hardest lessons more than once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/it-s-not-easy-it-s-not-supposed-to-be-easy-most-people-make-mistakes/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [But I'd rather help than watch. I'd rather have a heart than a mind. I'd rather expose too much than too little. I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/but-i-d-rather-help-than-watch-i-d-rather-have-a-heart-than-a-mind-i/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [I learned that it was in hard times that people usually changed the course of their life; in good times, they frequently only talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/i-learned-that-it-was-in-hard-times-that-people-usually-changed-the/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [It surprises me how often we hold ourselves back until we have no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/it-surprises-me-how-often-we-hold-ourselves-back-until-we-have-no/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [A conventional ‘success’ story is one where, with each next, the protagonist has more money, more respect, and more possessions. I’d like to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/a-conventional-success-story-is-one-where-with-each-next-the/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [I used to use business to make money. But I've learned that business is a tool. You can use it to support what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/i-used-to-use-business-to-make-money-but-i-ve-learned-that-business/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [There's a powerful transformative effect when you surround yourself with like-minded people. Peer pressure is a great thing when it helps you accomplish your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/there-s-a-powerful-transformative-effect-when-you-surround-yourself/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [The virtue of losing is we get used to the fact that competing and to lose doesn't kill you. It just makes you stronger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/the-virtue-of-losing-is-we-get-used-to-the-fact-that-competing-and-to/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [Love that has been tested is far more awe-inspiring than love that has never known anything but bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/love-that-has-been-tested-is-far-more-awe-inspiring-than-love-that/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [As I get older, I've learned to listen to people rather than accuse them of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/as-i-get-older-i-ve-learned-to-listen-to-people-rather-than-accuse/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [There was a culture that came out of the self-esteem movement which was don't anybody keep track of the goals. The kids keep track,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/there-was-a-culture-that-came-out-of-the-self-esteem-movement-which/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [“Parents often fail to address early childhood lying, since the lying is almost innocent—their child’s too young to know what lies are, or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/parents-often-fail-to-address-early-childhood-lying-since-the-lying/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [You know, kids need to feel like they're not being drowned out by superior competitors and they'll make that connection that, with a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/you-know-kids-need-to-feel-like-they-re-not-being-drowned-out-by/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) [Explore all 46 Po Bronson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) ## 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. 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