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Comment by rickdale | Hacker News Reader

Since I am assuming readers will look at this page, can someone explain to me how to hold a book without pain? I didn't read too much as a kid and I wonder if I just didn't build up the right muscles, but now, I like to read big books, but my forearm and fingers start to hurt from holding it. I have looked up different ways to hold books, but I haven't found anything yet that I like.

This is what I like the ipad for. I don't like the idea of the ipad, but reading in the dark and pain free in hard to beat.

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I think most books that people read for extended periods of time holding in the air are probably paperbacks, and probably relatively small. Otherwise, you can rest the book on your lap, on a table, or, as one commenter here pointed out, on a book stand!

The book stand has been recommended to me by a physical therapist, who said it reduces all kinds of fatigue and can promote better posture too.

When trying to read a book in bed, I end up rotating myself and the book every few minutes so it kind of goes up-sideways-down-sideways, to reduce arm, neck, and back fatigue. People have also often suggested that the right combination of pillows would fix this problem, but I think part of it is just that other parts of my body get sore easily from so much sitting at a computer.

I bought one of these[1] for my university studies, and it has been the best investment I've done so far. Better even than my laptop, and I study computer science.

[1] http://www.ebay.com/itm/ch-Size-M-Portable-Reading-Book-Stan...

Sorry if this comes across the wrong way, but have you tried building your grip/forearm strength up? It's an easy muscle group to activate.

However I'm not sure many muscles are good at being tensed for extended periods. I've always just shifted around the way I hold the book every few minutes.

+1. Building a little bit of hand/arm strength also isn't a bad idea for a computer profession, to help reduce the risk of RSI.

Are you trying to support the book completely with your hands? I do a lot of reading while laying down with the book on my stomach or sitting with the book on a table or propped up on my knees. The only time I'm holding the book in the air is when I'm walking or cycling.

I used to suffer from various small pains, even a Quake2 induced pain in the dorsal side of the hand, and they stopped when I started to use a bike and lift weights.

I actually have tried this. I own the iron mind grippers and can successfully close the second one 3-4 reps. But ultimately I have pain that comes back when I start to hold a book, especially a large one.

If you can only do 3-4 reps you need to go to the level below that one. You also need to build forearm strength, which you can do with a dumbbell and forearm curls. Your goal is endurance, so many reps at a lower weight. Bicep curls wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

Good point! Sometimes the most obvious things just need to be pointed out for me to be like, eureka!

Do you use the grippers?

I like reading flat on a table. Works best with hardcover books though. Also there is this little gizmo that you wear on your thumb to keep the book open that is pretty useful for one handed reading (http://www.amazon.com/Thumb-Thing-Holder-Bookmark-TPG-TT3/dp...)

the trick is not to hold the book, but rest it on something and use your hand just to keep it open.

If you don't mind bending your neck a little, you can always use these comfortable laptop cushioned desks like the one below:

http://www.amazon.com/LapGear-Classic-Original-Lapdesk-45364...

Yes, my answer would have been "kindle", but iPad works as well.

You probably do not want to hold the book.

Rest it on a flat surface, or use something to incline it if it helps.

Break the book before reading it (Google this).

Use both arms, and both forearms to help you hold the pages flat.

If you love reading books (not tech references) then I would also advice to get a kindle E-Reader (paperwhite).

I wish they make a Kindle Paperwhite in the DX format also. It's a pain to read technical books, with diagrams and code snippets, in the smaller formats.

Yes, there is the iPad, but I like the longer battery life of the Kindle, especially when traveling.

Where do you normally read, and how do you sit/lie when you do so?

I like to sit in la-z-boy with lamp overhead. I usually hold book in my left hand, but I am liking some of the suggestions here.

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