1. It's good to understand people. Religion has affected the world a lot, and still does.
2. It may have useful ideas in it. It's possible to like an idea without agreeing with it.
3. It's good to know your enemy. (that's half joke)

I tend to like comparative religion. Karen Armstrong, Joseph Campbell for religion. I also like a lot of Zen stuff, but the things I like are often labelled philosophy.

I also like the psychology of religion. I liked Jung, but think I need to reread it before I say I got enough out of it. Jung was a student of Freud, but not so absolutist about religion.

I try to mix it up. I used to just read "what I felt like". But, I almost always wanted to read SF, sometimes fantasy. Now, I make sure to alternate between SF/fantasy and "other stuff". I also try to balance out "light" and "heavy".

"Other stuff" includes history, philosophy, religion(mostly eastern), classics of literature, and generally things that have a strange point of view

History: Just finished the second in a trilogy about the Third Reich by Richard Evans.

Philosophy/(religion?): Currently reading a novel by Hermann Hesse. He usually writes a sort of Western view of Eastern philosophy/religion. This novel(Narcisuss and Goldmund) discusses a philosophy of duality, though maybe like Steppenwolf the main character may change his viewpoint.

Classics of literature: most recent was Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.

"strange point of view stuff": while my taste in SF/fantasy tends toward this, the best example of it I can think of is Freakonomics. I like to get my mind blown.

Science Fiction/Fantasy: I either like to laugh or get my mind blown. Books don't often do both. Currently reading Old Man's War by Scalzi. The main characters are all the same, otherwise ok. Last great one I read was Olympos by Simmons.

My "light" tastes might be something like Pratchett. Some old school SF fits this, but a lot of old school SF writers can't do characterization. Some are too linear in plot development, too. My "light" is almost always SF/fantasy.

My "heavy" might be something like Dostoyevsky/Frank Herbert.

I say this as an atheist. I've not read any of his books, but what I have read/watched of Dawkins's stuff on religion is pretty weak.

I can't agree about Cryptonomicon. Stephenson seems to have a problem "ending" a book.It's a LOT longer than Snow Crash/Diamond Age, so it's a much bigger problem. So, I skipped Baroque Cycle.

It might have been the style of novel, but I didn't really see that problem with Anathem.

Chinese, written in pinyin, has numbers. Pinyin is how Chinese is typed. The numbers represent tones and every word in Chinese has a tone.

I can't say about Japanese. I think they use a combination of kanji and an alphabet.

But, with Chinese, there have been several systems(pinyins) created to use alphabets. Originally, it was meant to eventually replace kanji. Now, it's basically just used to show people how to pronounce the word. The reason it is not an effective replacement for kanji is because context is a LOT more important in Chinese than in English. Like, the word "shi4" has about 50 meanings. At least that's one reason.

To avoid confusion, I'll mention that the "4" denotes tone. Tone is mostly used for emotions and to mark questions in English. In Chinese, EVERY word has a tone. "shi1" and "shi4" are completely unrelated words.

Yeah, but how many of those good movies are as good as the books? Usually, the original source material is better. It's a translation to an entirely different art form. Movies, books, and comic books, are at least similar in being mostly passive and linear media . So, the translation from mostly active and (AT LEAST less) linear is often difficult. Actually, look at a direct comparison, translations of books. If you get a bad translation of a book, it'll suck.

With action movies/games, I'd think it'd be easier. Plot and characters are less important. If you focus mostly on the special effects and fight sequences, I'd think you'd be good.

It makes some people feel free. Personally, I prefer the freedom to read while in a car/on a bus/whatever.

I recall reading something about deposits of materials collecting commonly in your body over time. I thought the materials were usually metal, though.

But, if you implant something into someone, why just glass? That doesn't transmit anything.

Well, to go by most of the comics I've read, you need a guy who speaks in Shakespearean English...