I use to read a lot, even during examination period. However, readings are not only for leisure. I like to learn about history, culture, psychology, philosophy...
I have made mine the sentence of Montaigne which says that it is more important to have fully understood knowledge in the head rather than a lot of unorganized information about everything. Knowledge, when it is well understood, is really powerful.

I have cited Montaigne because his Essays were my prefered books during many years. This is also linked to my interest for the Middle Age, and the Renaissance period. It was the time during which the modern european philosophy, art and sciences emerged really.
Since this time, I completed my knowledge by reading biographies or essays of scientists, artists of the world whatever the historic period they had lived. Did you ever read "les carnets d'un biologiste" of Edmond Rostand? or "My life" by Yehudi Menuhin?

My readings began to be less serious and more diversified after my adolescence. I discovered novels, science fiction books when I came to University. I like to follow the system of deduction of the detective in novels, with a preference for some authors like Tom Clancy, Eduardo Perez-Reverte, Tom Cussler, Patricia Cornwell. I just finished"Tide Wave" of Tom Cussler, in french of course...
I also like to see how an author is able to construct a civilisation and its philosophy in science fiction books like especially "Dune" from Frank Herbert.

Moreover, I possess two little collections of books which have nothing to do with culture : one is about cats in literature, and the other about worldwide cooking!

And you, what are your prefered titles? What are you searching in books?