Back in the days before TCAS we had a very nasty same level head-on airmiss with a Transavia 737 whilst in Greek airspace heading for Larnaca. I was in the RHS and saw him coming at maybe seven miles, if I had been reading a paper we might well have hit.(Anybody from Holland know more about this as I heard bog all from anyone!)
I occasionally do have a quick read but quite rarely and mainly because I feel I need a break.I draw the line at an FO unfolding the paper while waiting for line-up at a major international airport!!! Unbelievable to me but he seemed nonplussed in spite of my colourful pointing out that he was not at home watching the ******* telly!
Agree with Bealzebub's post.