My hunting buddy did just about everything you are not supposed to do in a stand, talked on his phone, smoked, ate, read, etc, etc. He shot deer before anyone else and usually ended a season with 4 to 6 deer (legal here). Course with a family of 6 he went through a deer pretty fast. But he was bad to talk on one of those aggrivating hand held radio phones with the loud beeps. Deer would walk up to him in his tree stand while he was talking on the phone, amazing.
Best,
Ed

I, too, like to read when in a tree stand. When I'm scouting in the off-season, I sometimes use my portable, climbing stand to spend a few hours up in a tree looking around for any activity. On those occasions, I like to bring a book (or magazine) that has something to do with scouting or hunting, trying to pick up some tips or hints on what to look or listen for. It also helps me look forward to hunting season. When I hunt from a tree stand, I am usually too tuned-in to what's going on around me (the sights and sounds of the woods - like squirrels, birds, etc.) that I am afraid I will miss something if I have my head in a book.