I personally think that once the autopilot is on in a modern helicopter (glass), one can read a Book quietly. Any traffic alerts are audible in the headset. I've been getting some pushback from other pilots on this. Even when enroute. What gives? 

just don't read a book loudly

You sir, are a sad excuse for a pilot.  Is this genuinely a real question?

Yup. No shame 

from 1000 miles away in the dark, you may want to dial back calling anybody a sad excuse bro

Trolls r fuhn...

What happen to see and avoid. It's the PIC's responsibility to look out the windscreen for traffic. No time to be reading abook.

Why not play a book on tape through the ICS, kick off the autopilot, SAS, AFCS, and really hone your skills?

I would advise against anything that takes your eyes inside when they shouldnt be.  I get it, especially on long flights in familar territory if in the middle of no where but no visual distractions.  I'm ok with music or if you wanted an audio book but just watching out for geese/hawks can be a full time deal around my area.  Watch your gauges, watch for birds and traffic, it comes with the job, pay attention.  I'm assuming this is not a single engine, in that case you should not even remotely entertain that idea.

I took ground school, got a few hours here and there....  I remember the scanning rule well.

With all these new high tech gizmos in the cockpit a lot of you idiots have that scan ratio swapped around.

I once had a moron ask me what the little plus'(es) on all the lighted panels meant.  I was like W.T.F. are you even talking about dude?  He says come see I'll show you...  He pointed to an overhead switch panel that clearly had a cross etched in white against the black background.  I was like, Dude are you serious?  You noticed that $#!+?  Told him it's the lighting connector on the back of the panel moron.  It lets the installer know where it's centered so he can line it up and not crack the panel on install.  For real bro, you need to pay more attention to what's going on outside of the windscreen and ignore dumb $#!+ on a panel that's distracting you from your SCAN....

This is how you keep getting bird strikes

WOW!

Just

wow......

oH mY like wow! helicopter pilots really are the biggest losers in any industry. Yes you can read. That amazing pilot a few posts above even bless you with permission to listen to music! Wow what a privilege. Make sure to pause the music every 5 seconds to scan your gauges for birds.

I could see where other pilots and crew would be upset. Listening to you trying to sound out words would make me want to walk into the tail rotor 

I just check in with approach or center and ask for traffic advisories and read in somewhat relative peace.

Why ask us? I'm sure your CP can give you a better answer. 

Maybe you could bring a color book and practice staying in the lines. Hey, bring a couple extras for your pax as well. I'm sure they will be happy with sharing your interest. 

I generally hop in the back and play games with the med crew.  Passes the time quicker.  

Aka idiot idea, and no one believes this.

Agreed, all,the auto,features make flying easy. I fly SPIFR, I alway bring a book, study music, art, sometimes take a quick nap. I have a good alarm wakes me up just before I need; quite relaxing.

no fear.

Too bad that your life has deteriorated to the the point that reading a book is more interesting than flying an aircraft...

trimming my toe nails is more interesting than flying