Here:

There are seventy four books on the desk about evolutionary theory. A laptop is open on the desk.

> look laptop

There seems to be a dissertation chapter on the laptop.

> read chapter

It is long-winded and boring. You do not want to read it.

> read chapter

It is obnoxious. You hate it.

> read book

Read. There is a book underneath it that concerns a related topic.

> read book

Read. There is a book underneath it that concerns a related topic.

> work on dissertation

You spend two hours searching the OED for the usage history of the word devolve.

> work on dissertation

You spend three hours reading five articles which have nothing to do with the dissertation.

> work on dissertation

You spend twenty minutes online reading about baseball.

> tear out hair

Taken. You find the Elvish sword.

> in my hair?

I don't understand that.

> work on dissertation

You spend five minutes playing online poker.