Generic "read" script that can list either directory contents or file contents.

r.bash

#!/bin/bash

c_link=$(tput setaf 199)
c_dir=$(tput setaf 68)
c_file=$(tput setaf 155)
c_special=$(tput setaf 221)
c_dim=$(tput setaf 240)
c_norm=$(tput sgr0)

while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
	path="$1"
    if [ -L "$path" ]; then
		echo -n "${c_link}$path ${c_dim}=>${c_norm} "
		path="$(readlink -f "$path")"
	fi
    if [ -d "$path" ]; then
		echo "directory ${c_dir}$path${c_norm}:"
		ls --color=auto "$path"
	elif [ -f "$path" ]; then
		echo "file ${c_file}$path ${c_dim}($(file -b "$path"))${c_norm}:"
		#TODO: If path is a "binary" file (contains control chars), don't cat it to the terminal!
		cat "$path"
	else
		echo "special file ${c_file}$path ${c_dim}($(file -b "$path"))${c_norm}"
	fi
    shift
done