I have a friend who wants to be a reader. He’s a great father, and he maintains a career. But at the end of the day, after all the paperwork is filed and the piggybacks are done, he has just enough energy to sleep. That’s why I think his reading system is brilliant. He recognizedContinue reading The Art of Holding the Book
What does it mean to become more articulate? Do we need to master the Oxford Dictionary, sprinkling words like obsequious or colloquial into daily conversation? I don’t think that’s necessary. We should learn the meaning of sesquipedalian (words with many syllables) phrases so that when we read or hear them, we can participate in theContinue reading Become More Articulate
After nine hours of pulling electrical wire, Mark Robinson sat in his armchair reading a copy of Grey’s Anatomy, a medical book weighing in at over 1500 pages. I sat on the couch opposite watching this man read with more passion than an army of football fans at the Superbowl. All he needed was aContinue reading Become an After-Hours Academic
I have a challenge for you. The goal is to read every day (with focus) for 60 minutes over an entire month. Can you do it? For the brave souls who want to tackle this project, I’ve just launched The 30-Day Focused Reader Challenge in my private community. If you dare to sign up (I’mContinue reading The 30-Day Focused Reader Challenge
There’s value in learning to read hard books. Perhaps the best way to explain this is with a ridiculous fitness metaphor. Sidenote. Yesterday, I talked about the hedonic treadmill of reading. I must subconsciously be trying to get ready for my summer bikini body. Anyway— I love going to the gym. I’m a powerlifter, whichContinue reading Why You Should Read Hard Books
The Hedonic Treadmill is an idea in psychology that if you keep busting your ass, you’ll be happy one day. Except that, for each “improvement” you make, you don’t feel any different. That’s because you’ve erroneously assumed the end result matters. If you drive a certain car, date a level-10 girl, or make a millionContinue reading The Hedonic Treadmill of Reading
25 days ago, countless people pledged to read more. The bell struck midnight on January 1st and the New Year’s reading goals were carved in stone. By now, many have quit because they’re too busy. How are you doing with your commitment? Reading takes time. It’s true. And you probably are too busy to carveContinue reading New Year’s Reading Goals
I love local bookstores. Every time I walk into a small shop, I’m reminded of why I love to read. If you enjoy this blog, you feel the same way. You’re my people. Let us pledge to never buy books from Amazon or Barnes & Noble again. Instead, let’s take the time to drive aContinue reading Support Local Bookstores
Author Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence, Focus, etc.) taught that the wealth of information at our disposal has led to a poverty of attention. You can research anything you want, distract yourself with the latest game, or scroll endlessly through YouTube. Access to unlimited information has made it almost impossible to think, let alone focus forContinue reading Attention Poverty (How to Focus)
I always read the introduction of a book, especially if it’s a technical text. Why? Because introductions are often written by people who are familiar with the work. They’ve studied it, mastered the terms, and have been asked by the author or publisher to help you get a “lay of the land.” Note that IContinue reading Read The Introduction