I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Junot Díaz, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and several acclaimed short story collections. During our conversation, something he said resonated deeply with me. When I asked him for advice on improving our reading skills, I expected a detailed system—perhaps a daily page count, a list of essential books, or the benefits of joining book clubs. Instead, Junot offered a more personal and flexible perspective.
“It depends on where you’re at in life,” he said. Junot, who doesn’t have kids, acknowledged that he has more time to dedicate to reading. He pointed out that if you’re dealing with illness, starting a new job, or beginning college, your reading habits will naturally differ from those of someone who’s retired and in good health.
To become a better reader, Junot suggests starting by recognizing your current life circumstances and working within those limits. It might not be the right moment to dive into Nietzsche’s complex ideas on morality or Heidegger’s dense exploration of Being and Time. Even Junot, one of the most well-read individuals I’ve encountered, is currently enjoying a horror fiction phase. You don’t have to focus solely on challenging classics; I love a well-crafted, thrilling novel.
So, be kind to yourself and start where you are.
As a side note, I’m off to New Orleans this morning and will be away for a week. My posts might be a bit sporadic, but I’ll make sure to share some fun pictures with you all.
Until I get back, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
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