This is the first of a six-week series I’ll be writing, called “Learn to Journal Like Ralph Waldo Emerson.” I know, it’s a catchy title.😂 Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect. A Journal is a Savings Bank of Your Ideas First, let’s get some semantics out of the way. I prefer theContinue reading Week 1: Learn to Journal like Ralph Waldo Emerson
A bookstore is more than four walls and many books. It’s the place we go, as a community, to find ourselves. When you step through the doors, you feel different. Unlike going to the grocery store or the hardware store, there’s something here—a sense that you’re about to change for the better. Maybe you feelContinue reading More Than Four Walls: Why Bookstores Matter
Notice to the reader: When you see my yellow highlighter, it means that I’ve read something I don’t agree with. All passages in yellow grate on my nerves, and that’s a good thing. Let me start by admitting that I’m a HUGE fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He’s the guy who advocated for self-reliance asContinue reading I Disagree with Ralph Waldo Emerson
Reading isn’t a competition.It’s not a work project or a side hustle.It’s not a race to hit 100 pages a day or 200 books a year.It’s not a bragging right.It’s not something you do for your boss.It’s not a way to look smarter or impress your friends.It’s not a measure of your worth. Reading isContinue reading Dear Reader, Slow Down
After two years of searching, I’ve found the perfect building. This is the spot for Edgewater Bookstore to become a REAL SPACE for deep readers to gather, connect, and explore ideas!!! I’ve scraped together everything I have, putting $100,000 of my own money toward the down payment. But to meet the down payment requirement ofContinue reading Help Launch a Deep Reading Bookstore on August 20
Let’s tackle a fun question: How do I read philosophy without going insane? Let’s be honest—philosophy is tough. It’s not structured like a non-fiction book with a clear outline, and it’s not like fiction, which gives you a narrative to follow. Instead, a philosophy book is more like a conversation with someone explaining vague and amorphousContinue reading How to Read Philosophy (Without Going Insane)
In this week’s episode, I’m sharing why The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read. It’s only 53 pages, but it forced me to rethink how I’m living, what I’m chasing, and whether I’m being honest with myself. We’ll break down what this book is really aboutContinue reading The 53-Page Book That Consumed My Brain (So I Bought 100 Copies) | Episode 104
I’ve Unlocked a Magical Reading Door in My Brain I didn’t even know the door existed. But recently, I’ve discovered that my ability to sink deeply into a book and truly enjoy it is a skill—one that can be developed. Here’s what my reading journey has looked like so far, and maybe you’ll see yourself somewhereContinue reading Build a Stronger Reading Habit
The lady looked at me like I was a narwhal in a tuxedo. The exchange took place in a seafood restaurant while on a work trip in Orlando, Florida last week. There I was, enjoying a book (Less by Andrew Sean Greer if you must know) and waiting for my salmon and wild rice toContinue reading Does Reading Fix Your Brain?
Carl Jung, the famed Swiss psychiatrist (1875–1961), believed we all walk around with a “shadow self” — a hidden part of our unconscious filled with repressed thoughts, desires, and experiences. According to Jung, our dreams are a powerful way to encounter this shadow. By exploring our darker sides, we don’t become worse—we become more whole,Continue reading Can Fiction Help Us Understand Our Shadow Selves? Let’s Ask Carl Jung.