There are a lot of ways to “get through” a book. You can buy the Cliff Notes, watch the movie, get a summary from A.I., listen to it 2X on Audible so that the narrator sounds like a chipmunk – but there’s only one way to absorb a book, and that’s by sitting with it,Continue reading Are You “Getting Through” Books?
To all my readers who are mothers, Happy Mother’s Day! We’re busy at the Hood Household getting ready for three different celebrations. My wife (a mother of four), then a lunch at my mom’s, and finally a dinner at my mother-in-laws. It’s a big day, but one I’m looking forward to living. Even though IContinue reading Reading on Mother’s Day
When you sit down to read your book today, start by deciding to read well. Hold the book in your hands, consider why you chose to read this specific work, and what you hope to gain from it. Then, make the decision that you will read well. Turn off your phone and turn on yourContinue reading Decide to Read Well
Some days feel monotonous. Today is one of those days. I wake up, eat the same food, work at the same desk, talk to the same people, and go to bed at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to be alive, but sometimes it’s maddeningly boring. While I risk sounding melodramatic, I’mContinue reading Today is bleh.
I came across a wonderful thought puzzle for people interested in reading philosophy. Let’s close our eyes and envision a Greek hero named Theseus, a man known for sailing around the Mediterranean Sea doing hero-like things. He slays evil creatures, saves villages from destruction, on so on. While on one of his many adventures, heContinue reading The Ship of Theseus (A Puzzle)
Last night, I had the privilege of exploring The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky with a group of curious, intelligent, and fascinating members of The Read Well Book Club. I walked into that meeting, like I always do each Tuesday, excited about the prospect of layers. What do I mean by layers? Well, a good bookContinue reading It’s an Honor to Read with You
Have you ever read a book more than once and thought, “That’s not how I remembered it!”? Literature changes every time you read it because each time you open a book, you’re a different person. I first read Treasure Island when I was nine years old. If I were to read it now, the bookContinue reading Literature Changes You
Becoming a reader takes patience. It’s no different than going to the gym, eating healthy, or waking up early. When we try and do things that are “good for us,” we often start with the best of intentions, but then a few days in, find ourselves in the pantry surreptitiously eating entire bags of OreosContinue reading Day 1 (Start Reading Again)
Saturday is my catch-all day for the rest of the week. I have lawns to mow, kids to monitor in the completion of their chores, electrical circuits to fix, water heaters to replace, and, well you get the idea. There’s a never-ending stream of things to do around my house. That’s why reading MUST beContinue reading Saturday Reading
A friend recently told me, “I struggle to finish books.” I hear this a lot, so let’s talk about it. We want to be better readers, and so we go to bookstores and fill our shelves with shiny new releases. We jump into reading challenges with the best of intentions, join book clubs, and setContinue reading I Struggle to Finish Books