There’s never enough time to read, but maybe that’s the point. Reading expands who you are. When you open a book, you’re prioritizing yourself, a rarity in a world that shoves you toward errands, endless to-do lists, and the illusion of success. You promise yourself you’ll read later after you’ve checked off X, Y, orContinue reading There’s Never Enough Time to Read
I’m pleased to report that philosophy is not dead. It did not go the way of the Dodo with the death of Socrates, Nietzsche, or Foucault. We have living and breathing philosophers today, still writing and pondering the mishaps of our nutty world. One of those living philosophers, Dr. Michael Huemer, points out in hisContinue reading Why Philosophers are Weird (and Fantastic)
Robert Greene, author of Mastery and other psychologically juicy books, shares a powerful tip for achieving a higher level of skill in any field — and it’s connected to how you read. Before I share his secret, let’s figure out WHAT you should master in your life. In the first section of his book, Greene suggests thatContinue reading The Art of Mastery (For Book Lovers)
Sometimes, I like listening to music when I read a book – but it has to be the right kind of music. Nothing too distracting (no vocals please), with a hint of mystery and class. I’ve curated a list of 12 songs which, when played all together, last 60 minutes. If you start this playlistContinue reading 1-Hour Playlist for Book Lovers
I saw a unicorn at the grocery store today. Someone in an inflatable costume waddled down the cereal aisle as a giant, pink magical beast. I’m not going to lie – it was a great way to start my Monday morning. OK, onto today’s reading thought. I have a little trick to stay focused whileContinue reading Read the Next Sentence (Fully)
I’m a big fan of Michel de Montaigne. To my knowledge, he was the first one to write personal essays. From 1533 to 1597, Montaigne lived in Southern France near Bordeaux writing about his experiences with friendship, death, and even his failures and frustrations in the bedroom. While he was the first to do this,Continue reading Why You Should Read Montaigne
When my brain feels like a New York City traffic jam, which is more than I’d like to admit, I crave a good book. Why does that happen? Why, when life gets so nutty, do I reach for journals, books, and long walks? I’d be curious to hear your thoughts in the comments. Here’s whatContinue reading Why I Crave Good Books
I’m behind in my reading for book club. We’re studying Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky at a pace of 20 pages a day. How far behind am I, you ask? About 100 pages. Should I stress out? Worry? Berate myself for letting work and life get the better of my reading habit? What IContinue reading I’m Behind in My Reading. Now What?
Decide to Be a Note-Taker Let’s assume you want to make notes when you read. How should you go about doing it? First off, it’s important that you decide to take this venture seriously. No more casual notes on loose sheets of paper or random ideas saved to your phone. You need a system ifContinue reading How I Take Notes When I Read a Book
I just got back from a work trip to Chicago, and now I’m staring down the barrel of a week’s worth of emails, to-do list items, and chaos. I had a small panic attack this morning until I remembered my thinking ritual. It’s a morning routine that keeps me out of anxiety land. If youContinue reading Create a Thinking Routine