Lately, I’ve been thinking on the importance of reading diverse literary voices. While I love the Western canon, I recognize its limits in perspective. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like spending hours with Whitman, Emerson, Thoreau, Plato, or Nietzsche. But if I’m going to be a great reader, I need to make space for a wider range of voices—female thinkers, people of color, and the myths and stories that offer a fuller view of our shared history. Have you ever read Iroquois legends? They’re fascinating and eye-opening.
If you’re American like me, I encourage you to explore authors such as Frederick Douglass, Maya Angelou, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Junot Díaz, Amy Tan, Ralph Ellison, and so many others who bring depth and honesty to the literary landscape. Their stories don’t just challenge us—they enrich the way we experience reading itself. I love their work and hope to enjoy more of it with this community in the future.
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
