How can I describe what it feels like to read poetry by Walt Whitman? It’s intimate, for sure. He’s right there with you, standing starkly “natural” in the open woods, letting the sunshine breathe on his bare skin. Every word is both private and perfectly natural. He shows you the smallest details, making them biggerContinue reading Reading Walt Whitman
I might be off here, but being able to control where my attention goes feels like the greatest benefit of reading books. All day long, people and businesses are fighting to occupy my mental space. There are ads everywhere, emails piling up, and my kids calling “Dad” all day long. Don’t get me wrong—I loveContinue reading The #1 Benefit of Reading Books
I’ll be in Boston from September 17th to 20th, and I’d love to meet up with any of you who are in the area! How about an evening filled with great food, wine, and bookish conversation? I’m thinking we could start by exploring a local bookshop (if you’re from Boston, I’d love your recommendations), followedContinue reading Book Club Meetup in Boston?
I’ve survived another long vacation and I’m mentally discombobulated. Yep, I’m using that word today. We went to New Orleans for a jazz crawl. I’m not sure if that’s what you call it, but “bar crawl” is a thing, so why not have a jazz crawl? You may not know this about me, but inContinue reading Restoring My Morning Reading Ritual
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 dailyContinue reading Pick Books That are Right for You
Looking at my bookshelves, I often feel a mix of excitement and overwhelm. Choosing the next book to read isn’t always easy, and I’ve learned that being in the right mental space is crucial for enjoying a book. If my mind isn’t ready, I might end up disliking a book that could otherwise be aContinue reading 3 Ideas for Managing Your TBR List
We think about practicing the piano, a foreign language, and our golf swing. We obsess over practicing yoga, public speaking, and the game of chess. But what about focus itself? How do you practice that? It’s the one thing most people in this community want to improve. My answer is reading. Think about it. IfContinue reading Practice The Art of Focus
Sunday works for me. It’s a chance to disassociate from everything and reset my reading. All week long, I’ve been reading for other people including clients, employees, teachers, and my kids. Some days, I feel like I’ve read for eight hours straight, and none of it has been beneficial. Well, I shouldn’t say that, butContinue reading Reset Your Reading on Sundays
We often approach reading books like we do riding elevators: we step in, see someone else, avoid eye contact, and wait for it to be over. If there’s conversation, it seldom goes beyond a polite, “How are you?” Now, imagine stepping in and having a real conversation. Who is that other person? What makes themContinue reading Stop Reading on Elevators
I’m feeling a little cheeky today, so we’re going to start up a fun conversation. When you die, what’s the one book that goes in your coffin with you? Answer in the comment section below. That’s right! You only get to pick one book. You don’t get four or five options. Why? Because coffins areContinue reading What Book Goes in Your Coffin?