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?
I’ve been working hard to free up some mental space, and I didn’t realize just how mentally, emotionally, and physically tired I was. It’s strange, but we’re like sticky tumbleweeds rolling along, picking up everything we touch. We carry that stuff with us all day, every day. Eventually, we get so bogged down with worry,Continue reading Free Up Mental Space (A Stoic Trick)
Quick reminder. Pulitzer Prize author Junot Díaz will be on The Read Well Podcast this morning! I’ll be interviewing him about the importance of literature, how to improve as a reader and more. If you’re a member of my book club, then you have access to these live events and can join me as anContinue reading Junot Díaz Interview Starting Soon
I’m thrilled to share that I’m in discussions with a world-class roastery to create exclusive coffee and tea blends for Edgewater Bookstore! As we gear up for our grand opening, one of our standout offerings will be a beautifully designed, environmentally friendly line of coffee and tea. Here’s what I’m envisioning for our initial mix.Continue reading Your Input Needed: Edgewater Bookstore’s New Coffee and Tea Line
I’ve gone back to school to get a degree in philosophy, and I’m shocked at how my brain is playing games with me. I have to constantly have to remind myself that I’m doing this for the knowledge – not the grade. For some reason, if I focus on getting an A, I approach theContinue reading Don’t Read This Way
In my book club, we’re reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, one of the Stoic philosophers. (Technically, he wasn’t a philosopher. He was a Roman Emperor whose journal is now a popular Stoic text.) In our discussion last Tuesday, someone mentioned how refreshing it was to read the words of a politician who cared and wasContinue reading Reading the Stoic Philosophers
I’m a bit emotional right now. I love bookstores. I’m getting ready to open one, but this post isn’t about that. This post is about a world where we only buy books from Amazon because it’s $4 cheaper and so darn convenient. I no longer have to go through the effort of getting into myContinue reading Imagine a World Without Bookstores
I’ve been thinking a lot about my role as a reader. When I spend time with a book, it’s clear that what I get out of it mirrors what I put into it. The more effort I put into my notes, the more the book reveals its secrets. Then I thought, what are the mostContinue reading 3 Questions to Ask When Reading
I have a short but necessary message for readers today: Every book has a speed limit. Some books can be read at 70 MPH while others start to rumble and shake if you go faster than 10 MPH. To read Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is very different than to read Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River. So, whenContinue reading This Book Has a Speed Limit