I’m not a late-night kind of guy. I’m usually in bed by 10:00, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some late-night reading. There’s something very pleasurable about reading at the end of the day. All the work is done, the kids are asleep, and I’m usually craving some kind of adventure. So, let’s startContinue reading Late-Night Reading
I’m overwhelmed when I stand in front of my bookshelf. Not because I don’t know what to read, but because I get to pick. I have the freedom to choose whatever book I want. I know that’s a small thing, but is it? Let’s discuss. First, there’s the liberty and freedom our brave service menContinue reading The Freedom to Read
I love clubs. There’s something fantastic about connecting with friends who share my interests. In a world dominated by iPhones and binge-watching Netflix (no judgment here, I feel the same way sometimes), it’s tough to find people who are passionate about books. Not just any books, but the beautiful works of Shakespeare, Sophocles, Angelou, Dostoyevsky,Continue reading A Club for Readers? Really?
These days, I’m trying to spend most of my time with 3-layered books. Let me explain. The first layer is the book itself—the words on the page. It’s written well, makes clear arguments, and gets me thinking. The second layer is in the back, where the author cites their sources. It’s an extensive list ofContinue reading A Good Book Has 3 Layers
Some of my family and friends will say that books ruined me. My wife and I left the Mormon church with our four kids in tow last September. For years, I was told never to read religious materials unless they came straight from the church. Luckily, I have a wife with a PhD who tookContinue reading Have Books Ruined Me? Let’s Find Out.
It was my first time blessing the sacrament (communion) in a Mormon church, and I bungled it. Most boys forget words or mispronounce phrases, but I went a step further by wearing a blue shirt. This was a faux pas of my religious duties. The church, like other religions, creates expectations or commandments (call themContinue reading A Blue Shirt In a Mormon Church
2,400 years ago, Sophocles wrote a play that still grips us today. It’s powerful, philosophical, tragic, and fascinating. The drama is called Antigone, and it took me about an hour to read. Did I love it? Yes, I did. There are two characters to pay attention to: Antigone and Creon. Antigone wants to bury herContinue reading I Dare You to Read Antigone by Sophocles
Let’s do a thought experiment. Assume you’ve just come back from your doctor who’s given you 30 days to live. You decide to make the most of your time on earth by being with loved ones, learning to taste your food before you gulp it down, going outside to feel the sunshine on your face,Continue reading How to Pick Your Next Book
I love our reading rituals. Many of you share with me your morning routine of enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee. Maybe you’re like Cal Newport, author of “Deep Work” and “Slow Productivity,” who enjoys munching on crackers while reading. Or perhaps you read while walking on a treadmill, commuting to work,Continue reading Reading Rituals
We had a car blow up yesterday. Well, it didn’t blow up, but the engine seized. Somehow, all the oil leaked from the engine while my son was driving, and now the car is headed for the junkyard. We towed it to a mechanic, who couldn’t explain how it happened. We changed the oil regularly,Continue reading Having “One Thing” Helps Me