These blog posts are short, daily ideas on reading deeply, taking notes, and applying the ideas. Each post is written by Eddy Hood with the goal of encouraging readers to pick up a book in favor of technology.
I just finished a great book, and now the real work begins! I love this part. After reading slowly, the next step is to take notes. All of my favorite passages have been marked. Now I get to go back, review the best ones, and make notes I can use throughout the rest of myContinue reading When I Finish a Great Book
I got my first film camera in 1998 for $400. It was chunky, gray, and too heavy in my hands. I bought a roll of Kodak film, asked the store owner to load it into the back panel, and then rolled the dial forward to the first frame. “You have 24 frames,” the clerk said.Continue reading Read Like a Film Photographer
I’m reading an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson titled The Poet written in 1844. Here’s the main argument: Poets are called upon to write honestly about the world. If they can manage this, we can hold on to our humanity. There’s a specific passage that reads, “He (The Poet) is isolated among his contemporaries byContinue reading Your Painful Secret
We’re reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom in my book club. It’s a beautifully heartbreaking memoir of a Dutch watchmaker and her family who were captured by Nazi Germany for helping Jewish people escape to freedom. There’s a moment in the book that reminds me of reading itself. Corrie has been sent toContinue reading My Books Are a Portal to the Outside World
I like reading in 30-minute increments for several reasons. First, I get sore if I sit too long holding a book. Getting up and stretching after a 30-minute session makes it possible to keep reading. Otherwise, I end up thinking more about the pain in my neck than the story in my hands. Second, I’mContinue reading The World Can Change in 30 Minutes
When I was a kid, going to the bookstore was always a treat, but it was different then. The book covers were not as pretty. Over the past few years, booksellers have learned that a gorgeous piece of art sells books, and I’m a sucker for it. Here are a few of my favorite bookContinue reading I’m a Sucker for Beautiful Book Covers
If there’s one trick I know of for improving my reading immediately, it’s this: to think before I put the book down for the day. After a reading session, it’s tempting to close the book and move on to other tasks, meetings, etc. Instead, hit pause for a few moments and think about what you’veContinue reading How to Level Up Your Reading Instantly
Today (Dayling Savings) comes with an extra hour of reading built into it. I’ve committed to spending the entire day in my pajamas with a good book, some Anthology Coffee, and my beautiful family. Have a wonderful day reading, friends. I know I will. Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.Continue reading An Extra Hour of Reading
Philosopher, author, and educator Dr. Michael Huemer is coming on the show on December 1st! This is one of my “white whales” (a Moby-Dick reference) — a star-struck moment for me as a podcaster, budding philosopher, writer, and book lover. I’ve been reading Huemer’s books for years, and his approach to contemporary issues is fascinating.Continue reading Live Event: Learn to Think for Yourself
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