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 was on an airplane for almost six hours yesterday. Near the end, the guy sitting next to me leaned over and asked how I could possibly read for that long. Here’s what I told him. The distractions never go away for me. I’ve just gotten better at gently returning to my book without hatingContinue reading How to Read for Long Periods of Time
I’m at a work conference in Boston, and I just learned something about the art of reading deeply. Before I tell you what it is, I need to provide some context. I come to this conference every year. It’s a technology conference with the best and brightest all trying to grow their businesses. I’ve alwaysContinue reading A Method for Reading Deeply
Let’s pretend, for a moment, that every time you finish a book, you apply at least one idea from its pages to your life. I’m not talking about remembering a concept, sharing what you learned with friends in a book club, or teaching a class on the ideas – I’m talking about making a real,Continue reading Apply One Idea from a Book
I’m headed to Boston next week for a work conference, and while I’m there, I’m going to visit Walden Pond. I’ve been before and will be making a video/podcast about the trip. I also think it would be fun to visit Salem where the witch trials took place since Halloween is around the corner. ButContinue reading The Ugly Truth About Authors
A few days ago, I wrote about reading more diverse authors. James Baldwin was on that list. Admittedly, I’ve never read him. I know! Quell your scathing remarks. I’m working on it. Today, during my lunch break, I went hunting for his work. Actually, I had a doctor’s appointment and there was a Barnes andContinue reading The Beautiful Books of James Baldwin
Last night’s Presidential Debate was a perfect case study in critical thinking. Despite who you think won or how the candidates performed in general, one thing is clear: emotional talk influences people. Statements can be made without any supporting evidence and we will believe them, simply because they were said with emotion and struck aContinue reading Debates, Arguments, and Critical Thinking in 2024
I love books – the way they look on the shelves, how they feel in my hands, and the smell of the paper as I rifle through the pages. They’re perfectly compact treasures we carry to work, on the commuter train, and our kid’s karate practices. They’re one of the few things in this worldContinue reading Is it bad to Write in Books?
I’ll tell you why. Many people say that the rest of the world falls away when reading. They forget their problems, and more than that, get to train their attention fully on something of interest. In the book Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi tells us, “Reading requires concentration of attention and has a goal, and to doContinue reading Why is Reading so Darn enjoyable?
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 forContinue reading An Argument for Diverse Literature
I like to create a plan for my weekend reading or else it doesn’t get done. Reading, for me, is much easier during the week when I’m on a structured schedule with work and kids. The weekend, however, is the wild west in my home. I don’t get too detailed or set unreasonable expectations, butContinue reading My Weekend Reading Plan