(Originally posted January 30, 2014;
reposted here with minor edits)
It’s [six months into] a new year and you’re already falling behind on that resolution you made to read more books.
You
started strong. You pulled up one of several “best books” lists, picked
what seemed a good choice from the many “literary classics,” got a
copy, and dove in. Then, in the first few pages, things started going
sour and your bookmark’s not moved in days.
You are not alone.
First, kudos to you for at least wanting to read a book or a few. That is a noble and good desire.
Second,
don’t beat yourself up if you’re struggling to accomplish your goal.
The problem isn’t necessarily you; it could be the book you’ve chosen,
or perhaps some toxic residue from “required reading” demands from
school.
I’m here to help you get back on track.
Don’t read what bores you!
Life's too short not to read books. And it's too short to read books that you find boring.
A
lot of people don't read because they had to read stuff in school that
was, well, awful. I feel you! Even though I am an admitted bookaholic,
that doesn’t mean I fall in love with every one I pick up.
If you picked a title from the “greatest literary classics” lists your old -- uh, I mean
former -- high school English teacher gave you, that may be where you went wrong.
While there are many great books that are great reads, not all are for everyone. And since you’re reading because you
want to, feel free to select and stick with books that you
want to read!
What a concept, right?
I’m
an English major. I’ve always loved books and words. From the very
first moment I realized I could read I’ve had a book by my side. As a
teenager, I actually carried a “pocket” sized book (aka “mass market
paperback”) in the hip pocket of my jeans. Whenever I had a spare
moment, I would read.
Today,
I’ve got the Amazon Kindle app on my phone, so always have a book
available to read while I’m stuck waiting in a doctor’s office or
anywhere else.
The point is that I am a reader. There are few books I don’t like at least a little. And I’ll read just about anything.
Still,
in the past few months I've tried to read a couple of those “literary
classics” that I’ve always felt like, as an English major, I should have
read. I made it about half way through each before I just couldn’t go
on. The books were just not my cup of tea.
I left my bookmark where I stopped and put them both back on my bookshelf. And then I got another book.
If a particular book is just not doing it for you, then stop reading it!
Don’t
torture yourself. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t assume you’re not smart
enough or whatever. Just as you don’t become BFFs with every single
person you meet, and just as some people are just darn annoying, you’ll
have the same experiences with certain books.
At the
same time, just as you don’t give up on people, a bad experience with a
couple of books is no justification for giving up on reading altogether.
That’s simply not good logic.
Read because it’s good for you!
Reading has a plethora of benefits. Here are six to consider:
- Reading can make you more informed and smarter. Is there a
topic you’re clueless about? It’s been said that anyone who takes the
time to read at least three books on a topic can be considered a subject
matter expert. Why? Because you’ll know more than the vast majority of
people who’ve read only one or no books on the same topic. But not only
does reading provide information, studies have shown that good stories
can actually change your brain in positive ways. So, if you want to get
smart, read books!
- Reading will take you places you would never get to go otherwise. In
the delightful movie, “Miracle on 34th Street,” there’s a scene where
Edmund Gwenn (Santa) is teaching Natalie Wood (Susan) to be creative and
playful. He explains how to tap into her imagination, saying, “...to me
the imagination is a place all by itself; a separate country. You've
heard of the French or the British nation. Well, this is the
imagi-nation. It’s a wonderful place. How would you like to make
snowballs in the summertime? Or drive a big bus right down 5th Avenue?
How would you like to have a ship all to yourself that makes daily trips
to China and Australia? How would you like to be the Statue of Liberty
in the morning, and in the afternoon fly south with a flock of geese?
It's very simple. Of course, it takes practice.” Getting lost in a good
book will fuel your imagination and take you on wonderful flights of
fancy!
- Reading can help you understand others better. A recent study
determined that reading literary fiction “better equips people to sense
and understand others' mental states.” The challenge is to find a work
of literary fiction that will hold your interest enough to draw you in.
Such books do exist and are worth the effort to read them.
- Reading widely will expand your vocabulary. The more you read
in different genres, the wider variety of words you will be exposed to.
While you may not know the specific meanings of some words, you’ll
likely get their sense from the context in which they are used. And,
with online dictionaries, it’s a simple matter to look up meanings
instantly. Even if you don’t end up using all the new words you learn,
you’ll at least understand them when they’re used in discussions around
you.
- Reading can improve your own writing and communication. One
of the great “best kept secrets” of people who read a lot is how well
they can write and speak. Whether what you write are work memos, church
newsletters, or professional articles, the more you read the better you
will write. In fact, those who want to become professional writers are
often encouraged to transcribe passages from their favorite authors and
books. Why? Because it allows them to gain a better feel for the
writer’s style and rhythm. This, in turn, helps them discover their own
voice in their writing.
- Reading can happen anywhere. There are few places you can’t
read. Now with e-readers, you can even read in the dark! People read
books on planes, trains, buses, wherever they find themselves with time
on their hands. Reading is a boredom killing skill!
I’m
sure you can come up with even more reasons to read. In fact, make a
list of your positive reasons for reading to use as motivation!
Choose the right book to read!
Just
as everyone has different styles of clothing and kinds of foods they
like, the same goes for tastes in books. Not sure what you like? Then
feel free to sample everything!
Okay, if that seems too intimidating, here are some suggestions on discovering your favorite books and authors.
- What TV shows and/or movies do you like? Looking at stories
or topics that already interest you is a good way to zero in on books
that may be good reads. In fact, many people enjoy the books some movies
are based on better than the movies.
- Do you have a friend, acquaintance, relative with similar tastes?
Maybe they like the same TV shows you do. The same movies. The same
fashion styles. And they're a reader? Then, there's a chance you will
like the books they like. Ask them what they're reading and if you can
borrow some of their books to try.
- What subjects in school did you enjoy the most? If your
favorite subjects were shop and sports, then perhaps check out some
books on engineering and, well, sports! Did you like history? Then
consider biographies of great past leaders, historical fiction, and the
like.
- What's happening at work? Regardless of what kind of work you
do, there are many excellent business books that are fun to read and
will make you sharp on the job. Check with your colleagues for
suggestions.
- Review book reviews. A great way to preview a book is to read
a review. You’ll find professional reviews in newspapers such as the
New York Times. And there are also reader reviews posted on Amazon.com
and similar websites.
- Check out the bestsellers listings. While not always a
perfect indicator, a book that hangs around in bestselling lists for
weeks, months, or years may be worth considering.
These are only a few of the many resources available to help you
discover books just right for you. Don’t forget to ask your friends
what they’re reading, too!
Sample free or cheap books!
Once
you have an idea of what you’d like to try, there are several low-cost
and even free options for trying out a few titles before committing
fully to a book, an author, or a series.
- Thrift stores. Many Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other
thrift stores have book sections. Some are nothing more than bins full
of random books. Some will have semi-organized shelves that make it
easier to browse. But all are cheap sources of great books. If you pick
up a title for a few cents and don’t like it, it’s not that big of a
loss and you can always re-donate it.
- Used book stores. Sadly, we’ve lost Borders, Waldenbooks, and
a lot of independent bookstores where you could find new books. But, in
their place we’ve got Half-Price Books and other used book stores
cropping up. While you’ll pay more than at a thrift store, the advantage
is being able to browse organized and neat shelves, and having
knowledgeable salespeople on hand to answer your questions. These are
also good places to unload those books that you didn’t like and make a
little money.
- Church book shelf. Many churches, even small ones, will have a
bookshelf or even a small room dedicated to books that are available to
attendees. Some books may be free to take or borrow. Those that are for
sale are often heavily discounted.
- See what's free on Amazon.com. If you have a PC or tablet or
smart phone, you have access to dozens of free e-books, both new and
classic. Amazon offers a free Kindle reader application that you can use
on virtually any platform. On Amazon, there are always free, public
domain classics available. And every day, publishers of new books offer a
variety of titles for free. Plus, there are hundreds of titles
available for as little as 99 cents. Not everything available is
particularly worth reading, but when a title is free it’s easy to just
delete it.
- Visit your local public library. While the number of
bookstores are dwindling, the number of libraries tends to hold steady.
Odds are there’s a branch near you. Once you get a library card, there’s
virtually no book you can’t try out. And, like a good bookstore,
libraries are manned with knowledgeable staff people who can help you in
your search for that perfect book.
Given
the number of free and affordable sources for books, whether
brick-and-mortar or online, there’s little excuse for you not to be able
to find a good book that you’ll enjoy.
Give each book and author a fair chance!
Once you’ve selected one or several books to try, give each a fair chance to grow on you.
While
writers are told we need to grab readers from the very first sentence
of a book, that’s a pretty high hurdle to get over. While writing a
truly grabby first sentence is something to strive for, even the best of
writers, when they're sharing a complex, nuanced story that spans days,
weeks, years, can’t do it. It may take several pages to truly hook the
reader.
Give the author a break and give their book a chance.
Commit
to read at least 10% of a book before giving up on it. If it's 100
pages long, then read at least 10 pages. If it’s 300 pages long, read at
least 30 pages.
If you’ve done your best to give a book a go but it just isn't drawing you in, let it go without guilt.
Also
consider that your own mood and circumstance can impact your
appreciation of a book. What doesn’t appeal to you today may months or
years from now. Don’t hesitate to give a book a second chance.
There
are thousands of writers, each with unique styles. There are many
genres and sub-genres and sub-sub genres. There are millions of
potential plot twists for fiction. There are millions of ideas to fill
the pages of non-fiction books. Keep at it and eventually you'll find
something that appeals to you and satisfies you.
And you’ll be a better person for it!
=======
Do
you hate reading books? Why? Do you love reading books? What are some
of your favorite memories of reading? Do you have other tips for
encouraging reading? Share them in the comments!
I miss my Dad. But I am glad for the wonderful memories. What about you? Please share about your dad in the comments! 
