Books are the Secret Sauce
I’m just going to put this out there.
Having a reading goal will enhance the year ahead of you. Books are the secret sauce for adding flavor and depth to your life.
I have no quantitative data to reference, nor do I have any academic credentials that grant me authority to make this proclamation. I'm just a guy on the internet, so please take this with a grain of salt.
If my year is a stew, a reading goal has been the secret sauce I add to help me get the most out of the time I have available. Again, I can’t connect a direct line between reading and a prosperous year; it has just been my experience.
I have enjoyed more success at work, feel less stressed, and have learned a great deal in the years that I’ve kept a reading goal. If you haven’t set a reading goal before, let me encourage you to set one this year.
Questions:
Q: How much will this reading goal cost me?
A: That’s entirely up to you. Your local public library is free and will offer you options that include traditional, digital, and audiobooks. I use the Libby app to borrow digital books from my local library. I also use my bank account to buy books. No one should look down on you for spending money on books. “Can you believe that guy?! He spends $300 on books a year! That’s insane! ”
There are many worse things you can spend money on. Spending money on reading doesn’t make you irresponsible.
I love supporting my local bookstore, and If they don’t have the book I’m looking for, I’m happy to wait patiently while they order it for me. I also consume books by downloading them and reading them on my Kindle.
Q: How do you stay motivated?
A: A dud of a book will throw cold water over the spark of motivation you have for reading. Give yourself an easy start and pick up a book you know you’ll enjoy. Like most goals, it’s important that you start seeing progress in the first month to stay motivated. You are not going to resonate with every book or author. I have a four-chapter rule. If I’m not invested by chapter four, I put the book down and find something else to read. For the last 3 years, I’ve used the Progress App on my iPhone to track my personal goals. The app is simple, and it’s helped me stay on track.
Q: Is the Genre important?
A: No, I don't think so, but you should have some variety. I prefer non-fiction, but I make sure to pick up works of fiction as well. Fiction has a way of loosening up my brain and expanding how I see the world. Go with what you like, but mix it up. This year, I added poetry, and I'm glad I did! I also read a classic novel to my son this year, and we both enjoyed it.
Q: How many books should you read?
A: Enough that it’s a challenge for you. I went through 26 books this year and 28 the year before. I have friends that routinely read between 40-50 books a year. That said, you know your schedule and the amount that will be a challenge for you, but it feels like an achievement at the end of the year.
Q: Do audiobooks count?
A: Yes. They do for me! I enjoy audiobooks on my ride to and from work. Listening to a book is a great way to make the most of that time during my day. There will be some who disagree with me on this point, but this is my blog…
Q: What books did you enjoy most this year?
A: Here are some of my favorites from my reading this year. They are not in any order. I loved them all.
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. I am part Danish, but I know very little about that culture. I have always been curious about why Scandinavia seems like such a comfortable and happy region of planet Earth. This is a very cozy, fun, informative, and great coffee table book. After reading it, Hygge is my current favorite new word.
Ask by Jeff Wetzler. A book that has helped me recalibrate how I see relationships. I believe emotional intelligence is important, but I also realize there are some limits. Sometimes, you don’t know what is really going on in a room, and you need actually to ask someone what they are thinking or feeling. I would buy this book for anyone in leadership.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. A friend of mine recommended this one to me. This is not a practical time management book. This book delves into embracing our limits as human beings and making the best of our limited time on this planet. I spent a lot of time underlining phrases and sections of this book. I consciously slowed down my reading and went back and re-read sections because they spoke to me on a very deep level.
Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. It does seem at times that those who currently hold the greatest microphones in society go to great lengths to tell us that humans are bad and the world is going to Hell in a handbasket. That kind of negative drama will drive clicks, but it doesn’t accurately depict how history has played out. Humans are more likely to care about one another than they are inclined to cause pain. If you're looking for a book that explores the hopeful evidence that people are good, consider picking this one up.
I’ve written a bit about this before, but I believe it’s important to take ownership of your self-development. If you have an employer that will invest education resources in you, that’s fantastic! I’m happy for you.
If you are not so fortunate, don’t wait for something to change; go visit your library or local bookstore and start with one great book. Reading for the sake of reading is also fun and has its rewards. Ultimately, you will feel more ahead at the end of this year if you set a reading goal for yourself this year and stick to it.
Friend, thank you for reading, and I hope you can read much more this year!
Happy New Year!