Reading

Most of you who know me, or who have followed my blog with any regularity, know that I love to read. I used to tell people I would read anything I could get my hands on, and I always finished every book I started, but I'm a little more selective these days. One of my college professors used to always say "Life is too short to drink bad wine." I agree with him, and think it applies to books as well. Now, if a book really stinks, I don't hesitate to put it away and start on something else. 

The vast majority of the books I read are either books sent to me by the publisher/author to preview, or books I find out about through conferences or blogs. I intentionally follow the blogs of several other readers, and look for the things they're reading and enjoying. Then, I look for the books cited in the books that I enjoy the most, and add those books to my list. 

This year, my goal was to read 52 books, and I'm actually going to pass it, probably next week. 

I'm blessed to be a quick reader, but I think the secret is in the discipline more than the speed. 

A few years ago, I made it a priority to read at least one chapter of a book every day. That's usually a commitment of around 15 minutes per day, even for a reader who reads at an average speed. The average book has somewhere between 10 and 15 chapters, so at the pace of a chapter a week, you're reading a book every two weeks. That's twenty-six books per year if all you ever read is one chapter every day. 

That's a sustainable pace for anyone. Maybe a good New Years Resolution. Give it a shot - I think you'll be glad you did. 

3 comments:

Brenda Liniger said...

I love to read too but I have found that I don't do near as much now that I am a mom,,,I am so tired when it is time for bed that I can't even find the strength to pick the book up off the nightstand.

lisa said...

With my dylexia, it used to take me forever to get through a book. Being pregnant over the summer, however, when the only comfortable position I could get into was lying on my back, I read a lot. I'm averaging a book every two weeks. Not sure how many I've finished this year, but I'm excited to be reading more. such a joy!

Kara said...

we set a goal for ourselves a while back...cory wanted to do 1 a month, I thought surely I could do 2. I am almost there this year, but it is really hard to read with kids around! I can do the fiction stuff in a few days easy. It is all these great parenting and marriage books I am readign that take forever, because it is like studying! Cory is doing pretty good this year too, I think. We really enjoy reading and sharing with each other what we have learned, but it is getting harder and harder, especially now with 3 boys at home!

Thanks for the encouragement!