What's In Your Library Bag Wednesday?...

It's Wednesday!! And I just have to ask, "What's in your library bag this wonderful wednesday?!!" What's that you say? You don't have anything in your bag right now? You don't have any time to read? Let me just tell you that I understand, I feel your pain. There are days, weeks even, where I feel like I don't hardly have time to eat, let alone read for pleasure. But, I still think it's important and necessary. Reading keeps your mind sharp and it provides distraction and relaxtion and and and...If all you have time for is a magazine article, grab one today. If you can carve out a chapter, start that book you're dying to read. Don't wait. Do it today, right now. That said, starting next week, I am going to include 5 minute exerpts from a book, so that we can read together. Something about reading that is just amazing, sharing it!! Talking about what you are reading, getting excited about it...

Here are some more thoughts on the subject...

zen habits: How to Read More: A Lover's Guide


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How to Read More: A Lover's Guide

Posted: 03 Oct 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Post written by Leo Babauta.



Reading a good book is one of my favorite things in the world.



A novel is a time machine, a worm-hole to different dimensions, a special

magic that puts you into the minds and bodies of fascinating people, a

transporter that lets you travel the world, a dizzying exploration of love

and death and sex and seedy criminal underworlds and fairylands, a creator

of new best friends.



All in one.



I read because I love the experience, because it is a powerful teacher of

life, because it transforms me.



I am not the world's most prodigious reader, but I do read daily and with

passion.

Lots of people say they want to read more, but don't know how to start.



Read this. It should help.



1. Don't read because you should - read for joy. Find books about exciting

stories, about people who fascinate you, about new worlds that you'd love to

visit. Forget the classics, unless they fit this prescription.



2. Carve out the time. We have no time to read anymore, mostly because we

work too much, we overschedule our time, we're on the Internet all the time

(which does have some good reading, but can also suck our attention

endlessly), and we watch too much TV. Pick a time, and make it your reading

time. Start with just 10 minutes if it's hard to find time - even 10 minutes

is lovely. Try 20 or 30 if you can drop a couple things from your schedule.



3. Do nothing but read. Clear all distractions. Find a quiet, peaceful

space. It's just your book, and you. Notice but let go of the urges to do

other things instead of read. If you must do something else, have some tea.



4. Love the hell out of it. You're not doing this to better yourself. You're

doing it for joy. Reading is magic, and the magic will change everything

else in your life. Love the experience, and you'll look forward to it daily.



5. Make it social. Find friends who love to read, or find them online.

There's a world of readers on the Internet, and they'd be happy to make

recommendations and talk about the books you're all reading. Try a book club

as well. Reading is solitary, but is also a social act.



6. Make it a habit. Pick a trigger in your daily routine, and consistently

read exactly after that trigger each day. Even if it's just for 5-10

minutes. The more consistent you are, and the longer you keep the streak

going, the stronger the habit will become.



7. Don't make it a chore. Don't make it something on your todo list or

schedule that you have to check off. It's not part of your self-improvement

plan. It's a part of your Make Life More Awesome Plan.



8. Give up on a book if it's boring. Reading isn't something you do because

it's good for you - it's not like taking your vitamins. You're reading

because it's fun. So if a book isn't fun, dump it. Give it a try for at

least a chapter, but if you still don't love it, move on.



9. Discover amazing books. I talk to other people who are passionate about

books, and I'll read reviews, or just explore an old-fashioned bookstore.

Supporting your local bookstores is a great thing, and it's incredibly fun.

Libraries are also amazing places that are underused - get a card today.



10. Don't worry about speed. Speed reading is fine for some, but slow

reading is great too. The number of books, and the rate of reading them,

matters not a whit. It's not a competition. You're reading to enjoy the

books, so take your time. It's like enjoying good food, or good sex: better

savored, not rushed.



Some recommendations.
 
Here I am going to add some of my own ideas to help get you started...It's an eclectic mix, but worth a shot!
 
 
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Someone Knows my Name by Lawrence Hill
Prey by Linda Howard
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
If You Ask Me by Betty White
A Western by Linda Lael Miller