Thanks for your post about the power of reading. I live with Complex regional Pain Syndrome, and I'm often homebound. While my body is in NYC, my brain is in Ancient Greece--(for this week).
Reading is amazing. Libraries are amazing. You hit the nail on the head as always. I stopped reading for a long time after college too. It wasn’t until I could do it on my own terms without it being attached to a grade or class participation that I picked it up again and realized how much I loved to learn (especially history, that was a shocker). My brain has this quality where after I watch a show, movie or read a book, it dumps it right out so I remember none of it. Sounds like Readwise might be a good thing for me to try out. Thanks for the tip.
This is a great piece, Chris. Such good advice. My books save me when I’m stuck in bed or in a lot of pain. My husband and I recently started our own little book club, just the two of us. I think I’m going to be picking up Man’s Search for Meaning for one of our next reads! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Chris, great article as always. The readwise app reminded me of something Dan Pink said (think he's now on substack as well) To retain what you're reading more deeply you should summarize the content at the end of each chapter in your own words. Having to think about what you've just read makes the information sink in more. And when I was writing essays for university I used to rewrite the question in my own words, meaning I understood it at a deeper level than the questioners writing. It's too easy to skim read these days.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl was a life saver for me when I was in prison, and I'm right there with you, I reread it every year. Now 12 years and counting.
What a fantastic article - and close to my heart. Childhood Saturday morning trips to the library were always a highlight of the week and I still get a thrill from going, getting out ten books, taking them home, reading a little of each one before deciding which order to read them in. Like you Chris, reading has brought me some real joy in difficult circumstances - and if you remember I mentioned trips to the library in a recent article you restacked as one of those things I mostly can do, even on a bad day.
Thanks for your post about the power of reading. I live with Complex regional Pain Syndrome, and I'm often homebound. While my body is in NYC, my brain is in Ancient Greece--(for this week).
Thanks Duff. Ancient Greece is one of my favorite eras to read about!
Without books I wouldn’t have made it through so many challenges. Thanks for highlighting the power of reading.
Thanks Elizabeth!
Reading is amazing. Libraries are amazing. You hit the nail on the head as always. I stopped reading for a long time after college too. It wasn’t until I could do it on my own terms without it being attached to a grade or class participation that I picked it up again and realized how much I loved to learn (especially history, that was a shocker). My brain has this quality where after I watch a show, movie or read a book, it dumps it right out so I remember none of it. Sounds like Readwise might be a good thing for me to try out. Thanks for the tip.
This is a great piece, Chris. Such good advice. My books save me when I’m stuck in bed or in a lot of pain. My husband and I recently started our own little book club, just the two of us. I think I’m going to be picking up Man’s Search for Meaning for one of our next reads! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Chris, great article as always. The readwise app reminded me of something Dan Pink said (think he's now on substack as well) To retain what you're reading more deeply you should summarize the content at the end of each chapter in your own words. Having to think about what you've just read makes the information sink in more. And when I was writing essays for university I used to rewrite the question in my own words, meaning I understood it at a deeper level than the questioners writing. It's too easy to skim read these days.
Vivienne
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl was a life saver for me when I was in prison, and I'm right there with you, I reread it every year. Now 12 years and counting.
And thanks for the tip about Readwise. Could be just what I need 😊
Oh, and my wife have started spending half an hour reading together every reading! Lovely 🥰
What a fantastic article - and close to my heart. Childhood Saturday morning trips to the library were always a highlight of the week and I still get a thrill from going, getting out ten books, taking them home, reading a little of each one before deciding which order to read them in. Like you Chris, reading has brought me some real joy in difficult circumstances - and if you remember I mentioned trips to the library in a recent article you restacked as one of those things I mostly can do, even on a bad day.