Six of My Tips for Good Reading

This is not my personal bookshelf . . . mine is much messier. But, you get the idea. Books are great.

Last year, I made a goal for reading. And, I am ok with admitting I did not meet my goal. I read 69 out of 80 books I had intended to read and I’m at peace with my final tally. Sure, I didn’t get to 100%, but I read some really great books and seriously, 2020 was a weird year.

I have been taking part in the GoodReads Reading Challenge for the last four years. And so far, I’ve yet to meet my set goal. I could be really bummed about that reality, but the Reading Challenge has gotten me to read more, and that was the underlying goal. Ten years ago, I was lucky to read one book a year, so reading 69 books this year was an awesome accomplishment. This year, I’m aiming for 70 books and though I’m a full time student now, I think I can meet the challenge.

In truth, I read much more than 69 books this year if you consider the amount of reading I did for academic classes as well as my consumption of a swath of news and opinion articles. I consume a great deal of written content, but the reason I started setting goals with GoodReads was to commitment to the journey of exploring, discovering and enjoying long form reading in my leisure time.

I think long form content is important to understanding our world and stepping outside our personal comfort zone. There are amazing journalists and writers who are mastering news and opinion content, but there is only so much you can explore with a limited word count. I don’t want to belittle the work these fine craftspeople are doing, but if you are only reading the content you click on your favorite news source and the links you find in your Facebook feed, you are cheating yourself of the depth and thorough content of books.

Thinking about your own Reading Challenge this year? Let me give you a few bits of advice I’ve found helpful through my own reading journey.

1. Get a library card. I can’t stress this one enough. Buying books can get pricey, and let’s face it, sometimes you end up with a book you will never want to read again. So, get online and figure out how to gain access to your local library. Dallas libraries aren’t open for roaming the stacks, but it has a great online system and I’ve been using their app consistently during the pandemic to reserve books. Plus, most libraries now have options so you can read on your electronic device. Call me old fashioned, but I love getting away from screens to read. But, it’s nice to know libraries offer the option to utilize your Kindle and iPad.
2. Don’t overthink it. Find a topic you are interested in and explore. Or, start with an author you’ve enjoyed in the past. The internet is flush with tools to help discover books you might like. A little Googling can set you up with a bountiful beginning.
3. Talk to friends. GoodReads is a great way to connect with your friends and see what they are reading and what they’ve enjoyed. But, it is likely you’ve got a few friends who are already pretty avid bookworms. Your friends know you and what you like, so lean on them for suggestions. It is likely they will give you a book to borrow. I’m always thrilled to lend books to friends and I often continue buying copies of my favorites so I can just ensure those gems can have great new homes.
4. Switch up genres. This is a lesson I learned this past year. It’s ok to mix in some young adult fiction with those really rough non-fiction books. I am now trying to keep 3–4 books going at all times, with some light content mixed in with the really heavy stuff I tend to be drawn to. You might be heavily drawn to a certain topic or genre, but keeping a few books going at the same time will keep you engaged, interested, and save you from reading burn out.
5. Revisit books. I have a few books I’ve started to read every year and the art of rereading and discovering new moments in the books I love is such a pleasure. I’ve also started to go back to read books I haven’t read since grade school. It’s fascinating to see how some books really have held up for me, which ones I still love (or don’t love as much), and which ones I’ve really changed my mind on. It’s amazing how your tastes and perspectives adjust through the years, and it’s likely you’ll rediscover a classic or even begin to love a work you initially didn’t like. (For the record, James and the Giant Peach was an absolute delight all these years later . . . as was All the Kings Men).
6. Stretch yourself. This is another challenge I gave myself last year. I read books I figured I might not like at all, or assumed I’d hate. In most cases, I was right, but now I can say “I read it” rather than turning my nose up without having the experience. I found it helped me embrace the books I truly love even more. And, it helped me strengthen my arguments on why I prefer Richard Rohr over Robert Jeffress.

I’m hoping to write quite a bit more this year, and this will include suggesting books I’ve read. I’m hoping you’ll join me on the journey, and if you want to suggest a book, or perhaps read a book together, let me know! I love the GoodReads platform, so be on the look out for what I’m working through and what I have in my endlessly growing “Want to Read” section. Let’s make 2021 a year of discovery, growth, challenge and good reading.