There’s something very romantic about being the kind of person who spends hours poring over prose. The image conveys this ideal version of you who is immune to the world’s frivolities and distractions. So, every year, we make a promise to ourselves to read more. A quick search on YouTube pulls up thousands of videos…
Reading enriches us in many ways. We learn new things, relax and unwind, and avoid unwanted social interaction. It can also help you become a better writer. There are two general ways to do that; one is to write a lot, obviously. The second way is to read. A lot. Let me explain.
Why can’t I get past a few pages? Picture this: you’ve picked out your favorite book. You’re a few pages into the first chapter. Despite the coffee you’re drinking, you are dozing off. You will yourself into attention, but your mind wanders into the forests of Narnia. Staying focused on lines of words on the…
Annotating your books is not sacrilege. I grew up around people who didn’t believe in annotating. Books were always to be kept polished and pristine, like china. I do not share this belief—which is probably another reason why an ereader is best for me. I spent most of my adolescence borrowing books from libraries. Naturally,…
Reading doesn’t have to be boring. If you find your attention waning after the first few sentences of a book, here are some things you can try to make it enjoyable. Relieve yourself of pressure or expectations when reading. When you’re just starting off on any kind of hobby, having really high expectations can add…
ATTN: Shortening spans The New York Times published an article about our diminishing attention spans — now reduced to a dire 8-second situation at best. It becomes difficult to focus, complete tasks, and often forget an unusual number of things. We are living in a world of distraction. Longer attention spans can help us be…
