I’d never declare myself to be a strong reader. I tend to slowly read things and often find myself rereading sentences and paragraphs to confirm I’ve correctly understood the material or story. Yet, despite my limits, I really enjoy reading as a form of attaining new information.

I try and have a physical book I’m working through nearby with a soft goal of reading a book a month about something I’m interested in or a story I’ve been told I’d enjoy reading from a friend or family member. Getting book ideas from friends and family can be the best thing or the worst thing for me. The people pleaser in me will read the book for the benefit of receiving further recommended titles but the procrastinator in me will very slowly read the book and derail my reading flow.

I usually switch from a physical copy of the book to an audiobook format and listen to the book while I bike or drive. This lets me follow through with the recommended reading so I can follow up with the recommender and learn something I might not have sought out myself. I thank the inventor of audiobooks all the time as they’ve helped me through some dull reading at 1.5 speed. (Insert laughing track here)

Some of my favorite books to read include cookbooks, Autobiographies, Informational Books, Coffee Table-esue books that highlight a journey, lifestyle, etc and from time to time I enjoy a well-written trilogy. It’s nice to have something I can step outside of my day to day and enjoy for an hour and just be in the moment. Slowly reading the words over and building the story one line at a time as I go. I’ve used reading as a way to decompress after school, work, and sometimes after family events.

As I mentioned last week I’m still studying at university and I do end up reading heaps of information for my classes. Somehow through all that time, I haven’t lost my love for spending a little time with a book for fun just to zone out. It’s a strange thing to spend hours researching, reviewing, and writing for school on subjects I’m neutral about but if given the opportunity to discuss some of the things I’ve learned from my own reading outside school I’m happy to go all in on these topics anytime, anyplace.

I think I’ve rambled plenty for now so I’ll leave you with this, a few good reads from 2022 thus far.

Currently, I’m listening to Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson and currently reading through The Happiest Kids in the World: How Dutch Parents Help Their Kids (and Themselves) by Doing Less by Michele Hutchison and Rina Mae Acosta. I’m also reading Dieter Rams: Ten Principles for Good Design on the side.

Thanks for reading,

Casey.