I think the world can be divided into two groups of people:
- Those who love to read.
- Those who don’t.
I’m in the first group. A dream vacation for me would be a reading vacation. It would involve real books (not electronic), and I’d leave my technology at home. The sounds of the ocean (or a lake lapping the shoreline), no interruptions, and a stack of real books.
The second group often associates reading with school assignments, so it feels like a distasteful duty. Reading a book is something they were “required” to do, never something they chose to do.
Some time ago, I boxed up a couple of hundred books to donate to a library. It wasn’t the first time I’ve done that. Honestly, I don’t know how I end up with so many books.
Some people buy tools. Some people collect photos.
I collect books. Mostly non-fiction (personal growth, self-help, leadership and communication), though I enjoy a good fiction read now and then.
There’s kind of a “secret society” of people who like to read. My friend Craig reads 50 or 60 each year, keeping track on a spreadsheet. My friend Joyce . . . well, I don’t think we could even count that high.
We get each other.
But lately, I’ve been thinking about reading that much. Is it always a positive thing?
I’ve noticed that when I’m overwhelmed or stuck or tired or actively procrastinating on something important, it’s easy to grab a book. Sometimes, when I have a huge to-do list or a major project to finish, I get stressed – so I ignore it and read instead.
I probably have 30 or 40 books on my shelf with bookmarks stuck about three chapters in. I start strong, but get distracted by the next “shiny cover” that comes along.
Even if I do finish a personal growth book, I don’t always do anything with what I’ve learned. Nothing changes in my life.
If you read a nonfiction personal growth book but you don’t apply anything . . .
. . . doesn’t that make it fiction?
Reading is enjoyable – but sometimes it can become a way of avoiding my responsibilities.
So, here’s a little experiment we could try together:
- Pick a personal growth book that sounds really interesting to you.
- Read the whole thing.
- Jot down a few ideas of something you could implement.
- Pick one thing and do it – before you start reading another book.
Thoughts? Let me know in the comments – or email me at mike@mikebechtle.com .