If you read books, we could have some great conversations. I have a great deal of respect for people who devote time and effort to getting into a book, mulling it over, and discussing it. Not an easy task since most of us tend to be passive readers, quickly moving from one word to the next in an effort to cross the finish line and close the book. I've been guilty of this myself, especially with those books commonly referred to as "Classics."
Lately, I've been working to slow things down a bit and to re-educate myself toward appreciating the process of reading rather than groping toward the accomplishment of finishing. To that end, I purchased a little book aptly titled, The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life by Steve Leveen. At first glance, it read like something I'd been looking for, a book about the reading process and about getting more enjoyment out of it. But at $17.50, the price felt a little steep given the somewhat abbreviated table of contents. In fact, many of the topics listed were already familiar ideas. Concepts like pre-reading to get a general feel for the subject (and book), or saving the Introduction and Forward sections for after you've finished the book so that they'll have more meaning, were concepts I'd already been practicing.
What drew me to the book, however, was the author's turn of the old phrase "living a well-read life." Leveen's point was for you to live your well-read life rather than one dictated by others. It was then that I realized I'd been looking for someone to free me from the expectations of what I was told I should read, and to instill in me (and make me believe) the idea that I am the best judge of what books will most elevate my life. With that promise in mind, I pulled out the credit card and brought the new baby home.
Article comments
1 - DrPat
Welcome, PP! I loved your line about passive readers quickly moving from one word to the next in an effort to cross the finish line and close the book.
Perhaps in citing writer's favorite reads, the author meant to help with finding that key to your life-changing books. After all, since we can't possibly read every book out there (though I've tried, I swear!), there has to be some way to winnow out the ones that will mean the most TO US.
2 - Murphy
That is an intriguing title...I love good suggestions for books.
I always fidn good suggestions for books actually inside the books I am currently reading. People in books like to read books. I read Ivanhoe when I was 12, after re-reading Little Women and Meg was mentioned reading that one.
Of course, when LM Alcott had Mac reading Emerson in Rose in Bloom, I discovered that I was in over my 13-year-old head with the Transcendentalist.
Love him now, though.
3 - Psychedelic Pariah
DrPat: Thank you for the welcome. I'm glad to be a participant. I do agree with your thought that Leveen was attempting to expose his readers to a great many books that might possibly be overlooked otherwise.
However, after a page or so of these recommendations, they become more like innundations, and at least for me, I began to tune them out.
Too much of a good thing, perhaps?
4 - Psychedelic Pariah
Hi Murphy: Yes, it is a decent book, but be aware that as a good reader, you probably already know what Leveen has to say.
As far as getting recommendations from within books themselves, I wholly agree.
5 - meryl
I *loved* this book. It sparked a new obsession with books for me.
6 - Psychedelic Pariah
Meryl: I'm glad that you liked the book. There are good things about it. I'm a big believer in trying things out for yourself.