“To read is to fly.” – A. C. Grayling
While New Year’s resolutions have never played an important role in my life (I can’t remember the last time I made one), I do think resolutions are essential. Life is defined by the decisions we make and I’ve come to view life as a series of adjustments. As we increase in age and wisdom, we begin to recognize opportunities in our life to grow and improve. And any decision to embrace that opportunity could best be labeled as a resolution (I’ve just never understood why we’d wait until January 1st to make the change).
On a related note, I like reading. Each time I read a new book, I am stretched as a person. I am forced to embrace a new thought and evaluate my life against it. I am taken to new places and enjoy conversations with new people. I am inspired, entertained, and invested into. I become a better person because of it… I just wish I did more of it.
That’s why I’ve taken this occasion of a new year to purposely resolve to read more books. For most of my life, I’ve averaged reading about one book per month. But for the next 52 weeks, I have resolved to read 52. After giving it some thought over the past few weeks, I have made the decision to read one book per week in2012 for a number of reasons:
1. It’ll make me a better writer. As one who enjoys spreading thoughts and inspiring others through the written word, writing is important to me. And reading always increases our capacity to write.
2. It’ll make me a better leader. Life requires relationship. Each of us interact with others on a daily basis. And our lives are either giving life to others or draining it from them. I want my life to give life to others and inspire them to live better. There is a growing passion in my heart to continue taking this message of “finding more life by owning less” to more and more people. I’m not entirely sure what that looks like down the road, but there’s a 100% chance leadership qualities will be required.
3. It’ll increase my worldview. Reading opens our heart to new ideas, new cultures, and new worldviews. Good art always does.
4. It’ll increase my breadth of knowledge. There is a world of inspiration to be discovered in books. There is also a world of knowledge to be found in books. I live my life trying to see the good in people believing that we can learn something from everybody… and since some have had the opportunity to write it down for us, it would make sense to take full advantage of their efforts.
5. It’ll increase my reading speed. Just like any skill in life, we improve with practice. While not a slow reader, I have never considered myself particularly fast either. No doubt, reading 52 books in 52 weeks will be a stretch for me. It will require my attention and practice and will likely increase my skill and pace in reading – at times, by necessity.
6. It’ll be a good example for my kids. My kids are young (elementary school) and still learning to read. I want them to embrace the practice with joy. I want them to become lifelong readers. And I want them to recognize their father as one who does the same.
7. It’ll increase my ability to dream big. While I have enjoyed reading all genres of books, I have always found special joy in biographies. Reading the stories of those who sacrificed much, inspires me to do the same. Reading the stories of those who loved unselfishly, inspires me to do the same. And reading the stories of those who accomplished much, inspires me to dream big and do the same.
8. It’ll stretch my self-discipline. No doubt, at times, this resolution will require discipline. The best ones always do.
9. It’ll stretch my creativity. New thoughts always stretch our minds to rediscover life in new ways. We begin to see the world differently. And we find new creative solutions because of it.
10. Books lead to greater relationships with the people around us. Books provide great opportunity to improve our existing relationships. Not only do they provide new conversation starters, they offer a new depth to our conversations as well. They encourage us to further pursue their claims within the world and people around us. As a result, they give us opportunity to not just grow in ourselves… but grow in our relationships with others as well.
11. It’ll help me better discern good ideas from bad ideas. One thing’s for sure, there are a lot of different approaches to life and the problems we face. Reading books provides opportunity to better discern what has worked in the past and what has not.
12. There are so many great books left to be read. There are books written to provide wisdom, inspiration, knowledge, and laughter. There is a wealth of life hidden inside of them… all we need to do is take the time to pick them up and read.
Thus far, I am on pace. I have recently completed Every Body Matters and Seven Days in Utopia. I am currently rereading Death by Suburb. And I have another book lined up to read after that. I hesitated a bit writing this post… but I desire the accountability. Putting resolutions out in a public forum encourages our discipline and resolve. It further calls us to pursue our goals as others have the opportunity to track our progress. And that encouragement will be valuable to me throughout.
Lastly, I wanted to encourage you. No doubt, if you read blogs, you are likely a reader already. But if not, there’s no better time to start than today. And while 52 books is a challenge that I believe fits into my life at this exact moment in time, you may find greater encouragement in reading 26 or 12. But either way, I’d love to have you join me in some way.
I’d also welcome any book recommendation in the comment section below.
Tiffany says
Yay for books! I love reading. I indulged last Sunday night and stayed up reading until 2am. I haven’t done that in years!
Just a suggestion…throw in some of your childhood favorites. They are so great to go back and re-read as an adult.
some of my favorites are:
the poisonwood bible
the tipping point
the happiness project
still alice
a million little pieces (i know, the whole it’s not really a memoir scandal…but i still think it’s a tremendous book with value)
life of pi
where the red fern grows (a childhood favorite!)
jaycee dugard – hard to read, but an amazing story of survival and grace
happy reading :)
Kateri says
I certainly could list a few favorite books I’ve read over the years. Some really stand out though: Where Rivers Change Direction by Mark Spragg, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, Little Britches by Ralph Moody, Saga of a Wayward Sailor by Tristan Jones,On Writing by Stephen King, A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle, The Dangerous River by R M Patterson, More Alaska Bear Tales by Larry Kaniut, Where the Wagon Led by R D Symons, Tomboy Bride by Harriet Fish Backus
Enjoy your adventure!
Vikki says
Please post what you read and what you think about it/how it affected you–I’m sure we all would like to know!
Preston says
I’m very interested in this project and I love the books you’ve chosen. In fact, the biggest issue I would have with following through on this is selecting the next book to read in a timely fashion. Whats your method? Any chance you’d continue to post some/all of your selections?
Chris Peek says
Just think what an expert you will be on various subjects in one year. I’m trying to do something similar – read 26 books in one year.
Some of my favorites include:
The Magic of Thinking Big
How to Win Friends and Influence People (I’m currently reading this with my mastermind group)
Beautiful Outlaw
Linchpin
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
In A Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day
The Art of Nonconformity
Winning with People
Jo@simplybeingmum says
I love The Magic Of Thinking Big. I recently gifted it to a 22 year old I know. I said ‘read this – wish I had when I was your age!’… Think it’s set in the 70’s so it just goes to show that ‘attitude’ is timeless.
Melinda says
The Art of Racing in the Rain.
One Red Paperclip.
Sindhu says
Grace and Grit: Spirituality and Healing in the Life and Death of Treya Killam Wilber
Jo@simplybeingmum says
I was going to download Twilight onto my iPad tonight ((I’ve been indoctrinated by (female) friends who reckon it’s ‘amazing’ – I’m not convinced, but as I haven’t read it who am I to disagree?)). However upon reading this if I can get it I may opt for Death By Suburb – sounds right up my street ;-). I’m more of a non-fiction gal anyway. The only thing is whether it will transfer to UK life… Guess I’d better read it and find out!
Kimberly Jackson says
Beautifully put. This was one of my goals for 2012 as well. So far I have read. The Anatomy of Peace, One City, and The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You. All are brilliant and I would suggest any. I am at this moment reading Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey.
Keep us posted.
Jane says
Would love to recommend ‘The War of Art’ by Steven Pressfield. It’s positively life-changing. Good luck with your resolution!
Jo@simplybeingmum says
Agree – it was very good, even with the really small chapters that threw me a little at first. You know it’s a good read, when after a line you stop and re-read it.