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Plentiful Reading is Within Reach

I read 41 books in 2018, for a total of 13,837 pages. That’s about one and a half books every two weeks.

I read 41 books in 2018, for a total of 13,837 pages. That’s about one and a half books every two weeks. When I tallied up at the end of the year, I was actually a little disappointed in myself – I’d fallen short by about 1,000 pages compared to the year before, despite reading the same number of books. I don’t write the above paragraph to brag. People spend their time in all sorts of fashions. My brother-in-law spends the majority of his leisure time renovating his house and building furniture; I can’t tell the difference between a Phillips and a Robertson screwdriver without looking it up on the Internet. Plenty of people will spend hours this winter with a stick and a puck on the ice, while I can barely skate. I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. It’s my number one pastime. During summer visits at my grandparent’s farm house, one of my cousins would often lose her patience with me, insisting we spend time exploring the property outside while all I wanted to do was stay curled up all afternoon in the La-Z-Boy recliner and turn pages. When people find out the amount I read, they usually follow up with, “How?” Sometimes, that question is accompanied with some form of, “I could never read that much. I’m too busy.” Truthfully, everyone is busy. I’m usually busy. And I’m not a particularly fast reader, either. The way I’m able to read so much is a genuine love of reading that compels me to prioritize it over other activities. Which leads to some practical tips. If, on entering 2019, you set a resolution to read more, I’d recommend striking a balance between carving out intentional reading time and packing in extra pages at every spare moment. My daily routine typically includes two reading periods. I try to get through 10 pages while I eat breakfast in the morning, and I wind down by reading at least 20 pages before I go to bed. I also carry a book pretty much everywhere I go. You’d be surprised how quickly reading a page or two while you stand in line, wait for an appointment or take your lunch break can add up. Of course, frequent reading results in some sacrifices. While I wait for my wife to finish work, I rarely turn on the television. Reading is the priority. Finally, it’s important to remember reading is not a competition – it should be a pleasurable experience. If you’re going to compete with anyone, it should be with yourself in attempt to read more. But don’t sacrifice enjoyment for volume.

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