I spend a lot of time on this blog writing about becoming a better communicator. There are two things you can do that make a big difference in how well you communicate with others. One of them is writing more, and I mention this quite a bit. The other thing is reading more. Exposing yourself to other’s words and ideas makes you a more effective and creative person, so today I’m going to suggest types of books to read this year. But first, a little encouragement for those of you who maybe don’t read every day.
“I wish I had time to read a book.”
I hear this all the time, and not just about reading. I’m always surprised when I talk to someone about my hobbies and the other person’s response is, “you’re so lucky to have the spare time to knit/sew/read/etc.” The truth is I have just as much time as anyone else. I just choose to use my time differently. If I’m watching tv, I’m also knitting. When I’m stuck at an appointment, I bring a book. So instead of watching tv one night, read. Listen to audiobooks on your commute if you have to drive. Wake up a little earlier and read a chapter with your morning coffee. You can have the time to read a book, you might just need to get creative with your time management.
So, now that you know you can read a book this year, here are some suggestions about types of books to stretch your reading muscles this year.
A book you read as a teenager.
Did you have a favourite book growing up? Was there a novel you were assigned in high school that stuck with you? Find a copy of that book and re-read it. I recently went back and read a series that I read for the first time when I was 12 or 13. I found that the writing wasn’t always great, and the characters are a bit formulaic, but I was still entertained. The author knew how to take an archetypal fantasy quest and add his own characters and voice, and I appreciated that a lot more having since read many other books in the same genre.
A nonfiction book about a subject that interests you.
Are you a sports fan? Find a book about your favourite team. Are you a movie buff? Read about the making of a movie or a director you enjoy. Are you an amateur historian? Find a time period that interests you and read a book about it. Reading a nonfiction book can be as rewarding, if not more, than reading a novel. You can gain new perspective, learn little-known facts, and become a better conversationalist.
A book by an author you haven’t read before.
Even if you read a lot, you might fall into the rut of always reading books by the same authors. I do this quite a lot; there are certain authors I love and I’m always excited to find they’ve written something new. But it can be such a nice surprise to branch out and discover new authors. Reading a different voice and absorbing new ways of putting together sentences makes you a more well-rounded reader, and it will make you a better writer, too.
A book that inspired a tv show or film.
People often say, “the book was better.” Well, is it? Find a tv show or movie that you enjoyed, and then read the source material. (There is such an abundance of adaptations these days that it should be easy to find one that interests you.) How do they compare? Do you get more insight into characters by reading about them? Are there plot elements that were cut from the tv show, or were new characters added?
It’s true that you need to put in a little more effort reading than passively watching a tv show or a movie. But the work you put in will pay off in so many aspects of your life. So let’s make 2017 the year you become a better reader.