The Art of Reading
- Haeri Jung
- Feb 20, 2017
- 3 min read
Couple of days ago, I met up with several of my friends and one of them asked, "How do you have the time to read?". I was a bit confused because I am an avid reader. Who doesn't like reading? But I understood their reasons as the conversation went on. They don't have time to read while working full-time jobs, attending church, maintaining their friendships/relationships, volunteering, and simply just being tired. There were tons of reasons not to read.
I know it's hard to change a person. It takes discipline and their own desire to do something as reading on a daily basis. Therefore, if you are serious about reading, take my advice on the art of reading. If not, simply enjoy the life of not reading. Nothing wrong with that.
1. Find a book you REALLY want to read
For real. Don't just pick up a book because someone said so or it's won prizes. I love my best friend. She reads a lot too. We recommend books to each other all the time. I trust her. But do I read all the books she says it's amazing and vice versa? No! Because we have different interests. I am intrigued by things that are completely different from her. We resonate with different things. Therefore, take the time to research the book you are going to read. If I'm going to spend my precious time filling my brain with new information, I'm not JUST going to read a book. I'm going to find the most amazing book out there to satisfy my desire to learn and have an emotional, soul wrenching connection with. I spend a lot of time browsing through list of books on different websites, blogs and bookstores to find my treasure.
2. The chemistry
The next question would be, so how do you find a connection with a book? It's not even physically alive. Well, this takes a tremendous amount of trial and error. You'll have to read a lot of books. The irony.
For example, I've always been interested in sex. Not just the act of it but why people do it, societal norms, sexual behaviors, love, etc. After weeks of reading about issues surrounding sex and getting disappointed, I found this book called Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape by Peggy Orenstein. It's a giant, pink book. It was kind of embarrassing to read at the airport while I waited to board my plane for work, but I had such a connection with it. I have friends, and myself including, who are going through complications of being a woman. Losing her virginity or not losing her virginity, coming out as gay, healing from rape, questioning consent, and having distorted images of ourselves as a woman. By reading this book, I had a better understanding about myself, the problems as a society, and explanations to the obstacles of being a woman. I had a bond with this book because the issues raised in this book mattered to me. How can you not read that?!
3. Audio Books
If you don't have time, multitask. Amazon offers free 30 day trial on audio books. Listen to the book while you work out or on your commute to work. But this won't work until you find a book you really want to listen to.
4. My space
Find your space to read. Fortunately, I have a flexible schedule that allows me to go to hipster cafes and read. I can't read anywhere though. My reading space has to have delicious black coffee, mumbling noises, and a cute barista. Just kidding about the cute barista but it's a plus when there is one. :)
5. Drop it like it's hot and move on
It's okay to not finish a book. If you find the book boring halfway through, drop it like it's hot and move on. Some people get so fixated on finishing a book that they don't even enjoy. What's the point of reading when you don't get anything out of it but hatred? A lot of people stop reading overall because they have a bad experience with reading. It's boring. It's tedious. BECAUSE YOU ARE READING THE WRONG BOOK. So don't get discouraged. Drop it. Move on. You'll find your book one day.
Reading for me became so valuable after graduating from a university. I am no longer in an institution that forces me to read, write essays, or learn. It's so easy not to fuel myself. I still have a lot of work and reading to do, but reading helped me understand. Truly understand this crazy, not so black and white world. Hopefully after reading this, you are researching the book you will enjoy and appreciate the art of reading.
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