I find great enjoyment and personal growth in reading every day. I am not a fast reader. I tend to take my time with my books, and I really try to apply what I am learning.
I am including a list of the books I read in 2022 in this post, but first some thoughts on reading:
Reflecting on my reading for last year I have three takeaways:
- First, I would like to read more fiction. I think we all need a story in our head. We need a diversion from the seriousness and busyness of life. We need to see there are problems bigger than what we are facing. We need to be inspired. I only read one piece of fiction last year. I will do better.
- Next, reading a lot is NOT the goal. I am not trying to read for mileage, but for enjoyment and to learn. If I can read more, wonderful! It’s not a competition. One book can change a life. I want to read those books. I want to write those books.
- Finally, I resolve to mix up and diversify my reading for this year. I read too much in the same categories, same authors, and my reading is pretty predictable. I did a little better on this last year, but I hope to discover some gems outside my wheelhouse of reading.
Five things I read reach day: Click to Read More
- The Bible: I read a piece of The New Testament or Old Testament each day. Sometimes it’s from a physical Bible, often I use the Bible App. I am a man of faith in a time when being so is not only unpopular, but perhaps looked down upon. I find the wisdom and love from the Bible the center from which I view the world and act upon it, so I need to grow here each day.
- The Daily Stoic: I read one page of Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance and The Art of Living. They are short and helpful. I have been doing this for six years or more. This has been very helpful to how I think and improving my thinking and living. I read this on the Kindle App so it is everywhere I am with my iPhone and iPad.
- The Daily Laws: I read one page of Robert Greene’s the Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy and Human Nature. I just started this a few months ago. Really different from what I typically read and how I think. Very helpful. I read this on the Kindle App so it is everywhere I am with my iPhone and iPad.
- Kindle and Physical book. I read something from a physical and digital book every day. One of my favorite quotes is, “Always have a good book near you,” so I always have a book on my phone/iPad, near my bed, in my car, and in my messenger bag. You can see the list below of the books I read last year and follow my blog and social media to learn what I am reading this year, or just message me. I keep a physical book by my bed, it’s easy access and helps me wind down for the night. I try not to do any digital reading three hours before bed.
- Audible: I listen to a piece of an Audible book during my commute each day. What a great brain break! I am an over thinker, and if I don’t have a book playing, I can really create some crazy scenarios in my head. You can get an Audible subscription by clicking here. My commute is only sixteen minutes, but you should be surprised how much you can listen to by the end of the week.
Reading is one of the daily habits that I check-off in my habit tracker in my journal.
I highlight and write in the books I read. I share out discoveries and screenshots on social media. I record major takeaways and pieces I want to apply in my journal.
In 2022 I read the following books:
I also read some ebooks, articles, blogs, and pieces from books people sent me in preparation for my podcast, which I do not count. (Unless it is a book I was sent that I actually finish.) I also have a habit of picking up books I have read before and re-reading pieces of it.
Pocket is an app I use for collecting and organizing what I find online that I want to read later. Someone may tweet something that I don’t have time to read now. I save articles I find onTwitter and the web to an app called Pocket, and I read through these on Sunday. Sometimes what seemed really important on Wednesday no longer held my interest by Sunday and just gets deleted.
I try to make certain that my time reading each day is longer than my social media usage. I wish that were always true, but I get suckered in too. I don’t watch much television, but I do have a few favorite series I enjoy with my wife.
At the end of each of my Wired Educator Podcast interview, I ask the guest that I interview, “What is one of the most influential books you have ever read?” I get a lot of great ideas from these brilliant people. I also ask this of people I meet, admire, and it has even become an interview question in our district.
I am inspired by my friends who are amazing readers and are always giving me book titles. I enjoy talking books with everyone. I hope a title or two on this list jumped out at you as a possibility, and I hope some of the ways I tackle my reading may help you with your reading. Please share some of your favorite titles and reading strategies in the comments below.
Always forward,
Kelly
Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.
Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
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Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
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