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01 January 2012

I am getting insecure about my lack of well-read-ness. Plus I'm too old to be insecure about silly things but still. I have to address this in a constructive way[More:]

Rule #1: Whatever you are is ok! So I haven't read that many books in my life. Whatevs. Sue me.

Rule #2: Motivation should be internal! This is a given here, I do want to read and know about more stuff, specifically (in terms of non-fiction) understanding where ideas come from and what happened in the past and (in terms of fiction) just what's out there in the canon

Rule #3: Nothing changes until something changes! So I need to do something different. I have books, I have access to other books, I buy books, so that thing is okay. What I need to do is read them. So I need to reclaim procrastination / reading nonsense on the internet time and spend it on reading published stuff instead. Let's say at least 1hr a day and focus on a couple books at a time

Rule #4: Retention! I'm not really sure what to do about this one. I forget a lot of stuff I read or otherwise find out about (eg audio etc.) I think part of it is just natural interest--I remember plot twists and long quotes from R&J, not those in Othello--but when it comes to events, people and other nonfiction stuff like that I'm not sure. Literal notetaking might make it too boring. Will have to see.
I know another Mefite who is resolving to read more books.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 01 January | 14:42
Nice. I have decided to cold turkey quit from a forum (no not mefi) which I think will free up a lot of time that the guy in that link counts under "arguing for arguing's sake" etc. Mefi is manageable for me these days cause I've found I can handle reading bits and pieces of it, even posting, without checking in and furiously refreshing every day

This reminds me of something though... especially reading his desire to not click memes etc. which I disdain and never do.. which is that I've began to notice that a lot of 'enthusiast' information is essentially gossip information. Even with really highbrow stuff (political news, articles in literate magazines, whatever) a lot of the chatter that goes on is just like a drug for the mind. Unless I'm actually learning something or changing something--don't read, don't engage.

There's always a 'space' for gossip as a--what people call in India a 'time pass'--of course but at least be cognizant that this is just background noise, entertainment
posted by Firas 01 January | 14:54
Don't worry about #4. No one will come after you with a quiz.
posted by JanetLand 01 January | 15:01
JL I meant for my own self though. It's funny cause there's some things about the history of ideas I totally remember--what was Thomas Hobbes or John Locke's basic idea? And there are some things that totally escape me every time--how did Alexander Hamilton disagree with Thomas Jefferson? I have no bleeping idea, something about a central bank maybe. What bothers me more though is something like reading about African civil wars or famous court cases etc. and later not knowing anything about them. Like I might as well have not read about it at all. I think the reading more thing will help though cause reading a summary in a textbook is one thing but when you read chapters and chapters about the same thing you finally place it as a distinct event or concept in your head that can get refreshed when needed
posted by Firas 01 January | 15:10
Yeah, don't worry about 4. I'm a voracious reader who majored in literature, and my retemtion of plot and character detail is crap. It doesn't matter. I remember the mood of a book, its ethos, but I can't rhapsodize about the scene where Clarissa drops the violet envlope and rushes through the begonia patch, because I don't remember that kind of stuff. It's not the most important part of reading.

The biggest thing that cuts into the reading of books and other long pieces is the internet. Hands down.
posted by Miko 01 January | 18:09
#3 can be solved by removing time sucks from your life. I don't suggest this works for everyone but I read because I have no tv and to use the compter with the internet means dialup speed tethered through my phone or reading on the ity bity screen.

#4 retention: I think it's correct that the more you read about a subject the more easily you place it in your mind in a useful manner. I enjoy biographies of do-ers. Many of the books I've read recently are about FDR and his era. Therefore I feel more familiar with knowledge about WWII and that era.
I also bet it helps to branch out from a place with which you're familiar so there's an easier way of organizing / retrieving the info.

But, the older I become the more I read just for fun.
posted by mightshould 01 January | 20:00
Well, of course, reading can enrich you as a person. It's certainly an admirable goal (what else would an English teacher say?). It does involve a good deal of solitude, though. I love to read, but I'm lazy and not good with solitude (though it's how I'm most comfortable); I tend to fill all silence with TV. If, unlike me, you're the social type, maybe read with a partner or a small reading group of friends and/or family. A Continuing Ed class could be good motivation, too. Helps to have deadlines/schedules. Anyway, enjoy. And, like you already concluded, don't worry about the judgments of others; most people in discussion forums are just repeating the ideas of others. And outside that environment, nobody cares.

Any particular books or authors you're interested in, other than nonfiction and philosophy (I'd stay away from the latter if you're prone to any manic episodes; you could end up writing on walls.). New York Times is great to keep generally informed, I find.
posted by Pips 02 January | 17:25
Huge reader here. I think of reading as a treat. I tend to read nonfiction on topics that interest me, and actually US history is one of those.

NO ONE has awesome recall of all they've read. Things stick randomly. But more things cohere together when you understand context more, and reading helps to provide lots of context.

The real secret to reading is, of course, time with your nose in a book (or listening to an audio book) with minimal other distractions. E.g., TV off, no breaks to look at a computer screen. Just you, your book, and maybe a nice cup of tea and a warm animal on your lap or feet.

Most importantly, read what you want. Not what you think you should.

Book clubs can be fun too. We have an upcoming discussion on MeCha on January 20 of Edward P. Jones' The Known World (and accompanying lectures by Yale Prof. Amy Hungerford.) Then there is ONE book remaining in the Open Yale syllabus we are tracking -- and then we will open it up to reading whatever we decide to read. So, maybe join us?
posted by bearwife 03 January | 12:59
A 3D model || So does anyone make NY resolutions?

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