What do you read, and why?
Explore today’s reflection, then leave a comment to join this dialogue about reading. And don’t forget to check out today’s writing prompt at the bottom of the post. [From the Archive.]
What are you reading? How often do you alter what you’re reading? And do you know why you read what you read? In other words: Are you intentional when you read?
I can’t remember who originally said it, but there is this well-known adage that goes: If you only read what everyone else is reading, then you’ll only think what everyone else is thinking. I believe this to be true, for the most part, but don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing. At least, not all the time.
I do think there is value in reading Classics and popular books, as doing so will allow you to know what a lot of people have learned and are currently preoccupied with and concerned about, to a certain extent. It will keep you connected to pop culture and literary trends and current affairs and historical events and colloquialisms, etc. And this can help you remain connected to a lot of people from the past and present, as well as the broader world around you… as long as you're careful not to slip into patterns of groupthink or pretentiousness, and still read other things that you find interesting and valuable on your own that may not be as widely renowned or popular.
Read some of the same books everyone else is reading, but don’t be afraid to read other things you find interesting too, because what you read and pay attention to will influence what is at the top of your mind and what you care about, as well as what you want to write about and talk about. I can’t think of anything more important to be intentional about than what we read, especially since we now live in an attention economy. What we pay attention to and read means something nowadays, if not everything. Which reminds me of another adage: You are what you pay attention to.
It’s very important to consider what you’re paying attention to, especially when you read. And it’s important to question what you're reading and why you're reading it, as often as possible.
Are you reading and paying attention to new releases? Best-sellers? Classics? Literature? Award-winners? Indie publications? Mysteries? Thrillers? Political memoirs? Rom-coms? Dystopian fiction? … Why?
These questions are important to ask from time to time if you value where your attention is going and why, and how it may or may not be affecting you, your beliefs and habits, and the life you lead.
These questions are not intended to shame or pressure you into reading certain things. In fact, I hope they have the opposite effect, especially since most of us have already experienced pressure to read things we didn't really want to read while we were in school. I just hope this post serves as an exercise worth doing, to ensure as many readers as possible are intentional with what they read and pay attention to moving forward…
[I will likely add to this post in the future.]
What are your thoughts on this topic? Leave a comment to join this dialogue, then share this post with others so they can join this dialogue too.
Want to express your appreciation for this particular post?
Buy me a coffee one time, or become a free or paid monthly suscriber for less than the cost of a cofee. Please and thank you! My writing and I are fueled by loyal readers, caffeine, and kind gestures.
© All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
You may also enjoy:
Today’s Writing Prompt
Writing Prompt: Victory
Write a scene in which there is a victory being celebrated.
Writing Tip
Before you begin writing, consider: Who is victorious? Over what or whom? Where? And how are they celebrating their victory?
Be sure to share what you write for any of the daily writing prompts in a subscriber chat thread so we can read and discuss what you wrote.
