How many books do you read in a year?
Did you know that your answer could impact your creativity, your paycheck, and your health?
The Stats are Astounding
- 49% of adults don’t read a book after graduating
- Many adults spend 3 or 4 hours a day watching TV and only 20 minutes reading
- Employers rank reading and writing as top deficiencies in new hires
READ and SUCCEED!
This is your brain calling! I’m shrinking and loosing power by the minute. Soon I won’t be able to remember where I put the remote!
- Proficient readers are 2.5 times as likely to earn $850 or more a week
- Proficient readers are 3 times as likely to earn $1950 or more a week
Those who read an hour every single day are more likely to:
- Visit art museums, plays, musicals, and concerts
- Create photographs, paintings, or writings
- Attend sporting events
- Play sports and exercise
- Do outdoor activities
So if you want to earn more, be healthier, and be more creative: READ (MORE)!
FREE Resources – No Excuses
Never before has reading been more accessible. If you have a smart phone, a computer, e-reader, a car, or even two working legs (to walk to the library) – you can access books for FREE!!!!!!
- Public Library – has so much to offer. Where else can you take something home, use it for several weeks and then bring it back – all for free!
- Dailylit.com – for those addicted to email and who can’t seem to find the time to get a book and read, you can get a book sent to you by email in snippets. Before you know it you’ve read a book, experienced poetry, and expanded your mind!
- Digital Inspiration – a tech blog that lives up to it’s name – and this post will show you how to find ebooks everywhere for free!
Challenge:
Don’t get me wrong. I love a good movie; am a Doctor Who fan, and watch Bloomberg West regularly. I read blogs and discover rare creativity everywhere on the web. But I also know I can do better. I know that I can trade an hour of TV for an hour of reading every day and I will be happier and more successful as a result.
Won’t you join me in this challenge? Here are a few suggestions, select one and make a commitment for the next month:
- If you don’t read any books – read one book of any type this month
- If you read only for work – read one book for pleasure this month
- If you read often (12 books or more a year) – share your favorite with a friend that doesn’t read often
- If you don’t read daily – read for one hour each day
- If you don’t like to read books – join dailylit.com and get an email every day – and read a book by email!
The more we all read, the more productive, creative, and successful we all are and the better the economy and our communities!
(statistics source: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Report: To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence).Update
Since the initial posting, I have discovered that the Library of Congress is beginning a multi-year celebration of The books That Shaped America. What a great source to start your challenge of reading more – and more often. Enjoy!
Another Update
I continue to discover reading lists – just in case you don’t know where to start. Here’s a list from PBS and The Great American Read Conducted in 2018.
There’s also a new 2017 report from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts available here.
Why not lose yourself in a good book this evening?
Hi Linda
I have found your recommendations to be worth following in the past, so have just ordered a couple of Mark Levy´s books and one which I discovered by accident because the author has a similar name – Mark Stephen Levy´s book OVERLAND. I have no idea whether it is any good but it includes travel and a strong “people” element, which I normally prefer to books about transport (the technical side, death and destruction), which my husband goes for!
Happy reading!
Jenny
Great to hear from you, Jenny!
Thanks for the recommendations. I love the idea of accidental discovery.
Thanks for visiting and sharing!
~Linda
Hi Linda,
Thanks for this article….This is very encouraging…I am always a contemporary reader with various interest. Reading Quantum mechanics or philosophy is really fun..Since last few months I spent more time time watching TV or social networking sites.But your article really encourages me to read for pleasure…
Andy,
It is great that you have varied interest in reading topics! What I love about reading different types of works is it provides me with a different perspective. I can always use that awareness in conversations with clients or in casual conversations. it is a great way to connect to other people.
So glad you stopped by!
~Linda
This article is fantastic!! I was actually looking for some book recommendations for this specific reason! Does anyone have any??
I’ve been wanting a better job for a while now and I agree, the more you read the more on top of your game you are! I hope you don’t mind but a friend lent me a book she just read called “How to Avoid the Common Failure” by Michael Horton. You can find out more on his website http://www.hortonadvantedge.com and you can pick up the book at http://www.gettothepointbooks.com. She highly recommends doing both. It’s a great reference and motivational book to really give you a push in the right direction! Thanks again for a great read!
Thanks so much for the recommendations! I will absolutely have to check them out!