The idea of committing to reading a book generally terrifies me. One short film and a little introspection later, though... I have a path forward!
I'm beyond embarrassed by the number of books on my Kindle whose pages have yet to see the light of day. Physical books on my shelf sit half–or entirely–unread. It's a sad state of literary affairs over here.
I'm not alone in this struggle, but a recent short-film-slash-documentary called Bookstores gave me hope, and it reminded me of what I had loved about reading when it was a more significant part of my life.
Aside from reminding me—and romanticizing—how lovely books and bookstores can be, this film breaks down the math around how little time needs to be pulled from your days to make meaningful progress. Better yet? Some methods will speed up your reading and make it more enjoyable! This was huge for me.
Clocking in at around 40 minutes long, it's a small investment for some — I broke it up over a few viewings. Don't let the length be a deterrent. It's ultimately time well spent. ↓
With any luck, this inspires at least a few other people to set aside small chunks of time in their day to read. Thirty minutes isn't that much to ask and can add up in the long run.
Go forth and appreciate your friendly neighborhood bookstore
They are dying out. Pieces and places of history are being lost, and we need to continue our efforts to keep these stores around.
Owners and employees of the smaller shops are often beneficial, as you'd expect when looking for something new. Or old. More often than not, they genuinely love what they do. (They sure aren't doing it for the lavish 💰🎉 lifestyle independent bookstore owners are known to lead.)
Sure, Amazon is better than nothing. They're sure as hell convenient (I've ordered something north of 80 books on my Kindle, so I'm no saint.) Barns & Noble is the Starbucks of bookstores, and they're ok too. Reading is the ultimate goal here, but seeking out and supporting independent bookstores along your journey will seriously help an industry deserving of some love. I think you'll find the effort rewarding.