Reading a book can be an achievement. With so much trying to attract our attention, there is something very satisfying about finishing a good book. As with everything else, we can get more pleasure if we think a little more about it.
Finding a book that you don’t want to put down is the goal. Don’t work through books you don’t enjoy or learn from. Here are some suggestions on what you might enjoy reading this summer.
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The first suggestion isn’t a book at all. In this global world we all suffer from information overload. We must all decide on how we get our news. It is important to choose a news outlet that doesn’t just tell us what we want to hear, but that tells the news that interest us in a nuanced way.
The Economist offers an analytical take on the world’s events. Their weekly format allows you get a perspective on the most important stories and events. Furthermore it is available in an audio version so you can listen to the news.
Whichever newspaper you choose to read, it has to be well balanced and interesting to you. For most people there is no reason to be extremely informed about news, but a weekly overview is valuable and interesting.
“No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.“ - Mary Wortley Montagu
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Secondly we suggest you read books purely for pleasure. Films and series are easier to be entertained by because you can just sit and watch. With books you have to imagine the whole world you are reading about. This makes it harder but also more rewarding.
The quality of these books is very subjective, so invest a little time in finding what you like the most.
An example of such literature is the books by Conn Iggulden in Genghis Khan called the “Conqueror Series”. The 5 books describe the rise of the enormous Mongolian empire by the extraordinary boy and man who conquered with horse and bow.
The author Conn Iggulden has a talent for filling in the unknown gaps in history with convincing personal stories about historical figures like Genghis Khan and Julius Cesar. The books are a treasure for anyone who likes strategy, bravery and thrilling stories.
Thirdly, “The 4 hour workweek” might change your life. Timothy Ferriss writes about how you can focus your work time on the most important tasks and gain more freedom. His goal is a life where you are free to live how and where you want and to do what excites you.
The book will be useful for everyone, from people who want to spend more time with their family to people who want to move to their dream location and live a vacation.
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Lastly, perhaps you already have something on your bookshelf that you want to read. Before buying the next book, perhaps there is a literary treasure bought by your past self long ago.
The Japanese concept of Tsundoku explains the pleasure of buying books and having an arsenal of interesting reading material in your bookshelf. Imagine the comfort and confidence in knowing you will never be bored with such lovely books.