Reading is like, dope bro. There are two things that really stand in the way of prodigious book consumption for me though.
The first is that I’m a slow reader. I suppose I could work on learning to read more quickly, but here we are. Fortunately, my slow reading is accompanied by pretty good retention. Second, I just can’t make as much time for leisurely reading as I’d like. Between 40 hours of work per week, 6 hours of class, several hours of homework, exercise most days quality time with my wife, cooking and eating, and chores, there is just aren’t huge swaths of time leftover for reading (if there are any college profs out there in the mood to share their secrets, I'm all ears). Luckily, I’ve recently begun listening to audiobooks.* This has helped me chip away at a long list of books I might otherwise never make it to. All that being said, below is my list of books I intend to read and listen to this year, along with a brief description. The Civil War, Shelby Foote. Last year, I read Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, an 800 page single volume chronicle of the Civil War. It was excellent! But I found after reading it that I still didn’t know as much about the narrative of the war as I’d hope to. It’s extremely difficult to keep up with generals, campaigns, locations, etc. And reading one book once just didn’t suffice. So I’ve picked up Foote’s 3 volume tome of the Civil War. Each book is approximately 1,000 pages, so it’s quite a bit more thorough. It’s been fantastic, though I don’t recommend reading it in any form unless you’re truly dedicated. Story of a Soul, St. Therese of Lisieux. I first read Therese’ biography back in college. Without a doubt the most fiercely joyful soul I’ve ever encountered. This is a book nobody should go through life without reading. The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky. So many people who I respect consider this an all time great, providing immeasurable insight into the human condition. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson. I’ve always been fascinated with English Literature from this era, and this story in particular. Citizens, Simon Schama. I’ve been on a history kick for a while now, and this is apparently a well-regard account of the French Revolution. The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton. GKC is one of the most fascinating writers and thinkers I’ve ever encountered. This is his account of history, as understood with Christ as the lens through which it can be understood. 1984, George Orwell. I tried reading it once and quit because it was too depressing. Many people say fiction has greater insights into the way of the world than non-fiction. I’m inclined to agree. Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer. Just wrapping this one up. And incredible account of a disaster on Mount Everest. The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman. One of the key books discussing WWI, Tuchman goes in depth describing the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton. Perhaps his most famous book. I haven’t read it in a few years and it’s time for a refresher. To Hell on a Fast Horse, Mark Lee Gardner. More or less a biography on Billie the Kid, one of the Wild West’s most (in)famous outlaws. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey. Another one I’ve got to reread. This is the best “self-help” book I’ve ever picked up. If that gives you an idea of the sorts of things I like to read, maybe you would feel comfortable suggesting something else for me to add to my list! Thanks for making it this far! Peace. *I believe that listening to a book is a fundamentally less fruitful form of information consumption than reading a book is. It's like going for a run versus going for a walk: both are good, and one is more difficult and more beneficial than the other. But that’s an argument for another time.
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Nick MartinMy name is Nick Martin. I write sometimes. These are my thoughts. Archives
July 2021
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