Last week a reader asked me for reading suggestions because she feels guilty about not reading more, and she heard journalists are a bookish group. She said she reads the newspaper cover to cover each day to make sure she’s up on current events, but feels intimidated about trying to become a better book reader.
I do think journalists read a lot, but probably not more than other professions in which people make their living by words. Anita, my first suggestion is not to be intimidated — there are no right or wrong choices as long as you’re reading something that interests you. The worst mistake I’ve seen would-be readers make is trying to force themselves to read something they’re not interested in because they think they should. Sort of like eating peas if you don’t like peas.
You asked if we tend to read fiction or nonfiction, and…. yes and yes. If I surveyed the newsroom, I suspect reading tastes would be all over the board. I do tend to read mostly nonfiction, primarily because there are a lot of subjects I want to know more about. Then again, my favorite book is fiction (”Watership Down” by Richard Adams).
One great thing about reading is that it can be an expensive hobby (if you like to collect books) or a free one (if you go to the library). And yes, I’ll be glad to send you a list of recent books I’ve read. But my favorites probably won’t all be yours — keep trying different genres until you find those that interest you most, and don’t force yourself to read certain books because you “should.”
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As a young journalist, I love books a lot. I’m often in the middle of five books at any given time. Currently, “Atonement,” “An Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “Eat, Pray, Love” are all within reach.
I would suggest going to a book store and pick up a few books that catch your eye, pop a squat in the coffee shop area and flip pages at leisure. Besides, you don’t have to buy any of them.
I would also suggest that reading can be an inexpensive hobby. Hit a garage sale and pick up a book that’s seen better days for 25 cents or stop by a used book shop. Amazon.com and Half.com have a wide variety for at a lower price and the books show up in your mailbox a few days later.
It’s those that feel they no longer have time to read the morning paper that is concerning. That Brent D. Wistrom will now learn video, in addition to covering the city, county and school board, reveals the direction print is having to take.
Many feel they only have time for short headlines fast. Short stories easily allow the reader to mis- presume situations and make wrongheaded evaluations.
NotDot — great suggestion on the garage sales. I’ve picked up books that way, too, and it’s a great idea. Same with browsing at a bookstore, which I can do for hours. I’m not good at having multiple books going at once, though, and good for you that you can do that. I tend to read one or two at a time and finish those before moving on. I read “Eat, Pray, Love” last month and thoroughly enjoyed it.
And Lonny, I agree that it’s disturbing when people say they don’t have time to read the paper. Staying in touch with news seems like the most fundamental reading we should do. I worry that the love of reading is diminishing with today’s lifestyle of being incessantly on the move.