By now—being April—I would’ve typically read about 16 books.

For the last four years or so, I’ve got into the habit of reading 2-3 books every week. I enjoyed it I guess, but I found out that I was reading more for the sake of it.

I found myself struggling to find out what I’d read next and would choose books just because someone else said it was “good.”

News flash. Just because a book is a great read for someone else doesn’t mean it will be for you.

So this year I made a decision to be a little more conscious about my reading choices.

In other words, I decided to quit my old reading habits.

And so, being four months into the year, I’ve only read five books.

That’s almost a 70% drop from what I’m used to.

I’ve decided to only read books I know I’ll like. To read books like biographies and get into fiction more.

Because I’ve found that one of the biggest wastes of time is reading a book for a week that you never cared about in the first place.

But I wanted to share this with you because for all those readers out there, I think sometimes we get caught up in trying to meet our quota for the month or year just to say to ourselves, “I did it.”

Trust me, I’ve been there.

And as the years have gone by, I’ve realized that being an avid reader isn’t about how many books you can read. It’s simply about being someone who enjoys reading and can immerse themselves in the book in front of them.

Besides, the average American reads like 1.3 books a year. So as long as you read two this year, I’d say you’re ahead of the game.

But again, it’s not about impressing others or showing off your overflowing bookcase—which I know I’ll regret having when it’s time to move—it’s about reading what you know you love and being happy with just that.

Life is too short to read something you don’t care about. Be more selective. Be more conscious of what you choose. And don’t be afraid to read that 1,000+ page book that will take you months to read. I know I was.

And if it’s a money thing or you can’t find any to borrow from your local library, don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly and I’ll be happy to send it to you. Most likely I’ll have what you’re looking for.

If anything, you’re doing me a favor.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m now re-reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. The classic text on manifestation and how to channel your faith towards the eventual attainment of your goals.

Quote Of The Week - “I don’t count my sit-ups; I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count.” — Muhammad Ali