I'd Rather Be Reading

1. Reading is a deeply personal and transformative experience.

Books help make us who we are, and they make us better people.

Individual connection. Reading is not merely a passive activity but an active engagement that shapes our thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. The connection we form with books is unique and deeply personal, influencing our understanding of the world and our place within it.

• Books can challenge our beliefs, broaden our horizons, and inspire us to become better versions of ourselves.
• The impact of a book varies from person to person, depending on their individual experiences, values, and emotional state.

Beyond entertainment. Reading transcends mere entertainment; it's a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Through books, we explore different cultures, time periods, and perspectives, fostering empathy and understanding.

• Books can provide solace during difficult times, offering comfort, guidance, and a sense of connection.
• They can also ignite our imagination, sparking creativity and inspiring us to pursue our passions.

Lifelong journey. The transformative power of reading is a lifelong process, evolving as we grow and change. Each book we read adds another layer to our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, shaping our character and influencing our decisions.

• Reading is a continuous journey of learning, discovery, and personal evolution.
• It's a gift that enriches our lives and empowers us to become more informed, compassionate, and engaged citizens.

2. Books often find us at the right time, offering unexpected guidance.

Anne believes books find their way to you when you need them.

Serendipitous encounters. Sometimes, the books we need most appear in our lives unexpectedly, offering guidance, comfort, or inspiration at just the right moment. These serendipitous encounters can feel like a special kind of grace, providing exactly what we need when we need it most.

• A book recommended by a friend, a title discovered on a remainder table, or a forgotten volume on our own shelves can hold the key to unlocking a new understanding or overcoming a personal challenge.
• Paying attention to subtle hints and unexpected recommendations can lead us to the books that are meant to be part of our journey.

Timely wisdom. The right book at the right time can offer profound insights and practical advice, helping us navigate difficult situations or make important decisions. These books may seem random when we choose them, but their relevance becomes clear as we delve into their pages.

• A book about living right and living well can provide solace and guidance during times of crisis.
• A book on negotiation can offer practical strategies for navigating complex situations in our personal or professional lives.

Mysterious ways. Books move in mysterious ways, and it's often beneficial to pay attention to subtle hints and unexpected recommendations. Sometimes, a book seeks us out, rather than the other way around, and it's okay to reshuffle our reading list and go with it.

• Trusting our intuition and being open to unexpected literary encounters can lead us to the books that are meant to be part of our story.
• These books can offer a special kind of grace, providing exactly what we need when we need it most.

3. Great books evoke a wide range of emotions, including heartbreak.

The best books move you, drawing out the full range of emotions from the reader, and sometimes that includes breaking your heart.

Emotional connection. The best books have the power to move us deeply, drawing out a full range of emotions, from joy and laughter to sadness and grief. This emotional connection is what makes reading such a transformative and meaningful experience.

• Books can make us feel the loss of what could have been, grieve with fictional characters, and experience the pain of unfulfilled dreams.
• They can also validate our own experiences, offering comfort and understanding during difficult times.

Tearjerkers. Some books are known for their ability to evoke tears, and readers often seek out these titles when they're in the mood for a good cry. These tearjerkers can provide a cathartic release, allowing us to process our emotions and connect with our own humanity.

• Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, and Bridge to Terabithia are classic examples of books that have been known to make readers weep.
• Even history books can evoke tears, as they remind us of the tragedies and injustices of the past.

Earned tears. It's not easy to earn a reader's tears, and when an author writes well enough to do so, it's a sign of their skill and artistry. These books stay with us long after we've finished reading them, shaping our perspectives and enriching our lives.

• A book that makes us laugh and sob almost simultaneously is a rare and precious find.
• If an author writes well enough to earn our tears, we're in.

4. Proximity to a library shapes a reader's life and habits.

That little house next door to the library is where I grew up as a reader, where I came into my own as one.

Convenience and access. Living near a library makes it easier to incorporate reading into daily life. The convenience of being able to pop next door for a new book, attend story times, or simply escape for a few minutes of quiet time can have a profound impact on our reading habits.

• The library becomes an extension of the home, a place where we can explore new worlds, discover new ideas, and connect with our community.
• It's easy to pop next door, so we do—sometimes multiple times a day.

Family affair. The library can become a central part of family life, a place where children develop a love of reading and parents find support and resources. Regular visits to the library can create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds.

• The library becomes part of their daily lives as well.
• We were there so often the librarians joked about making me a name tag.

Lasting impact. The experience of living near a library can shape us as readers and as people. The memories of those early years, spent surrounded by books and immersed in stories, can stay with us long after we've moved away.

• That little house next door to the library is where I grew up as a reader, where I came into my own as one.
• It's where I read literally thousands of books.

5. Being "hooked" on a story is a pivotal moment for readers.

For the first time, I was hooked on the story.

Captivating narratives. There's a distinct difference between liking to read and being truly captivated by a story. The moment we become "hooked" on a book is a pivotal one, marking a shift in our relationship with reading.

• It's the moment when we can't put the book down, when we stay up late into the night to find out what happens next, when we become fully immersed in the world of the story.
• This experience makes us understand what a good book can do, why some people love to read.

Personal connection. The book that hooks us is often one that resonates with us on a personal level, speaking to our own experiences, values, or aspirations. It's a book that we connect with deeply, that makes us feel understood and seen.

• It's the first book I finished under the covers with a flashlight at 2:00 a.m. because I couldn’t put it down.
• The book had a hold on me and wouldn’t let go.

Lifelong love. The experience of being hooked on a story can ignite a lifelong love of reading, transforming it from a chore or a pastime into a passion. It's the moment when we decide, for ourselves, to make reading a part of our life, forever.

• Can every devoted reader point back to the book that hooked them on the story?
• Not a book they appreciate, or grudgingly respect, but the one that captivated them.

6. Our reading circles influence our literary tastes and discoveries.

Friendship . . . is born at the moment when one man says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’

Shared experiences. Our reading tastes are often shaped by the people we surround ourselves with. Friends, family, and fellow book lovers can introduce us to new authors, genres, and perspectives, expanding our literary horizons.

• Sharing our reading experiences with others can deepen our appreciation for books and create a sense of community.
• Keep confessing to your fellow readers; tell them what your reading life is really like.

Book envy. Bookshelf envy, the desire to read the books that others are reading, can be a powerful motivator for expanding our literary horizons. Seeing what others are reading can inspire us to try new genres, explore different authors, and challenge our own preconceived notions about what we like to read.

• Reorganizing my shelves has changed the way I think about books and the people who write them.
• Here on these shelves I’ve gathered my own inner circle: the books I feel closest to, the people who matter to me.

Inner circle. Creating a "friends and family" shelf on our bookshelves can be a way to honor the people who have influenced our reading tastes and to surround ourselves with the books that matter most to us. This shelf can include books by friends, family members, authors we admire, or even fictional characters we feel a connection with.

• Here on these shelves I’ve gathered my own inner circle: the books I feel closest to, the people who matter to me.
• It's the books I feel closest to, the people who matter to me.

7. Life imitates art, enriching our experiences through literature.

If my real life reminds me of something I read in a book, I’m reading well—and I’m probably living well, too.

Vicarious experiences. Books allow us to step into other worlds, experience different cultures, and explore new ideas, all from the comfort of our own chairs. This vicarious experience can enrich our lives, broadening our perspectives and fostering empathy.

• A good book allows me to step into another world, to experience people and places and situations foreign to my own day-to-day existence.
• I love experiencing the new, the novel, the otherwise impossible—especially when I can do it from my own comfy chair.

Framing reality. Books can provide a framework for understanding and processing real-life experiences. By encountering situations and emotions on the page, we can better prepare ourselves for similar challenges in our own lives.

• Our books frame the scenes for us so we can better understand and experience what’s happening when it happens to us.
• Whether that’s transitioning to a new line of work, or grieving an unexpected loss, or vacationing in Tuscany.

Meaningful connections. When our real life reminds us of something we've read in a book, it's a sign that we're reading well and living well. It means that we're connecting with the stories we read on a deeper level, allowing them to shape our understanding of the world and our place within it.

• What I’ve come to learn is this: if my real life reminds me of something I read in a book, I’m reading well—and I’m probably living well, too.
• It called back a special moment I had already experienced through art, and it didn’t make it less meaningful.

8. Organizing bookshelves is a personal and ever-evolving process.

You’re a reader; your hobby is organizing your bookshelves.

Personal expression. How we organize our bookshelves is a reflection of our personal tastes, values, and reading habits. There's no right or wrong way to do it; the key is to find a system that works for us and that brings us joy.

• Alphabetical order, Dewey Decimal System, color-coding, or organizing by Trivial Pursuit category are all valid options.
• Stay open to possibility; you’ll change your system soon enough.

Dust jacket debate. The decision of whether to keep or remove dust jackets is a personal one, with strong opinions on both sides. Some readers value the design and protection that dust jackets provide, while others find them cumbersome and prefer the clean look of the bare book.

• Develop strong feelings about dust jackets.
• Leave dust jackets in place and shelve your books, because dust jackets are an important part of the design process.

More than storage. Bookshelves are more than just storage spaces; they're a reflection of our intellectual and emotional lives. They're a place where we can display our favorite books, organize our thoughts, and create a space that inspires us to read and learn.

• We are readers. This is how we decorate.
• Author Anna Quindlen, who is to be trusted on such matters, wrote, “I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.”

9. Avoid being "book bossy" and respect others' reading choices.

You shouldn’t tell another grown-up what to read, or when, or how.

Unsolicited advice. Telling others what they should read, or how they should feel about a certain book, can be perceived as judgmental and unwelcome. It's important to respect individual reading preferences and allow others to discover their own literary tastes.

• Should is a dangerous word, a warning sign that we’re crossing an important boundary and veering into book bossiness.
• Should is tangled up with guilt, frustration, and regret.

Enthusiasm vs. pressure. While it's natural to want to share our favorite books with others, it's important to avoid pushing our recommendations too hard. Bookish enthusiasm can be contagious, but it's not sufficient to guarantee that someone else will enjoy the same book.

• The harder I push a book on a reader, the less likely she is to read it.
• Readers want to discover what they want to read, and they want to discover it for themselves.

Personal discovery. Readers want to discover what they want to read, and they want to discover it for themselves. The best way to encourage others to read is to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where they feel free to explore their own literary interests.

• Readers want to discover what they want to read, and they want to discover it for themselves.
• Maybe imagine you’re a girl devoted to The Rules—playing it coy, playing hard to get—who knows what she wants but isn’t afraid to put you off to ultimately get it.

10. Rereading favorite books offers new insights and perspectives.

A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.

Evolving understanding. Rereading a favorite book is like revisiting an old friend. We bring new experiences and perspectives to the reading, allowing us to discover new layers of meaning and appreciate the book in a different way.

• A good book not only holds up to repeated visits, but improves each time we return to it.
• Great books keep surprising me with new things.

Personal growth. As we grow and change, our relationship with books evolves. A book that resonated with us at one point in our lives may take on new significance as we gain new experiences and insights.

• When we revisit a book we’ve read before, we see how life has woken us up to understand passages that previously went over our heads.
• Rereading helps us see how we have changed.

Timeless wisdom. Great books have the power to transcend time and speak to us across generations. Their themes and characters remain relevant, offering timeless wisdom and guidance that can help us navigate the challenges of life.

• A good book, when we return to it, will always have something new to say.
• It’s not the same book, and we’re not the same reader.

11. Bookstores and libraries are essential community hubs for readers.

In the acknowledgments, Wiley Cash thanks “the librarians and booksellers who sustain the creative, intellectual, and civic life of our nation.”

Community connection. Bookstores and libraries are more than just places to buy or borrow books; they're community hubs that bring readers together. They offer a space for people to connect, share their love of reading, and discover new authors and ideas.

• They're a temple to the written word, a community hub, a spot where readers gather around the common love of reading.
• They discuss lofty literary and quotidian concerns, always find the books they’re looking for—and the toilets clean themselves.

Knowledge and discovery. These institutions provide access to a vast collection of books and resources, fostering intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning. They offer a space for people to explore new subjects, discover new authors, and expand their knowledge of the world.

• They scan the bookish horizons for new titles that pique their interest and carefully curate their stock to reflect the preferences and personalities of the people who work there and the readers who shop there.
• They order from publishers and distributors and sometimes authors themselves, and then these shipments originate in different towns and are carried across the country by several different delivery mechanisms, through heat and wind and rain and the occasional natural disaster.

Cultural enrichment. Bookstores and libraries play a vital role in sustaining the creative, intellectual, and civic life of our communities. They support authors, promote literacy, and provide a space for people to engage with ideas and culture.

• In The Last Ballad, Wiley Cash thanks “the librarians and booksellers who sustain the creative, intellectual, and civic life of our nation.”
• In the acknowledgments, authors thank their readers, over and over, for reading their work, thus making it possible for them to live the writing life.

Last updated: April 11, 2025