You know how it goes – you sit down with a book, excited to dive in, but before long your mind is drifting to what’s for dinner or replaying an awkward conversation from years ago. And just like that, you’ve lost the plot. I suspect many can relate to this reading plight, this inability to
30 Books to Read in Your 30s (and Other Such Lists) need to disappear. As a thirty-something navigating adulthood, I’m no stranger to seeing ambitious reading goals and curated lists of “must-reads” tailored for my demographic. In my early twenties especially, I felt immense pressure to consume the “right” books that would supposedly impart wisdom
As a boy, when I would get on the commuter train to go sightseeing in London during the holidays, every seat was filled with people deeply engaged in reading—newspapers unfolding with rustling crinkles, paperback novels propped discreetly open on laps, businessmen poring over journals or reports. The train was a traveling library. But take a
We live in a culture that tells us the key to happiness is to constantly chase our desires. That if we just acquire the right car, house, clothes or experiences, we’ll finally feel fulfilled. But is this really true? Or does the endless pursuit of desire actually lead us down a path of suffering? One
Exploring the Depths of Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness At the dark and enigmatic heart of Joseph Conrad’s seminal novel “Heart of Darkness” lies the mysterious author himself. Conrad, born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski in 1857 to aristocratic Polish parents, had experienced darkness in his own life well before he ever put pen to paper.
It’s no secret that people tend to flock towards media that reflects their own interests and experiences. We choose the movies, TV shows, books, music and even news outlets that appeal most to our personal tastes and perspectives. But what if it works the other way around too? What if the media we consume shapes
Does Media Consumption Make Us All Like Don Quixote Read More »
If you are here, it must be because you have some interest in reading War and Peace, one of the greatest novels of all time. Countless readers have been drawn to its immersive portrayal of Russia during the reign of Emperor Alexander I and grappling with timeless questions about humanity’s interplay with historical forces. While
Want to Conquer War and Peace? Here’s How to Actually Finish It! Read More »
One morning, Henry David Thoreau woke up to find his cabin at Walden Pond covered with a thick layer of snow. He decided to make a fire and enjoy the solitude of his simple dwelling. As he was chopping wood, he heard a faint sound of a horn. He looked up and saw a train
Let’s face it: reading is hard. It takes time, effort, and concentration. You have to sit still, hold a book, and stare at words on a page. You have to deal with distractions, interruptions, and eye strain. You have to remember what you read, understand what it means, and apply it to your life. Reading
If you ask most people today why we ought to read the great works of ancient Greece, you might get puzzled looks or shrugs in response. After all, those dusty old tomes were written thousands of years ago – what relevance could they possibly hold for the modern world? The foundations of Western culture and
Just the other day I found myself lost in a winding daydream, as my mind drifted this way and that without much direction. I had been trying to focus on a tedious report for work, but found my attention straying as thoughts of weekends plans and half-finished to-do lists paraded through my head. Before I
Read Michel De Montaigne To Learn More About Yourself Read More »
Can you imagine a time when reading a whole novel in one sitting just wasn’t the norm? Back in times past, readers would eagerly await each new installment of their favorite stories serialized and published in newspapers or magazines. That’s how serialization worked – authors released their books a bit at a time so readers
