I’m struggling getting back into “serious” reading and feel like my physical posture and environment is hindering me.
I used to read a lot (have inhaled many a Brandon Sanderson books on release) but I can’t get into reading “hard” books. I read mainly in bed (with my kobo) but finding it tricky and I am turning into a hunchback. Audiobooks while cycling)/gym is great, but bit distracting for “hard” books.
How do ye do it?
- Do you have a fav chair (will accept pictures if you could share!) or environment (like a reading nook)?
- When and how do you make time to “digest” books?
- Do you take notes and if so, how?
- bonus question: what was a recent hard book that you enjoyed (and made you reframe stuff) and would recommend?
Thank you!
Most of my nonfiction I do by audiobook while I walk in the morning. I find anything too strenuous and I can’t concentrate. I do take notes, primarily by voice into Google keep. Though I did recently switch to a git repo tied to the zettel notes app since that’s how I view my notes on android. Usually I process them out by the end of the week or so.
As far as good “hard books”, I could recommend Fantasyland by Kurt Andersen if you’re into a “how did we get here” story about the US, or A Thousand Brains by Jeff Hawkins if you like thinking about how our minds work and have interest in AGI. The last hard one I read was the dawn of everything by David Graeber and I found it to be absolutely fucking terrible for as much as people talk him up, would not recommend. There are some good ideas in it, but stylistically it’s heavy on context and light direct points or logical threads.
Right now I’m mainlining dungeon crawler Carl and it’s pretty entertaining, but weird that I have 2 of 3 books in progress being easy fiction.
Appreciate your reccs!
Love the voice notes idea. And zettel seems quite fit for purpose especially compared to Obsidian. Will have to see what transcription services are available.
I looked for a better app, but honestly the Gboard built in was basically just as good as any other option I could find when it comes to accuracy.