1 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: Hi. 2 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 2: I'm Laura Vanderkamp. I'm a mother of five, an author, journalist, 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 2: and speaker. 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 3: And I'm Sarah hart Hunger, a mother of three, practicing physician, 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 3: writer and course creator. We are two working parents who 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 3: love our careers and our families. 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Welcome to best of both worlds. Here we talk about 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: how real women manage work, family, and time for fun. 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: From figuring out childcare to mapping out long. 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: Term career goals. 11 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: We want you to get the most out of life. 12 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to best of both worlds. This is Laura. 13 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: This episode is airing in mid October of twenty twenty five. 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 2: This is going to be the Busy Woman's Guide to 15 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: reading more. We both love to read. We know many 16 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 2: of our listeners love to read. Indeed, it's one of 17 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: the things you all tell us you would love to 18 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: spend more time doing, but to. 19 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: Have trouble finding the time. Maybe you could. 20 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 2: Track your time, as we talked about two weeks ago, 21 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 2: and that might reveal a little bit of more time 22 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 2: to read. But in any case, we tend to enjoy 23 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: this as a leisure time activity, and so today will 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: be all tips on how to make time for reading 25 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: in your busy life. But it thought it'd be fun 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 2: to open with a discussion of what we have been 27 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: reading lately and what we were reading now. 28 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: So Sarah, maybe you can tell us about what's on 29 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: your bookshelf. Yeah. 30 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 3: I thought it would be fun to just give like 31 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 3: the last five books that each of us have read, 32 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 3: and guess what, Since I made these notes, I have 33 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 3: another book. So my books were What Kind of Paradise 34 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 3: by Janelle Brown? That was a fun and twisty kind 35 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 3: of summer read. I really really liked it. Set in 36 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 3: Montana anyway, these summer storms for the book club that 37 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 3: I was in by Sarah MacLean. I liked it and 38 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 3: it was great summary kind of kind of read. My 39 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 3: nonfiction recent read was The Courage to Be Disliked by 40 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 3: Ichiro Kishimi and Fuki take Koga, which was not really 41 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 3: about the Courage to be disliked, but was super interesting philosophical. 42 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 3: What was it about a certain form of philosophy that 43 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 3: was kind of brought about by a psychologist about kind 44 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 3: of autonomy and like making choices And it was really interesting. 45 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 3: I liked it, but I didn't feel like like the 46 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 3: title was the title was like a tidbit that was 47 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 3: like sort of may be buried in there, but they 48 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 3: were like, that would be a great hook that people 49 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 3: will love. 50 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: Oh dear, I don't like that. Yeah, but it was 51 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: a good. 52 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 3: Book, Like it was really good, all right, I just 53 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 3: would have named it differently. I read I Wish I 54 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 3: Had a Bigger Kitchen by Kate Strickler, as you heard 55 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 3: about last week on the podcast. I actually had to 56 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 3: add another book because I also read Die with Zero 57 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 3: by Bill Perkins, and then Misinterpretation by Lydia Zoga, which 58 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 3: is a Booker Prize long list. 59 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 2: So yeah, and you're working through the Booker Prize. 60 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 1: I started that as surprise charge. 61 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 3: We'll talk about I don't We'll have to see if 62 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 3: I get married to that project. 63 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: I like it so far, but yeah, yeah, all right. 64 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: Well my last five books, I read a novella called 65 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 2: The English understand. 66 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: Wool by Helen de Witt. That was interesting, very short. 67 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: You can read it in an hour. 68 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 2: So if somebody is looking to feel accomplished, like you 69 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 2: have read a book and you just want to get 70 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: it done on a Saturday on while your kids are 71 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: at soccer or something that could happen. Anna Karinyina by Leotostoi, 72 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 2: which is not a book you we'll read while your 73 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: kids are at soccer practice on any given Saturday. That 74 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 2: is a bit of a nine hundred page epic. But 75 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: I recently finished that because it was my long read 76 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: for the year. I read one chapter a day and 77 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 2: finished in September. The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley. It's 78 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 2: a book about how many trends are in fact more 79 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 2: positive than people seem to think, and in many cases 80 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: the things that seem catastrophic are not as bad as 81 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: people think. I read that because I had just read 82 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: before that The Red Queen by Matt Ridley, which is 83 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 2: about how sexual selection shapes evolution in different species. Like, 84 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 2: there are certain things that are about usefulness with genes, 85 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 2: but there are also certain things that are not useful whatsoever, 86 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: and yet seem to. 87 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: Get selected for. 88 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: And that is often because in the species the female 89 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 2: prefers it for whatever reason, and then as females prefer it, 90 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: you have to do it more and more. So I 91 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: think of a lot stuff like peacocks tails, right, Like, 92 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 2: there's zero reason to have a peacocks tail, and in 93 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: fact it's a problem, but for whatever reason, female pns 94 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: seem to like colorful tales, and so you get it. 95 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 2: I read that because it was mentioned in The Ancestor's Tale, 96 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: which is by Richard Dawkins and Yen Wong, which is 97 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 2: about evolutionary history, sort of tracing back where the last 98 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 2: common ancestor was from, starting with humans and then going 99 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 2: back through first like the chimpanzees and bonobos and then gorillas, 100 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: and back through the different primates, and then through mammals 101 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: and then getting through things like the sauropods, and then 102 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: you're going back through like lungfish and all the way 103 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 2: back into single celled organisms and such, where all the 104 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 2: trees of life branch off. 105 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: So that was fascinating. I am currently reading a book 106 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: called The Fortnite in September, which is a novel by R. C. Sheriff, 107 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: which is sort. 108 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: Of a calm novel about two weeks in the beach 109 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: in the British countryside in September. 110 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: So anyway, yeah, ooh, that sounds good. 111 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 3: I like, how that's the one I'm gravitating towards. I'm like, 112 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 3: I cannot, You're like, I am not reading about single 113 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 3: celled organisms. 114 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 2: I am not reading about the molecular basis of the 115 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: genes that are getting the peacock's tail. 116 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: And I am definitely not reading Anna Karnyana. That's pretty 117 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: true to eat your own. But I'm probably not reading 118 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: the Summer Storm, So probably not. I know. 119 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 3: I think that's the wonderful thing about reading is you 120 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 3: can really read anything that strikes your fancy. You can 121 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 3: start a book, you can abandoned a book, you can 122 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 3: learn about really random things. 123 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: So I guess this is a great. 124 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 3: Prelude into why we encourage people to think about their 125 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 3: reading lives. 126 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 2: Right, yeah, Well, why would you encourage people to think 127 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: about their reading lives, Sarah? 128 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 3: Just personally, I get so much joy out of reading, 129 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 3: and I've seen others get joy out of reading. 130 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: I've learned so much. 131 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 3: From it, and compared to any other kind of leisure activity, 132 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 3: I find it to be like the most immersive and 133 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 3: calming and also possibly one of the most customizable, Like 134 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 3: you really can choose exactly what you kind of are 135 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 3: looking for, versus being served up things as we kind 136 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 3: of have as our other option these days. I mean, 137 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 3: that's kind of not fair because maybe somebody else would say, well, 138 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 3: I feel that way about movies or TV, and I 139 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 3: don't feel that way about books, and that's fair, but 140 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 3: I think it's at least worth considering. 141 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, although I was thinking about like my books. If 142 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: you see that timeline, there are the three non fiction 143 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 2: books I read. Clearly, it was sort of like the 144 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 2: in book algorithm was recommending the next book that I 145 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: was going to read. 146 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: Right like that. 147 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: I read one book because I'd read something previously by 148 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: the author. I read that because it was mentioned in 149 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: a previous book though, so in its own way, it's 150 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: like an old fashioned version of the algorithm. But yeah, 151 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 2: I mean reading is regardless of its upsides or mental 152 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: upsides or anything like that. It is the thing that 153 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: people tell us they most want to do. Like when 154 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: I have done studies of what leisure time activities people 155 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: would first choose if they had sort of time to themselves, 156 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 2: that tends to be what people say now. Now, maybe 157 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: if they thought about it a little bit more, or 158 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: thought that they would have a longer term commitment to 159 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: some they'd say things like singing a choir or joined 160 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: a pickleball league. But you know, when they're thinking about 161 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 2: things they could sort of easily access, they think reading 162 00:07:55,800 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 2: because it is almost as effortless as scrolling. I mean, certainly, 163 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: anytime that you are tempted to read headlines or to 164 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 2: read social media captions, you could just read something else, 165 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: like you could read a book in that time. You're 166 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: still reading. It's just a slightly different format. And many 167 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: people think they spend too much time reading headlines and 168 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 2: social media captions and spend too little time reading books. 169 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: And so we need to think about how to sort 170 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 2: of change how we approach reading and think about our 171 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: schedules to make reading books a little bit more of 172 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 2: a first choice in that situation. I mean, when you're 173 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 2: a busy person, you make time to read, right I do. 174 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 3: I was just going to say one more benefit and like, 175 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 3: you know, the SoundBite versus book kind of argument, and 176 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 3: I'm just going to mention two things. Number one is 177 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 3: like when you write a book, you have to substantiate 178 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:47,439 Speaker 3: you cannot. 179 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess you could. You read a lot 180 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: of self help books. Okay, fair, fair. 181 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 3: Fair, oh man, But in theory you have space to 182 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 3: do that, whereas you don't have space to do that 183 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 3: in a fifteen second sound clip. 184 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, in theory. 185 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 3: And then the other one is that many argue that, well, 186 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 3: there's probably some decent evidence. I don't have studies to 187 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 3: cite right now, but that focus is something that is 188 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 3: becoming a scarcer thing, and one of the ways that 189 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 3: we can continue to preserve our focus is to actually 190 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 3: use it, and reading requires that, and yet it also 191 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 3: can be very enjoyable. So, like, if you're looking to 192 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 3: preserve that skill, reading can be a great way to 193 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 3: do that. 194 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's some scary stuff coming out about young people's 195 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 2: lack of focus, sustained focus for reading longer passages, particularly 196 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 2: on tests are when required to for writing papers for 197 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: literature classes and things like that. But you know, we 198 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 2: think even if you are very busy, it is possible 199 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 2: to make time to read it in your life. 200 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: Sarah, you read how many books per year? And when 201 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: do you fit this in? Yeah? 202 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 3: So I only started tracking how many books I read 203 00:09:57,679 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 3: in around twenty twenty. 204 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: Apparently I started tracking a lot of things around that. 205 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: But I read about fifty books a year. 206 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 3: And it's usually like forty eight or fifty two or 207 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 3: something like that. And even when I try to read more, 208 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 3: I still end up with. 209 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 1: That being my number. 210 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 3: So I just think it I have certain ingreened habits, 211 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 3: which just don't change that much, and honestly, I'm pretty 212 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: happy with them, so that's cool. I tend to read 213 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 3: nonfiction in the morning, usually for like twenty minutes in 214 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 3: the morning, sometimes a little more if I really like it, 215 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 3: but honestly, usually it sticks to twenty minutes because I 216 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 3: just don't have unlimited time. And then my fiction is 217 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 3: the one that kind of expands in tracks depending on 218 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 3: how the book is, how much I like it, and 219 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 3: what I'm doing. 220 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: If I am. 221 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 3: Traveling, I will get through multiple books because that's my 222 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 3: preferred activity. On a flight, I'll just read and I'll 223 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 3: like finish a book, and if I really like a book, 224 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 3: I will find spare moments the day like, oh, lunch break, 225 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,719 Speaker 3: let me read my book. Okay, waiting for in the car, 226 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: let me let me bring my book if my car 227 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 3: is you know, at a stop in a car line 228 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 3: that's not moving and I'm in park and my parking 229 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 3: breaks on, which does happen with certain types of pickups, 230 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 3: et cetera. So yeah, and then some months tend to 231 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 3: be better than others for reading, like I read more 232 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 3: novels in the summer usually, but yeah, it's. 233 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,599 Speaker 1: About four to five books per month. And then interestingly, 234 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: the split. 235 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 3: Of fiction and nonfiction kind of varies based on the year, 236 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 3: Like this year is more fiction heavy and last year 237 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 3: was more nonfiction heavy. 238 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, that tracks. 239 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 2: I mean, so four books a month, I mean that's 240 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 2: like one a week. A book is often about four hours, 241 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 2: So if you're reading about four hours a week, which 242 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 2: I think if you look at your timelog, tends to 243 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 2: be about what it is, right, I. 244 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 3: Would say some weeks it's less, in some weeks it's more, 245 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 3: but that would be an average. 246 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 2: Yeahah, and I find it interesting how you're doing that. 247 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 2: I mean, right, like you have there are different ways 248 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 2: of reading. I mean, one is to structurally have a 249 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 2: reading time, and the upside of that is that it 250 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 2: does add up, right, if you're reading twenty minutes a 251 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 2: morning of nonfiction, that is right there an hour and 252 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 2: forty minutes during the week that you are devoting to reading, 253 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 2: which can get you through certainly a nonfifi book every. 254 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: Three weeks or so at that pace. 255 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 2: But then recognizing that there are other books that are 256 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 2: kind of fun to sort of have less of a 257 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 2: limit on how much you could read at any given point, 258 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 2: obviously a who Done it kind of book, or you're 259 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: trying to figure out what happened next. It would be 260 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 2: very frustrating to have to stop at twenty minutes over 261 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 2: and over again. 262 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: But you could, you could. So that's that's the true. Okay, 263 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: we're going to take a quick ad break, and then 264 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: we'll be back with more about The Busy Woman's Guide 265 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 1: to Reading. 266 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 3: All right, we talked about my reading habits, Laura, how 267 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 3: about you? How many books do you read per year 268 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 3: and when do you tend to do it? 269 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 4: So? 270 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: I did not track this, which is interesting. 271 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: I tracked my time pretty religiously, but I have not 272 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 2: been tracking titles read recently. 273 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: I did for a while. 274 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 2: I went through a bit of a reading renaissance in 275 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen and twenty eighteen where I actually did read 276 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 2: a lot of the books on kind of my book 277 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 2: bucket list, as it were. So in that time I 278 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 2: read through like Moby Dick and Doris Kearns, Goodwin's Team 279 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: of Rivals and one Q eighty four, the I read 280 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 2: through Kristin Lavern's Daughter and reread I will say Ulysses 281 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: and so all those sort of big books that I 282 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 2: wanted to have read as a person who likes to read, 283 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 2: and then I kind of got through them, and then 284 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 2: I hit a bit of a wall and have not 285 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 2: been reading as much since. I read over one hundred 286 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 2: books in twenty seventeen and twenty eighteen, even though many 287 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 2: of them were huge. 288 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 3: Right, So was that the period like between Alex and Henry. Yeah, 289 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 3: like you didn't have a young kid. 290 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: I did, all of a sudden he as a younger kid, 291 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 2: and so I was getting more reading done. 292 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: But I could now too. But I'm not reading one 293 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: hundred books a year. 294 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 4: I don't know. 295 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 2: There's just other things I've been doing, I guess, or 296 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: not been as interested in taking that on with my 297 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 2: leisure time. But I would say it's about fifty I 298 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 2: do read. And I also have been with titles when 299 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 2: I'm interviewing people, Like if I'm interviewing somebody, I've always 300 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 2: read their book. That's something I want to guarantee to 301 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 2: any guests I would have on any of my shows. 302 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: And you know what, they're like, always surprised? Is it 303 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: so sad? Shouldn't that be like, you know, expected? Yeah? Same, 304 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: I always always read them. Yeah it should be expected. 305 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 2: But I know as an author that it isn't universal, 306 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 2: so I will throw that out there. 307 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: I mean, if you. 308 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: Count the chapter books, like the children's chapter books I'm 309 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 2: reading with Henry, it's well north of fifty. But I'm 310 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 2: not gonna I don't know. I mean, I could count 311 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 2: that they're books, but like I've read within the past year, 312 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 2: for sure, I've read at least over twenty of the 313 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 2: Dragon Maule books and over twenty of the Magic Treehouse 314 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 2: books because we tend to get through them each and 315 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 2: three or four nights, so it's diary. 316 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: But we won't a kid like half a book half 317 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: a book, Like how do we count graphic novels. 318 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: Graphic novels are books we'll throw out there if your 319 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 2: child is not necessarily into full narrated like solid print 320 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 2: block books. Graphic novels are also a wonderful way to read, 321 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 2: and so I would not discourage that at all. But yeah, 322 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: I don't know, you could count it as half a book. Sah, sure, 323 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 2: whatever you want. 324 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 3: I've never logged the books I read to kids, but 325 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 3: I don't know. Maybe that would be a fun separate 326 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 3: list to keep, especially because I think we're now at 327 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 3: the point where we can start with some more heavy 328 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 3: titles than there. 329 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. 330 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 2: So as for when I read, if I have my 331 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 2: reading project for the year, I tend to do that 332 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: in the morning, like during my work day. So I 333 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 2: was reading in twenty twenty two, I read all the 334 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 2: works of Shakespeare, so I read three pages every morning 335 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 2: as part of the start of my workday. When I 336 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 2: was doing Jane Austen, I do ten pages of Jane 337 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 2: Austen in the morning during twenty twenty three, and then 338 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 2: this year in a Krinyan, it was kind of different. 339 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 2: I do it either in the morning or at night. 340 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 2: I had it as a I kept it up in 341 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: my room, so I was often doing it at night, 342 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 2: But I don't know the rest. It tends to be 343 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 2: in the evening, Like nine thirty to ten forty five 344 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 2: is pretty prime reading time. It's not uninterrupted yet, which 345 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 2: is why I don't know. I can't really fully get absorbed. 346 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: Into something, but that's one of the times when I read. 347 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 3: Okay, Well, how do you curate your reading, Like where 348 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 3: you'd mentioned that you often get book titles from books 349 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 3: that refer to them. Is that your main way or 350 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 3: do you listen to any reading podcasts or look at 351 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 3: lists like that. 352 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 2: So yeah, one of the reasons for me I tend 353 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: to read a lot and then not read as much 354 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 2: is that it tends to happen like that. Like I'll 355 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 2: get recommendations from books of books from another book, or 356 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 2: I read a book that I enjoy by an author, 357 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 2: and then I'll go back and read all of their 358 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: previous books. So I did that in this winter with 359 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 2: sim Montgomery, who is a nature writer. I read all 360 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 2: of her books on various things dolphins, turtles, tigers, octopus. Yeah, 361 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 2: I read those titles and so that kept me going 362 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 2: for a while. Or I get a topic that I'm 363 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 2: really interested in, and then sometimes Amazon will helpfully suggest 364 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 2: other books on a topic. I've been on evolution and 365 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 2: then the history of the Ancient Earth for a long time, 366 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 2: so i've but I've unfortunately read a lot of those 367 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 2: titles now, so some people need to write some new ones. 368 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: Maybe that's your next book. I don't know, No, I have. 369 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 2: No expertise in that whatsoever. I just like to read 370 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 2: it and I read the reviews in the Wall Street Journal. 371 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 2: Sometimes I get something from that. Sometimes I've gotten titles 372 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 2: from Modern Missus Darcy which I think you'll talk about 373 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 2: as well. 374 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: Right, where does yours come from? 375 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I really like modern missus darc your and 376 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 3: vocals lists, especially she comes out with like a summer 377 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 3: reading list and a fall reading list, and they're on 378 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 3: there behind to pay well, but it's like not a 379 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 3: lot of money for a lot of joy that I 380 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 3: get from her recommendations and the kind of like checking 381 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 3: off the box. Part of me just enjoys having a 382 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 3: list to work from, although I never try to read 383 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 3: like all of them or anything like that, so that's 384 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 3: one main one. I also like the Currently Reading podcast, 385 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 3: and then I subscribe to a couple of newsletters. Laura 386 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 3: Train comes to mind. She usually like puts all of 387 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 3: her favorite books into like these big emails every couple seasons, 388 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 3: and I think our tastes align a lot, so I 389 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 3: enjoy her picks. Definitely, recommendations from friends, like if somebody 390 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 3: just text me a book or will be a book 391 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 3: club just talking about like what have you. 392 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: Read that's good? 393 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 3: And then I do kind of like every once in 394 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 3: a while just like to have some kind of a project. 395 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 3: So you mentioned like reading you know, all of one 396 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 3: author's works way back in the day, I was like, 397 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 3: I'm reading every mirror CoA me and I read a lot. 398 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: I don't think I read all of them. There are 399 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 1: a ton, but I read a ton of his novels. 400 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 3: I haven't done that for a while of one author, 401 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 3: but I've done that with like parts of some banned 402 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 3: vocals lists and then most re I just you know, 403 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 3: somebody linked to the book or prize along this, and 404 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 3: I was like, huh, there's twelve, but there are thirteen books. 405 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 3: I was like, what if I just read like one 406 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 3: per month for the next year or so, and I 407 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 3: can give myself the rule that if I don't like it, 408 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 3: I'm just going to start each of them. That's my rule, 409 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 3: not that I'm going to read all of them just 410 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 3: because I think it'll expose me to some genres I 411 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 3: might not have chosen by myself, but that others have 412 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 3: vetted as high quality. 413 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 2: So yeah, well, I like that idea. I'd be willing 414 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: to abandon a book. Do you find that challenging to do? 415 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 2: Because I honestly think that's the secret to reading more. 416 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 3: I do, and I don't find it challenging. I find 417 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 3: it really challenging. I have gotten past a certain point. 418 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 3: And I do feel like there are some books where 419 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 3: the beginning's good and then they're just like not, like 420 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 3: the first one hundred and fifty pages will have great momentum, 421 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 3: and then I'm like, what just happened? We are slugging 422 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 3: and there's still two hundred pages left, and I'm like, 423 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 3: I'm one hundred and fifty in that is hard for me. 424 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 3: If I'm like twenty pages in it and I'm just like, 425 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 3: this is not for me, I have no problem. 426 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, so yeah, yeah, No, It's true. 427 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:00,479 Speaker 2: The further you get in, the more you feel like, well, 428 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 2: I should stick with it, the sunk costs thing. 429 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: But you can really get stuck. Yeah, yeah you can. 430 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 2: But I think for most books, yeah, I mean, giving 431 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 2: them like a fifty page lead to is probably a 432 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 2: reasonable rule. In fact, you might even if you are 433 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 2: a serious reader, you might have a budget of how 434 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,439 Speaker 2: many hours per week you're willing to sort of not 435 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 2: say waste, but like read a book that you're not 436 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 2: going to finish. The problem is if you keep going 437 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 2: with a book that you're not into, like you can 438 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: stop reading because you don't want to convert extra time 439 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 2: to reading time because you're not excited about the book. 440 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 2: So I'd say allowing yourself to if you are a 441 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 2: seven hour a week reader, you could certainly have one 442 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 2: of those hours be a book you're not that into. 443 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 2: But not let it be more than that, I guess, 444 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 2: So allow yourself to read fifty pages and then start 445 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 2: the next book if you're not into. 446 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 1: It at that point. Totally makes sense. 447 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 3: Even when we have picks for book club, we're always like, 448 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 3: if you hate it, just dig it. Like nobody should 449 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 3: feel obligated. 450 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: This is not homework. We're not in school. 451 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 3: You do not have to finish it, because again, that 452 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 3: really can get you stuck when you would be happily 453 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 3: reading other things. And you mentioned earlier what we didn't mention, 454 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 3: it is like you might only get to read twenty 455 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 3: five hundred books. 456 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: So is that your estimate? That's true? I mean, like, okay, 457 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 1: if you do the math, here, people. 458 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 2: Fifty books a year, which is about what Sarah and 459 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 2: I managed to read. Maybe some of you are reading 460 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 2: a lot more, but a lot of people that would 461 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 2: seem like a good number if you live for fifty 462 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 2: more years, which might be. 463 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 1: Stretches optimistic, optimistic. 464 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,479 Speaker 2: For a great many of us, that is only twenty 465 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 2: five hundred more books, so sad, yes, which is like 466 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 2: a couple shelves in a community library where there are 467 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 2: so many books you are not going to be reading, 468 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 2: which means that sticking with the book you're not liking 469 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 2: is just silly because you could be reading other stuff. Though, now, 470 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 2: you don't want to go crazy with this, Like you 471 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 2: don't want to like only read books that are fifty 472 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 2: pages long so you can up that number, or like 473 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 2: listen to audiobooks every single minute of the day so 474 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 2: you can get it up higher. 475 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: But it does call for a little bit of intention. 476 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 3: Yes, well, then if you do that extreme thing, you'd 477 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 3: be treating the rest of your life for only reading 478 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 3: books exactly, be another mistake. 479 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: We're going to take a quick ad break and then 480 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 2: we'll talk about exactly how we read. Well, we are 481 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 2: back with our Busy Woman's Guide to reading more So, Sarah, 482 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 2: you are team. 483 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: Paper and pretty much paper only discuss. Yeah. 484 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 3: I just prefer physical books either I buy them, which, 485 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 3: now that I've written a book, I'm like, yes. 486 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,239 Speaker 1: Buy books. I's a lot of work into this. 487 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, No, I'm just kidding. People can get it from 488 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 3: the library, do whatever they want. But either I purchase 489 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:00,639 Speaker 3: them and then if it's not fiction, I like to 490 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 3: highlight in them and take notes in them. And actually 491 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 3: it ended up being very helpful that I had bought 492 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 3: certain non fiction books, because when it came for me 493 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 3: to write my book, I ended up having to like 494 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 3: find page numbers for different quotes and stuff, and if 495 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 3: I hadn't owned them physically, I think that would have 496 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 3: been harder to do. Like it was great to be like, oh, 497 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 3: let me pull out my copy of one hundred and 498 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 3: sixty eight hours and just figure out where Laura said 499 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 3: this or that it's right there. 500 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: So yeah, I like my physical books for that. 501 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 3: If I don't love it and I don't feel like 502 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 3: it deserves a spot in my permanent library, I just 503 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 3: give it away or I use the library, which I 504 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:35,239 Speaker 3: use a lot for fiction books, where I will do 505 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 3: library holds and just kind of keep my list going 506 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 3: and every couple of weeks kind of exchange for a 507 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 3: new batch. And definitely have also purchased some novels, like 508 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 3: I was super excited to read Katabasis by rf Quang 509 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 3: and there was like a million week waiting lists and 510 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 3: I was like, Nope, that book looks really pretty, and 511 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 3: I'm just buying it. So sometimes I'll purchase those as well, 512 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 3: But fiction tends to be more library. But I just 513 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 3: enjoy holding a physical book. For me, if I'm holding 514 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 3: my phone, and you have great art and as for 515 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 3: why it's great to read on your phone, but for me, 516 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 3: if I have a book on my phone, I'm like 517 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 3: itchy fingers, like I'm going to go to email or 518 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 3: a I'm going to go to something else, And I 519 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 3: just like, don't like. 520 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 1: When I think of the books that I have read. 521 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,120 Speaker 3: On the phone, I'm like, oh, I like, I don't 522 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 3: process them the same way. And that's the same thing 523 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 3: with a I had a Kindle paper white, and I 524 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 3: just I don't know, it's cycle. It's obviously psychological because 525 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 3: it's the same thing, like there's nothing wrong with it. 526 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 3: But I just get pleasure in the feeling of holding 527 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 3: a book, from being unplugged for my device, from turning 528 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 3: the pages and seeing how far I have to go physically, 529 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 3: and then for nonfiction, from putting pen to paper and 530 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:34,199 Speaker 3: actually writing in it. 531 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,680 Speaker 1: I enjoy that. And so you're willing to take the 532 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: books with you wherever you like they're in your bag. 533 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 3: Yes, I tend to like I have a toe bag, 534 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 3: and I often have my laptop in there too. By 535 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 3: the way, like if I'm going to the dentist, I'm 536 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 3: bringing my laptop because I might be sitting, I might 537 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 3: have to do work, sit at a desk for whatever. 538 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 3: Once I've got a bag big enough for my laptop, 539 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 3: adding a book in there, I mean, listen, I'm not 540 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 3: reading maybe like the large sized books that you're I 541 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 3: don't know how big enna current it actually is. 542 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: You're not sticking it in your bag telling These of 543 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: my books are reasonably portable. 544 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 3: Plus I bring my planner everywhere I go, so again, 545 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 3: like I mean my bag, I'm not just shaking. My 546 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 3: bag is still manageable. So I don't know somehow I 547 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 3: managed to do it. 548 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 1: Well. I read mostly on my phone these days. 549 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 2: I do get a fair amount of physical books that 550 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 2: come into my life for one reason or another. I 551 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 2: get sent ones if i'm again I'm interviewing the author, 552 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 2: if it's somebody in the nonfiction world that I would 553 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 2: just be on the list for publicity for so I 554 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 2: see a lot of those physically, But we have so 555 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 2: many books in the house I can't in good conscience 556 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 2: buy that many more without getting rid of some and 557 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 2: that's always challenging to get rid of books. But there 558 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 2: are just so many upsides to reading on like the 559 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 2: Kindle app or the books app or the nokapp or 560 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 2: whatever app you're using. I have Kindled just it's so 561 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 2: easy with Amazon because you have it with you all 562 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 2: the time. Like there is almost no situation that a 563 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 2: modern human does not have her phone within an arm's reach, 564 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: and so any time can become reading time. If you 565 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 2: are about to pick up your phone to start scrolling 566 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 2: around headlines or social media, if you can train yourself 567 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 2: to just hit that Kindle app which is right next 568 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 2: to it or before it, right like it's the screen 569 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 2: before it, so you're not even getting to Instagram or whatever. 570 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 2: You have to see the Kindle app before you get 571 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 2: to Instagram. You can just click on it, challenge yourself 572 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 2: to read for a couple of minutes, and most of 573 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 2: the time you'll be excited about what you're reading and 574 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 2: you'll keep going. You may never make it over to Instagram, 575 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 2: and that would be absolutely fine, but even if you do, 576 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 2: you will have built some reading time into your life 577 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,199 Speaker 2: that you would have just been scrolling, and that can 578 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 2: be wonderful. 579 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: You can scroll in the dark. This is actually I mean, 580 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: you can read in the dark. 581 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 2: This has been so like I may or may not 582 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: have a five year old who sometimes needs somebody with 583 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 2: him as he is going to sleep. 584 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: I like to think this will end in the next 585 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 1: year or two. 586 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 2: But until it does, I cannot read a physical book 587 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 2: in that room with him, whereas I can read on 588 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 2: my phone. 589 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: I'm probably ruining my eyes, but that's all right, they're 590 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: ruined anyway. 591 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, So there's just i mean, the upsides. And also 592 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 2: you can get a book so quickly, right, that's the other. 593 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 2: And you don't even have to pay for the first 594 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 2: bit of it, Like it's like the most wonderful way 595 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 2: to impulse buy. So Amazon almost universally with publishers, has 596 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 2: a deal with they can get a free sample, so 597 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 2: like the first chapter you can get And so if 598 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 2: you see a book that you think you might want, 599 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 2: you can download the first chapter, start reading it, decide 600 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 2: in five minutes it's not for you, and abandon it 601 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 2: and never worry about it again. You don't have the clutter, 602 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,199 Speaker 2: you don't have anything. Or if you like it, you 603 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 2: can just keep going. Have it so it allows you 604 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 2: to quickly act. 605 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: On an impulse that you want to read something totally 606 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: I can see. 607 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 3: I mean, those are all excellent arguments, and it make 608 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 3: so much logical sense. 609 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 1: And I'm still going to read on paper, but I 610 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: get it. 611 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 3: No, I'm serious though, that all of that, including the 612 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 3: phone one, which like, yeah, you can really turn it 613 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 3: either direction, you know. I was just thinking about the 614 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 3: screen Time app and how you could probably quantify, like 615 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 3: how much time you spend reading on your Kindle app. 616 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:26,680 Speaker 1: Well, you track your time anyway, but for those who 617 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 1: do not track. 618 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 3: Their time but have screen time going and use the 619 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 3: Kindle app, you can investigate how much you're actually reading. 620 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: It would be kind of interesting. 621 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, So I think those things outweigh. I mean 622 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 2: the truth that you could decide to stop reading a 623 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 2: book that's not that interesting go over to your email, 624 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 2: and that there would be a little more friction in 625 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 2: doing that if you were reading a boring paper book. 626 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 2: But let's be honest, your phone is still with you. 627 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 2: You could still pull it out if you were bored. 628 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 2: So I think there's enough upsides. Sarah, do you have 629 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 2: any just one or two more questions here? 630 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: Do you have social rituals around reading. You said you're 631 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: in a book club. 632 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm in a neighborhood book club, which I started 633 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 3: a few years ago when we moved here. It was 634 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 3: part of my efforts to like get to know people 635 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 3: in my neighborhood. And it's been fantastic. Now a couple 636 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 3: of the people actually have kids who go to my kids' school, 637 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 3: and like, it's been very fun and also does kind 638 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 3: of like the reading project I had talked about, forces 639 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 3: me to sometimes read things that wouldn't have been my 640 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 3: first pick. We're actually reading like an academic fantasy novel 641 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 3: or set in like dark academia, and I probably wouldn't 642 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 3: have picked. 643 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 1: That up, and I'm super excited to read it. 644 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 3: So, yeah, the Ninth House by Something Bardugo, if anybody 645 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 3: is curious. 646 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I have not wound up in a book club. 647 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 1: I don't know. I'm a bit of a I'm not 648 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: sure if it would. It could be fun. Maybe, well 649 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: your book picks, you'd have to be in a very 650 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: special book club. It would be a very very special. No. 651 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 3: Maybe I could enjoy like a classics book club where 652 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 3: people that's true so shack and read like respected works and. 653 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I would probably enjoy that, and then we'd 654 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 2: all be ridiculous sitting there arguing from the text as 655 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 2: if we were writing our literature paper. But maybe somebody 656 00:29:57,840 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 2: wants to start that with me, that would be exciting. 657 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 2: Let me know, how about your kids, Sarah, what's reading 658 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 2: rituals looking like with your children? 659 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 3: Some of my kids are really seem like they're into reading, 660 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 3: and it makes me happy. And honestly, some of that's 661 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 3: been fairly recent, and I think a lot of it's 662 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 3: been about finding the right kinds of books, not all 663 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 3: of them. Some of them are like I will read 664 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 3: diligently when is a signed to me, and otherwise prefer 665 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 3: to do anything else. 666 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: So I imagine that could change over time. 667 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 3: I think there's a lot of it's worth trying to 668 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 3: at least help your kids find books that they find 669 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 3: fun and interesting. And I am willing to go to 670 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 3: the bookstore and have them pick things that might look fluffy, 671 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,200 Speaker 3: but who cares. Like it's just about them having that 672 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:41,239 Speaker 3: habit and again telling them and I think they do 673 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 3: understand this, or at least my older ones. That focus 674 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 3: is becoming a scarcer resource and holding onto that might 675 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 3: actually be really beneficial long term, and reading might be 676 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:49,719 Speaker 3: one of the ways to do that. 677 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 1: So they're actually getting that. 678 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 3: I feel like gen Z kind of bypassed it, but 679 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 3: Jenoff was like, hmm hmm, maybe we can do better. 680 00:30:57,480 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: I don't know. 681 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 2: Yah. I am willing to buy books, Like if kids 682 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 2: ask for books, that's one of the things I am 683 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 2: always willing to buy. And I tend not to police 684 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 2: much of what they are reading. Like if they wanted 685 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 2: to read a book that was maybe a bit more 686 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 2: adult than I would have chosen for them, I said, well. 687 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: If you're able to read it, then go for it. 688 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 2: Although nobody who's been picking out in anything too terrible 689 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 2: in that regard. I had to sign a funny for 690 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,480 Speaker 2: for the middle school library. In that regard, oh, interesting 691 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 2: of children being allowed to check out any Ya novel 692 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 2: they wish. 693 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: I rated books. Yes, rated book, I'm just gonna trust it. 694 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 2: Don't have too many hardcore R rated books in the 695 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 2: middle school library. But they could surprise me. 696 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: But I'm in Florida. They definitely don't. 697 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 2: They definitely don't there, so like, yes, probably a Ya 698 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 2: novel that you are choosing to read is not something 699 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 2: I wish to stand between you. 700 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: And reading it. 701 00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 2: But we also I mean, I keep trying to stick 702 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,479 Speaker 2: with the enforcing a certain amount of time that is 703 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 2: off screens, that devices have to be surrendered at a 704 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 2: certain point of night, and theoretically that encourages reading time, 705 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 2: although it's also lately my middle schoolers have been hanging 706 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 2: out chatting during that time, which I guess I haven't 707 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,400 Speaker 2: really wanted to cut off, so they're not necessarily reading. 708 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's if my kids have screen access, 709 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 3: they I will never I've never seen them choose a 710 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 3: book over a screen. 711 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: I don't think it will happen. I don't blame them 712 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 1: at all. 713 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 3: I just think the things they like to do on 714 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 3: the screens are really enticing, unfortunately, and so you know, 715 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 3: we just let them know when it's time, Like we've 716 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 3: talked about this in other episodes, but my kids know 717 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 3: that like until a certain time in the late afternoon 718 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 3: on weekends, they're just not getting a screen. 719 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: And you know what, I'll see them curled up with 720 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: the book and it's great. Yeah, awesome. 721 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 2: Well, we hope you've come up with a few tips 722 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 2: from this for making space for reading in your life 723 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 2: and ways to find books and other such things. So 724 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 2: let us know what you are reading always looking for 725 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 2: title recommendations, or if you have some really creative way 726 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 2: that you are reading more. I mean, there's always something 727 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 2: I don't know. If it's always reading in the elevator 728 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 2: and they have a long elevator ride. I don't know 729 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 2: what it is, but let us know. We'd love to 730 00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 2: hear about it. 731 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: Today's question comes from her listener, who wrote in that 732 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 1: she wanted to implement what she calls a feel good 733 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:23,479 Speaker 1: folder or something similar. 734 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,400 Speaker 2: She says she thrives off words of affirmation that's one 735 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 2: of the love languages, or just verbal feedback and appreciation, 736 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 2: and wants to stash good examples of feedback to preserve. 737 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 2: So if she is feeling low or feeling insecure there's 738 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:38,920 Speaker 2: some sort of imposter syndrome going on, she can read 739 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 2: these wonderful words of affirmation from people in her life 740 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 2: and feel better. She says, My issue is I haven't 741 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:46,840 Speaker 2: found a essential place or system to capture them, and 742 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 2: many come in verbally, or I forget to capture them. 743 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 2: Any strategies for me here, she says, she might forget 744 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 2: to look at the folder too, So Sarah, what do 745 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 2: you think. 746 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 1: I think, is this super interesting? And I enjoy the idea. 747 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 3: I know myself, and if when I'm in that mood, 748 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 3: like nothing I would read, I would just be like, 749 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:07,400 Speaker 3: well these are stupid, like these people are lying to me, 750 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 3: or like I can't imagine it actually helping when I'm 751 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:14,440 Speaker 3: in that mode. But again, maybe you are different than me. 752 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 3: So I think it's a great idea, or at least 753 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 3: to try. You can always decide it doesn't work. But 754 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 3: my thought for like the most accessible way to do 755 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:23,799 Speaker 3: it might be like have a desktop folder on your 756 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 3: laptop and just you know, like if you get an 757 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:27,560 Speaker 3: email or like that, just shove it in there like 758 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 3: a word document, because then it would just be one 759 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 3: easy place to like see everything in one place. If 760 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:34,840 Speaker 3: your desktop is incredibly cluttered with nine million folders and. 761 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: You wouldn't see it, then probably wouldn't go for that. 762 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 3: But if you tend to keep things organized, you could 763 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 3: have one folder that just has like a heart on 764 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 3: it and your name and you just put all accolades 765 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 3: in there. 766 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I would also recommend just create. I mean, 767 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 2: you don't have to overthink this. It could just be 768 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:52,800 Speaker 2: like a word document and you could call it something 769 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 2: like testimonials or underscore testimonials, so it comes up first 770 00:34:56,160 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 2: on a list of documents or underscore Love Lucy or 771 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:05,080 Speaker 2: whatever your name is, right, like something maybe cute that 772 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 2: will make you want to open it. I guess if 773 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 2: other people aren't looking at your computer all the time, 774 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 2: and you would feel weird about this. 775 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 1: So let's say it's underscore we Love Lucy, and. 776 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 2: When somebody emails you, you just paste it in, right, 777 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 2: just copy the email, paste it in. 778 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:22,520 Speaker 1: If somebody says something to you. 779 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:26,160 Speaker 2: You go into the folder and the document and paraphrase it, 780 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 2: like as soon as you remember to do this. If 781 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,120 Speaker 2: you are going into a situation where you think you 782 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,359 Speaker 2: are going to get positive feedback, right like you're having 783 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 2: a sit down conversation with your manager who has just 784 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:38,880 Speaker 2: been glowing about the amazing job you just did on 785 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:42,080 Speaker 2: something like, go in with a notebook so you can 786 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,279 Speaker 2: take notes of what she is saying, right, so you 787 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,840 Speaker 2: can get the exact phrases that she is saying and 788 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 2: get those down, and then you can immediately transcribe those 789 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:53,799 Speaker 2: into your we Love Lucy folder for later perusal. And 790 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:56,440 Speaker 2: then I would sort of build in some sort of 791 00:35:56,520 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 2: rhythm of checking this, and this would just be to 792 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 2: remind yourself of this document's existence. So if you have 793 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:08,439 Speaker 2: like a weekly planning ritual, that might be a little 794 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:09,080 Speaker 2: bit too free. 795 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: Like I don't know how often you get praised. 796 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 2: Many people are not getting ted a day, so there 797 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 2: wouldn't be a whole lot of new ones every week. 798 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:17,959 Speaker 2: But just to sort of glance at it, like open 799 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 2: it once, so we to sort of train yourself that 800 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 2: this folder exists. And after you've done that for a while, 801 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 2: you can remember that it's there. And when you find 802 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:28,200 Speaker 2: yourself in these low moments, you have your list of 803 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:30,799 Speaker 2: things you can do. I can go for a walk, 804 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:33,239 Speaker 2: I can buy myself a latte, I can look at 805 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:36,879 Speaker 2: the we Love Lucy folder and then you are feeling better. 806 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:38,279 Speaker 1: I like it. 807 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I can imagine looking at it regularly, like once 808 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 3: a season even or even once a year, might be 809 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 3: more realistic for someone like me, who in the throes 810 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 3: of a mood would be unlikely to click it open exactly. 811 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: But I love the idea. It is a good Yeah. 812 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 2: Maybe somebody is doing this and can tell us, yes, 813 00:36:54,719 --> 00:36:57,439 Speaker 2: what your words of affirmation folder looks like and how 814 00:36:57,480 --> 00:36:59,320 Speaker 2: you make sure you look at it frequently and we 815 00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:01,799 Speaker 2: would love to hear so let us know, all right, 816 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 2: Love of the week, Sarah, what. 817 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:03,319 Speaker 1: Do you have? 818 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:05,920 Speaker 3: Well, I'm going to go with bookstores because I'm just 819 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,080 Speaker 3: so glad they still exist. I mean, if nobody buys 820 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:11,799 Speaker 3: physical books, they won't exist. Although I will say like 821 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:14,640 Speaker 3: Barnes and Noble has quite the selection of non book 822 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:17,600 Speaker 3: items that are also very enticing, lots of planners, notebooks, 823 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:20,279 Speaker 3: stationary items, toys. My kids love going to Barnes and 824 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:23,000 Speaker 3: Noble and not just for the books, and other bookstores 825 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 3: seem to be doing that as well, having like some 826 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:25,800 Speaker 3: other trinkets. 827 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,320 Speaker 1: But I'm just very glad. 828 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:31,120 Speaker 3: They exist, and so I encourage anyone who likes bookstores 829 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,120 Speaker 3: to engage in a little bit of bookstore tourism. So 830 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,279 Speaker 3: if you happen to go to a cool city, why 831 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:37,879 Speaker 3: not look up an independent bookstore or a big box 832 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:41,120 Speaker 3: bookstore whatever suit your fancy, and I don't know, get 833 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,720 Speaker 3: a flavor for the local reading culture and buy yourself 834 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 3: a book. 835 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:47,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, they are so fun to visit, even airport bookstores. 836 00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 2: I have gone to some of the I mean that's 837 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:51,719 Speaker 2: where I found the Si Montgomery Book of Time and 838 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:54,440 Speaker 2: Turtles and I was like, Time Turtles, that sounds interesting 839 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 2: and I read it. Then That's what triggered me to 840 00:37:57,040 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 2: read five other books in short succession afterwards. That said, 841 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 2: I will say again that my love of the week 842 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 2: is going to be the Kindle app. It's just one 843 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:08,279 Speaker 2: of those amazing things of technology, I think, making our 844 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:12,520 Speaker 2: lives better and turning time into reading time that might 845 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:14,719 Speaker 2: not have been if you hadn't thought about it that much. 846 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 2: So even though I definitely prefer reading on paper, I 847 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:22,800 Speaker 2: am willing to go with all the upsides of the app. 848 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:25,320 Speaker 2: All right, Well, this has been best of both worlds. 849 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 2: We've been discussing The Busy Woman's Guide to Reading more. 850 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:29,960 Speaker 2: We will be back next week with more on making 851 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:31,360 Speaker 2: work and life fit together. 852 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:36,239 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening. You can find me Sarah at the 853 00:38:36,239 --> 00:38:40,600 Speaker 3: shoebox dot com or at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, 854 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 3: and you can. 855 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,799 Speaker 4: Find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. This has 856 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:49,120 Speaker 4: been the best of both worlds podcasts. Please join us 857 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:52,560 Speaker 4: next time for more on making work and life work together.