Every year, reading becomes a new and fresh experience. Each new volume offers us the opportunity to grow in knowledge, enjoyment, and (hopefully) empathy. As we age, different sorts of books offer different remedies for what ails us: an escape from trouble, perhaps, or a respite from the daily grind. We might crave the adventure of new novel or the insight and wisdom of a history.
At least at my current stage of life, when young children and work seem to consume all my time, reading can feel like a neglected practice, something I never indulge in as much as I want to, or ought to. Every book read represents some chore left undone, some work assignment left untended. Sometimes, after playing with little ones and finishing the laundry, the mental focus and energy required by reading seems impossible.
This is when I am reassured by the promise that reading is a lifetime practice—one that might be interrupted by work and personal mayhem, but that always beckons to us with future promise. We may not be able to read 30 books this year, or even 10. But we always have next year to set resolutions, pick up neglected volumes, and forge ahead once more.
Read Full Article »