#56 - The Case For Reading
Race against the clock, five people, and Toussaint
You probably think I’m a twat for listing the books I read each week. Fair enough.
But there is some logic behind it.
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Race Against the Clock
I’m not doing it to show off. I know it looks like that. I’m doing it because it’s a great way to squeeze extra reading time out of my week.
You see I now have to read a book a week, at least. Or the “My week in books” section will sit empty. Will anyone actually care? Undoubtedly not- but I don’t know that.
With half a book to go, and the weekend looming I find myself utilising every pocket of time to get it finished. You might think this comes at the detriment of the work I’m supposed to be doing but I’d argue just the opposite. Reading is time very well spent.
Five People
Why do I rate reading? It helps you normalise the remarkable.
You might of heard Jim Rohn’s line: “You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with.” It’s bang on. We’re tribal creatures.
You’re the sum of the five people because their behaviour becomes normal to us. If all of your friends spend three hours a day in the gym then that becomes normal to you. In a subconscious attempt to fit in you get pulled towards it.
The same is true of reading. Spend your days reading memoirs of vagabonds who roam the world? Suddenly taking off for a six month trek of the Americas seems far more reasonable.
Attempting to will a startup into existence is not a straightforward process. That's especially true for someone who hasn’t done anything too challenging up until now. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve had it pretty easy. Therefore, leaning on History’s great change makers is really rather useful.
Toussaint
This week it was a biography of Toussaint Louverture. He lead the only successful slave revolution in history. An unbelievable character.
The trials of my own week seem laughably small next to the chaos that Toussaint navigated. And you know what? That made it easier. Uncomfortable emails got a lot more comfortable. Anything short of riding into a hail of cannon fire and I might have been up for it this week.
Next week, once I'm back reading the Hungry Caterpillar, the bravado will have subsided. But a remnant will remain. I’ve read books about some remarkable figures this year and, whilst I’m still largely incompetent, it has done me good. I’d certainly be worse off without it.
My Week in Books📚
Black Spartacus by Sudhir Hazareesingh
Thrilling. Toussaint was a genius. Every bit as impressive as Europe’s giants: Napoleon and Caesar, and fighting for a far nobler cause. Inspiring stuff.
I’ll be updating the books I’ve read this year here. Any recommendations? Let me know!
A Final Thought 💡
“Read what you love until you love to read.”
- Naval Ravikant