The Read Well Podcast
Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits.
đ Jane EyreâOur Next Book Club Read (And Why Youâll Love It)
Jane Eyre đOur Next Book Club Readđ (And Why Youâll Love It) Hello Reader, Next Tuesday (Feb 25), weâre starting a new book in our book clubâCharlotte BrontĂŤâs Jane Eyre. If you havenât read it yet, this is your chance. If you have, itâs time to see it with fresh eyes. Why Jane Eyre? Because itâs one of the most fiercely independent, thought-provoking novels in literature. At its core, Jane Eyre is about a young woman who refuses to be defined by her circumstances. Sheâs orphaned, poor, and...
Shakespeareâs Secret for Better Reading
Shakespeare and His Reading Secret 𤍠Hello Reader, Iâm in a university class called âStudies in Shakespeare,â and we just finished Henry V. At the beginning of this play, Shakespeare teaches us how to make every book we read 1,000% better. Before I share his tip, I need to set the stage (pun intended) by briefly describing Henry V. Setting The Stage Henry V is one of Shakespeareâs âWar Playsâ where he chronicles the adventures (and possible misadventures) of English conquest. In Henry V, we...
đ¤ Do You Forget Books? Try This When You Read.
Remember What You Read Hello Reader, When you look at your home library, do you see books that youâve read, loved, and COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN? Iâm talking about the life-changing books that filled you with ideas and are now collecting dust on your shelf. What happened? When I forget books, itâs because I stayed at level 1 of reading comprehension â a barren place I call âBase camp.â đď¸ READING LEVEL 1: BASE CAMP When I was 12, my best friend decided we would climb a mountain behind his house. I...
When Reading FEELS Overwhelming
When Reading Feels Like a Chore Hello Reader, Sometimes I donât feel good about myself as a reader. Little thoughts slither into my brain and destroy my motivation. I want to talk about these thoughts today because theyâre normal and many of you feel them as well. Last week, I got an email from a community member in a reading slump. This personâs email had the following statements: My reading practice has unraveled. I got too far behind. I donât want to add to my schedule. Another reader sent...
5 Tips to Read More Books
How to Read More Books Hello Reader, Before we learn how to read more books, letâs chat about the ridiculousness of todayâs image. I had ChatGPT create a picture based on my article below. The genius robots drew a woman in a chair. Notice how she and the side table are blocking the front door. Perhaps the best way to read more books (according to AI) is to lock yourself in your home and barricade the door. đŞđ Anyway, letâs get started. --- THE CHALLENGE: If you want to read more books, you...
Stop Binging on Junk Media: Feed Your Brain
Feed Your Brain with Better Books Hello Reader, I need to lose 10 pounds (mostly around the belly) and the process of dieting has taught me something interesting about reading deeply. I know what youâre thinkingâŚthat I pull these reading thoughts from strange places, but I promise this will help improve your deep reading sessions. Keep reading. Ok, back to the diet. I tried eating less food. That makes sense, right? WRONG. By cutting down on calories, I get ravenous halfway through the day...
Improve Your Focus ( 90-Day Experiment)
Try a 90-Day Focus Experiment Hello Reader, Improving focus seems to be a major theme around here. 90 days ago, I lost my AirPod case and thought it was the end of the world. 𫨠Iâm the kind of guy who loves filling every possible second with interesting information. My AirPods gave me a way to always learn with audiobooks or YouTube videos playing in my ear. When I couldnât find the case, I immediately searched for a replacement so that I could charge my Airpods. And then, for some reason, I...
Live Deliberately (As a Reader) in 2025đ
Live Deliberately (As a Reader) in 2025 Hello Reader, This week's post is rosy-eyed and overly optimistic. If you would rather be in a bad mood, then skip this one. Call me romantic or even naive, but I love a fresh start, so the New Year is my favorite holiday. I giggle (Yes, giggle) over the prospect of designing the next 12 months of life. đ˛When Thoreau went to live at Walden Pond, he wrote âEvery man (and woman) is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation...
Battle Your Brain Rot with Hard Books
đ Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas Battle Your Brain Rot with HARD Books Hello Reader, Have you come across the term âBrainrotâ yet? It comes from our lifestyle of busy living, screen swiping, and âworking in a state of semi-distractionâ (Newport 43). đĽ Weâre swamped with shallow work, the kind of tasks that do little to feed the growth of our brains. We spend most of the day checking email (shallow), multi-tasking (shallow), and moving too quickly (you guessed it â shallow). đ§đŤ We...
Create a FOCUS Routine
đ Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas Create a FOCUS Routine Hello Reader, The most common remark I hear in our reading community is, âI canât focus.â If you feel the same, letâs do a quick mental exercise. Consider the fact that your focus is a skill you need to develop. Focus is not something you have, itâs something that you earn. Think of it like learning to play the piano. If thatâs the case, and it is, then you can improve your focus if you establish a focus routine. How do you...
Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits.