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.
đź“š 20 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Reader
20 Harsh Truths for Readers Hello Reader, I want to start by saying that these "Hash Tips" are pointed at me. I'm not suggesting I've got it all figured out--just that I'm working on them. Reading well is a practice. Stop saying you don’t have time. You have time—you’re just choosing Netflix over growth. Quit reading aimlessly. A hundred random books won’t help if you don’t know what you’re trying to learn. Re-read the hard stuff. If you didn’t understand it the first time, that’s exactly why...
Note-Taking Anxiety for Readers
Note-Taking Anxiety (as a reader) Hello Reader, I used to feel anxious every time I opened a book with a pen in hand. I wanted to take better notes, but I had a thousand questions. Am I doing this right? Should I be using a different system? Should I have a color-coded setup? What if I forget something important? What am I supposed to highlight? Am I highlighting too much? Not enough? Should I use a digital platform or keep everything digital? Ugh! It’s funny how the act of taking...
21 Ways to Fall In Love with Books - AGAIN
21 Ways to Fall In Love with Books - AGAIN Hello Reader, Somewhere along the way, we forgot how to read like children. Not in skill—but in spirit. We used to fall into books with abandon. We'd read under blankets, in trees, in the backseat of the car. There was no goal, no pressure, no ego. Just wonder. Just story. But now? We read for work. For self-improvement. For the next argument. We highlight quotes so we can sound smart on social media. We finish books we don’t even like just to say we...
3 Books That Changed My Perspective
3 Books That Blew Me Away Hello Reader, Every once in a while, I read a book that shifts something in me—how I see people, how I think about my work, or how I understand the world. I wanted to share three of those books with you today. These aren’t just books I liked—they changed my perspective in ways I didn’t expect. 1. The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian MooreThis one surprised me. It’s the story of a woman who lives with deep prejudice, routines, and a desire to be seen as proper...
The Best Thing Deep Reading Has Taught Me So Far
The Deep Reading Lesson that WORKS Hello Reader, I just got off a cruise ship with my family. We spent the last two days locked in our cabins, sick. I did have a few good days on the boat, though—and the photo above was my view each morning. At least I’m home now, surrounded by my books. Lying in that cramped little room, kids coughing all around me, I found myself thinking about you—and what I might write in this newsletter. After years of talking about the art of deep reading, one lesson...
The 11 Books We're Reading in Book Club 2025 - 2026
11 Books for a Year of Deep Reading Hello Reader, One of my favorite moments every year is sharing the new reading list with all of you—and this year, it’s especially good. I’ve spent the past few months thinking carefully about the arc of our year: what kinds of conversations we want to have, what stories will challenge us, and how we can keep growing together as readers and thinkers. We’re covering a lot of ground this time around—classics, sci-fi, philosophy, memoir, nature writing, and...
Reading Gets Even Better the Deeper You Go
Build a Better Reading Habit Hello Reader, I’ve Unlocked a Magical Reading Door in My Brain I didn’t even know the door existed. But recently, I’ve discovered that my ability to sink deeply into a book and truly enjoy it is a skill—one that can be developed. Here’s what my reading journey has looked like so far, and maybe you’ll see yourself somewhere along the way. If you’re trying to level up your own reading life, hang in there. LEVEL 1: MAKING TIME FOR BOOKS The first step is simply...
I Think. You'll Love This Book
I Think You'll Love This Book Hello Reader, It’s been a big week for me. I needed a story to help me escape the madness of life and the stress of this goofy economy. I’m late to the game here, but I finally read LESS by Andrew Sean Greer, and I loved it for three reasons. This is the story of Arthur Less, a gay author on the brink of turning 50, who sets off on a global journey to avoid attending an ex-lover’s wedding. Accepting a string of questionable speaking invitations, he escapes the...
Why Reading Philosophy Is the Ultimate Brain Workout
9 Books That Will Make You Smarter (and Think Harder) Hello Reader, In Behave, Robert Sapolsky makes a powerful case that what you do with your brain changes your brain. Neurons rewire. Habits remap synapses. Your focus carves new mental pathways. That means reading—especially deep, challenging reading—isn’t just informative. It’s transformative. This is why I keep returning to philosophy. It forces me to slow down, think hard, and stretch my mind. If you’re new to the genre or ready to go...
How to read more when you don’t feel like it
Too tired to read? Same. Here’s how I deal with it. Hello Reader, Let’s talk about reading motivation. Should we worry when our motivation crashes and burns? I don’t think so. There are days when I absolutely do not want to read. Why? Because I’m tired. My chutzpah is out of go-go juice. I’ve got too many irons in the fire—and they’re burning the whole house down. Pick a problem, and it’s probably the reason my motivation fell apart. Here’s what I’ve learned: motivation is an unfaithful...
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.