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40 Years of Reading Taught Me This Lesson 📚
Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read
40 Years of Reading Taught Me THIS.
Hello Reader,
I've been reading books for 40 years. I started with those See Spot Run books—they were great. What's strange is that the lesson from those early books still holds true for the books I read today.
In fact, it's not so much a lesson as it is a single word that has guided me along the way: Maybe. Every book I've read has taught me the invaluable power of saying, Maybe.
Books have shown me that my culture is not the only culture. They've taught me that the ideas I once held as absolute truths might actually be improved upon or even changed. When I was younger, I was convinced I had it all figured out. 😂 Books have reminded me that the rules governing everything I do can—and should—be questioned with the word, Maybe.
I'm trying to get better at listening to passionate friends who are fired up about political, religious, or economic issues and responding with Maybe instead of immediately charging off with them to fight for the cause.
Our emotions often cloud our judgment. So, the next time you read a book, consider how it’s teaching you to be more level-headed—and perhaps, just maybe, even reasonable.
👋 Until next time, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
New This Week:
This Month's Book Recommendation
1984 by George Orwell
Listen to the Podcast
Read, Highlight, Apply: A Simple Strategy | EP 90
Watch the Show
Build a Daily Reading Habit (Plus 6 Books that Helped Me)
What's New at Edgewater Bookstore
See What's New for March 2025
March's Book Recommendation
1984 by George Orwell
I'm recommending George Orwell's dystopian political novel 1984 for the month of March. I love this book because it presents an eerily plausible vision of what could happen if we allow politicians to lead us blindly.
I'm not here to argue whether our current government is doing well or poorly. My hope is to encourage people to think critically and not accept Republican or Democratic ideologies without question.
In 1984, a terrifying entity called Big Brother is always watching. Big Brother represents a government that has overstepped its mandates, infiltrated the personal lives of its citizens, and seized control over every aspect of life. The government rewrites history, watches people through their televisions, and punishes anyone who dares to resist.
This week's lesson from 1984 is that no society is immune to the rise of Big Brother. If we're not vigilant, power will gravitate toward those who seek it—and they will abuse it.
I’ve highlighted hundreds of passages in books I’ve read over the years, and for a long time, most of them just sat there. I never looked at them again. In this episode, I’ll walk you through how I fixed that—how I actually use my highlights to learn, remember, and apply what I read. If you’ve ever found yourself excited about a passage but unsure how to make it stick, this episode is for you.
Most people want to read more but struggle to stay consistent. I’ve been there. Over the years, I’ve learned a few simple ways to make reading part of my life without forcing it. I’ll share the strategies that worked, the six books that kept me hooked when my motivation dipped, and how to handle common mistakes—like getting stuck in books that feel impossible to finish.
This month, I'm focusing on the dangers of "Group Think." The goal is to recognize when we're swept away with the crowd and to hit pause and think before we act.
Feel free to respond to this email. Let me know how I can make your experience in our reading community better, or if you have questions, I'm all ears.
As always, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas.
-Eddy
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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.