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📚 Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas​

Create a FOCUS Routine

Hello Reader,

The most common remark I hear in our reading community is, “I can’t focus.” If you feel the same, let’s do a quick mental exercise.

Consider the fact that your focus is a skill you need to develop. Focus is not something you have, it’s something that you earn.

Think of it like learning to play the piano. If that’s the case, and it is, then you can improve your focus if you establish a focus routine. How do you do that? The same way you would design a program for learning to play the piano.

🔥Tip #1: Define a set amount of time each day to practice the skill of focus. When I decided to get serious about this, I started with 30 minutes a day.

🔥 Tip #2: Have specific exercises that test your focus and are at the appropriate skill level.

• It doesn’t make sense for you to read Being and Time by Martin Heidegger (a ridiculously difficult philosophical read).
• Instead, you should get a book just above your focus level. When I first struggled with my brain, I spent a lot of time with Harry Potter and Stephen King, both highly entertaining, easy reads.

🔥 Tip #3: Treat your reading time as a practice session. When your focus wanes, don’t get angry at yourself. Take a deep breath and try again.

🔥 Tip #4: In music, a metronome is a device that clicks or beeps to help you keep time. You can speed it up or slow it down. If the piece is too hard to play at 200 beats a minute, slow it down to 125 beats a minute and give it another try. Still too difficult? Slow it down to 75 beats a minute. Do the same with your book. If you're unable to focus, slow down until you can.

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Until next week, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.

-Eddy

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New This Week: ​

Book Recommendation The Republic by Plato Listen to the Podcast Philosopher’s Guide to Better Thinking: A Conversation with Dr. Michael Huemer | EP 79 Watch the Show Every Book I Read in 2024 (Reviewed) What's New at Edgewater Bookstore Socks for Book Lovers

Book Recommendation

The Republic by Plato

​I love The Republic. It's a book that's worth its weight in gold (sorry for being cliché).

Is it hard to read? Yes. I've been reading it for a few years now. Once I'm done, I start over. It's one of those books you study rather than read once.

A lot of great ideas came from this book including the allegory of The Cave, The Divided Soul, and more. Plato was searching for an ideal form of government, but in doing so, he wrote a pretty great treatise on the ideal form of life.

I don't agree with everything in this book. Watch out for the suggestions on how guardians should live and procreate. That part is a doozy. But that's not the point. Plato jumped off a cliff with this book and tried to fly.

p.s. there's a reason why we still read and talk about books like this today...

Get Your Copy at Edgewater →

View Previous Week's Recommendations

Listen to The Podcast

Philosopher’s Guide to Better Thinking | EP79

In this episode, I sit down with philosopher Dr. Michael Huemer to talk about the importance of thinking critically in a world full of competing ideas. We discuss his latest book, Progressive Myths, and what it reveals about common misconceptions. Dr. Huemer also shares practical strategies for developing independent thought, and I explain how I’ve applied these lessons in my own life. If you’ve ever wanted a clear framework for navigating complex ideas, this conversation is for you.

Listen Here →

Watch the Show

Every Book I Read in 2024

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🎉 -In one of my recent YouTube videos, I reviewed every book I read in 2024. If you’re looking for challenging ideas, deep philosophy, or just a great story, one of these might be the perfect fit.

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I couldn't resist. I had to get these socks in my bookstore. I'm excited to announce that I now have a partnership with Gumball Poodle to bring fun socks to book lovers worldwide. I have six pairs of each kind. If they do well in the store, I'll get more. What do you think??? I Want Some Bookish Socks!

Hi, I'm Eddy. How Can I Help? 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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​ ​ Got Questions? ​

Reply to this email with your questions. I respond to each and sometimes make a podcast or video to answer your bookish questions.

​ See you next week! ​

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