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Female Authors In the House!
👋 Hello Reader,
I’ve been thinking a lot about the authors I recommend in my newsletter, and I’ve realized I need to do a better job featuring writers from all walks of life—especially more women.
This thought started last week after a subscriber emailed me and said that philosophy can feel a bit “bro-y.” I had to laugh—because it’s true. There are far more men than women in philosophy, and since my newsletter and community are inspired by that world, I tend to highlight male authors a lot.
So, I’m making a change. I want to dig deeper to uncover all the great voices worth reading. To kick things off, let me introduce you to Zadie Smith. This week, I’m recommending her brilliant debut novel, White Teeth. See below. 👇🏻
📚 Until next time, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas.
-Eddy
New This Week:
Book Recommendation
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Listen to the Podcast
Our Motto: Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas | EP 116
What's New in Book Club
We're starting a new book - join us!
What's New at Edgewater Bookstore
Water damage, oh my.
Book Recommendation
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
This book is a ton of fun to read.
Zadie Smith writes some of the quirkiest, most memorable characters I’ve read in a long time. They’re messy, complicated, and full of life. Beneath all the humor and chaos, she asks some big questions about the meaning of life, religion, death, and friendship without making the book feel heavy.
And the writing—good grief. Zadie’s gift for language is incredible. The way she describes how people do what they do made me laugh out loud more than once.
If you’re looking for a story that’s equal parts funny, smart, and thought-provoking, White Teeth is a fantastic place to start.
Nietzsche and the Art of Living Dangerously | EP 115
In this episode, I talk about a simple motto that changed the way I read: Read slowly, take notes, apply the ideas. Most of us rush through books hoping the next one will fix what the last one didn’t. But real learning happens when we slow down and wrestle with one book at a time. I’ll share how I use pauses between books to reflect, and why action—not speed—is what makes a reader grow.
We’re switching gears into the world of nonfiction! As of last Tuesday, we’ve started reading An Immense World by Ed Yong. It’s not too late to jump in—just read 10 pages a day, and you’ll be caught up to page 73 by next Tuesday.
This week has been a bit of an adventure. While walking through the bookstore, I discovered a spot on the roof that hadn’t been properly finished—and sure enough, it was letting in water. That’s been causing some damage inside the property, so I’ve spent the past few days meeting with contractors to get bids to repair the roof, clean out the mold, and redo the drywall.
Not exactly the most romantic part of opening a bookstore, but it’s all part of the journey! I’ll keep you posted as we make progress. Every fix brings us one step closer to opening the doors to Edgewater.
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
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.
Weekly Newsletter on Great Books, Reading Habits, and Literary Appreciation.
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.