We have an extra Thursday this month, so I want to share a quote with you that I find particularly profound, and I’m excited to hear what you think about it! In today’s episode of the Life Writers Vlog, we revisit Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman, which I introduced in episode 132.
It’s a great book, and this passage really stuck with me. Burkeman says, “Most of the long-term benefits of reading arise not from facts you insert into your brain, but from the ways in which reading changes you, by shaping your sensibility, from which good work and good ideas will later flow.” Really?
I’ve always struggled with retaining what I read. I’ve made systems and even attended Huntington Learning Academy to learn to read better—and yes, I was relieved not to be in with all the little kids! Still, retention has never been my strength.
But Burkeman’s take on reading felt like a relief. I may not remember every line, but books—especially memoirs—have deeply changed me. In Life Writers, we studied Solito by Javier Zamora, which left a lasting mark. Zamora’s story walked me through a life I could barely imagine and made it real.
So, what about you? How do you approach reading? When you pick up a book, what do you hope to gain by reading it? Do you struggle with, or even care about, retaining what you’ve read?
In the comments section below, tell us about the kind of reader you are, and if you have a simple method that helps you retain what you’ve read, please share it.
But regardless of your desire, when you pick up a book, always remember, the only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
Until next time, happy writing!
I read different kinds of books. I love reading about newcomers and notable figures who break barriers and inspire others to excel. Sally Ride and Mae Jemison who was the first African American woman in space. My Black author library continues to grow, anchored my Alex Haley’s Roots. Since I love plants, I bought the Secret Life of Plants. Did you know plants “talk” to each other? Being a NBA basketball fan, I loved Phil Jackson’s Eleven Rings. Six championships with the Chicago Bulls… Michael Jordan and Scottie Pipen. Five championships with the LosAngeles Lakers…Magic Johnson, Kobe and Shaq. The… Read more »
When I read I become part of the story. I mourn the loss of connection when the story ends, and that I won’t know any more about the lives of the characters. Now, I find myself more aware of the writing style, and the technique, which does pull me out a little from being fully immersed in the book.
I read to go into the world of the story. If i can get totally immersed and be in another place for a while, or even for just a few well-written sentences, its wonderful. Even if the story is sad. Memoirs are cool, because most of them are close representations of true life. I learn from the shared knowledge of place, time, culture, beliefs, values, and events. I gain a specific flavor of life that is not my own.
Since I read memoirs mostly, I usually read to gain wisdom.
I read for enjoyment (almost always) and leave it to the book to make an impression.