Special Edition: For The Love Of Reading — From Life Kit

Plus, our favorite books from 2019.

"The hardest part about reading a book in 2019 is just opening the book.” — Kevin Nguyen, author, editor, book lover Becky Harlan/NPR I really enjoy thinking about reading. I like walking into a bookstore (or library!)  and picking up a colorful hardback, smelling that papery book smell as I flip through the pages and imagine sitting in a cozy corner chair with a cup of coffee, just reading.  To be honest, that’s often as far as I get. When I have free time, I’m more easily sucked into the vortex of social media than I am the plot of a novel. Even if I do buy (or check out) that book, it goes at the end of a long queue of wishful thinking. It doesn’t have to be this way.  Kevin Nguyen, the author of that relatable quote at the top of this newsletter, actually reads 100 books a year! (He writes about books too.) So Life Kit asked him to share some wisdom on how to not only crack open that book, but to actually read it:   How To Read More Books One tip we love: Wherever you go, always bring a book — and audiobooks count! —Becky Harlan, Life Kit engagement editor Newsletter continues after sponsor message Reading Isn't Your Thing?  Becky Harlan/NPR And if you’ve just never thought of yourself as a reader — maybe you’re not super fast, you can’t focus, you struggle with comprehension or it’s just not fun for you — we have a few more in-depth tips that can help you get on the bookworm train:   4 Reading Strategies If You’re Not A Regular Reader Find Your Next Favorite Book NPR If all this talk about reading has you reaching for the nearest book, we are happy to say that NPR’s beloved Book Concierge has arrived. It’s a collection of our favorite reads from 2019, organized into categories such as Book Club Ideas and Seriously Great Writing. The best part? This year’s edition includes all the titles from past years too.   For The Love Of Libraries Hero Images/Getty Images Libraries — as a concept — appeal to me. Free, public spaces where you don’t have to buy anything and interaction is optional seem hard to come by. And apparently, I’m not the only millennial who finds libraries compelling. I’m here to tell you that libraries are alive and well, even in the digital age, folks! I talked to Kathryn Zickuhr, a former research associate at the Pew Research Center, who found that libraries have more to offer than just books. A lot of public libraries have resources like “different online learning platforms or different movie streaming sites,” Zickuhr says. If you’re looking to cut back on your subscription-based streaming services, your library might offer a free alternative.  Additionally, Zickuhr says that libraries often have physical things you can check out. “Some libraries have experimented with tool-lending libraries, like gardening tools or household repair tools.” Some libraries have even added social workers to their staff, offering everything from tech courses to career counseling to caring for people experiencing homelessness. So, if you have a free afternoon, pop into your local library to see what they’re up to — check out a book, a movie or even a shovel.  —Clare Schneider, Life Kit project coordinator    Make A Reading Game Plan I like deadlines. I like setting them, watching them, meeting them. That’s why I’ve started self-imposed reading deadlines with the help of library loans. Here’s how I game it out: My local library lets you check out digital books for 21 days (with an app called Libby), so I try to only get books around 300 pages or so. With that timeline, I only need to read about 14 pages a day before the loan expires. You’d be surprised how many pages you can get through waiting for the bus or a cup of coffee (especially when you’re reading on your phone). It might sound too disciplined, but if I get an extra book in a month, it’s a deadline I look forward to crushing. —Meghan Keane, Life Kit managing producer That's all for now. If you want more Life Kit, subscribe to our podcast, watch this space or say “hi” to us @NPRLifeKit on Twitter.  What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: bestofnpr@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy