Browsing the shelves! When I have time to kill in airports, I love finding a bookstore, and then just seeing if anything looks interesting. There are the predictable titles (bestsellers, business, self-help...) esp in the boring "newstand" type airport bookstores, but there are a surprising number of airports with decent bookstores, and interesting titles you've maybe been meaning to read but needed a nudge, or something new that looks cool. Serendipity kicks algorithms butt. And then you have an airplane ride to start reading!
Yes, as always here. Social media can be useful but it’s chasing the writing, not always leading the reader. Your brain is probably aging better if you keep the company of good, demanding readers. For proof, look at who follows Beautiful Losers. Shannan says she’s a loner/introvert in witness protection but she’s opened a community for the rest of us to splash around in and come back regularly. The other thing to mention is to not feel obligated to agree with everyone’s suggestions. if you don’t always, you’re probably bringing something worthwhile to the group yourself.
This is true about so many people I encounter. Folks love being noticed/seen/being asked about something they know about. My fave memory of asking was the question, “Tell me more about what you’ve seen as an insurance actuary.”
“I promise you that your librarian is a nice person. I promise even if they look grouchy, they’re not.”
I will confess to putting more emphasis than is really sensible on cover art. And newspaper articles and reviews. And price.
Join a book club and read as part of a community what everyone else is reading
Lots of great ideas!
Browsing the shelves! When I have time to kill in airports, I love finding a bookstore, and then just seeing if anything looks interesting. There are the predictable titles (bestsellers, business, self-help...) esp in the boring "newstand" type airport bookstores, but there are a surprising number of airports with decent bookstores, and interesting titles you've maybe been meaning to read but needed a nudge, or something new that looks cool. Serendipity kicks algorithms butt. And then you have an airplane ride to start reading!
Yes, as always here. Social media can be useful but it’s chasing the writing, not always leading the reader. Your brain is probably aging better if you keep the company of good, demanding readers. For proof, look at who follows Beautiful Losers. Shannan says she’s a loner/introvert in witness protection but she’s opened a community for the rest of us to splash around in and come back regularly. The other thing to mention is to not feel obligated to agree with everyone’s suggestions. if you don’t always, you’re probably bringing something worthwhile to the group yourself.
This is true about so many people I encounter. Folks love being noticed/seen/being asked about something they know about. My fave memory of asking was the question, “Tell me more about what you’ve seen as an insurance actuary.”
“I promise you that your librarian is a nice person. I promise even if they look grouchy, they’re not.”
I absolutely love this piece. I think I’ll peruse my library or bookstore and judge a book by its cover.