A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog post explaining that you are what you read. The written word has tremendous influence on our personalities and our behaviors, but your predispositions and interests also lead you to pick up certain books, magazines, and online articles. In this way, you can get a pretty good sense of what kind of person someone is by simply checking out his bookcase or the magazines on his coffee table.
Shortly after I published that post, Derek Semmler described his reading list. He’s got a pretty eclectic collection there, ranging from comedy to online marketing. After taking a look at his reading list, I figured that it would only be fitting if I told my readers what I’ve been reading.
Local Newspapers: Even though it’s probably more efficient to get my world news through the Internet, there’s something to be said about flipping your way through the “dead tree edition” of the newspaper. I enjoy perusing some of the top stories as I sip on my morning coffee or munch on my lunch. My newspapers of choice are Metro and 24 Hours, both of which are free and local.
Technology and Video Game Blogs: I’ve been a video game geek my entire life, but there are still moments that make me go whoa. At the same time, I continually keep up with the world of technology (particularly gadgets, cell phones, and that kind of thing) as part of my duties with my freelance writing clients. I no longer buy video game magazines. Some of my favorite tech and video game blogs include Kotaku, Gizmodo, and The Boy Genius Report.
Dumbocracy (By Marty Beckerman): As you may recall, I posted an interview with the author a little while ago. If you enjoy the political humour of guys like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, then Dumbocracy is definitely worth your time. Marty rips into right-wing extremists and left-wing radicals with equal force.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (By Malcom Gladwell): If you check my Twitter profile, it says that I think I think too much. It’s really easy to over-analyze a situation and still come to the wrong conclusion. Blink takes a look at a more intuitive and automatic way to approach the world. Think without thinking and go with your gut.
Two Jobs, No Life: Learning to Balance Work and Home (By Dr. Peter Marshall): Even though this book addresses several issues that don’t concern me (like the possible issues associated with getting proper childcare), the core lessons surround the issue of work-life balance. If you’ve been reading Beyond the Rhetoric for a little while, you’ll know that this topic is of particular interest to me. Do you have Two Jobs, No Life?
I’m still not completely convinced that freelance writers can read for pleasure. Even though the books may start out as pleasure reading, I inevitably start looking for blog post inspiration. Does that make it work-related? I’m not sure.
Michael, thanks for sharing a look at your reading list. One of your books, Blink, was just recommended to me as well and will soon be on my reading list too.
Fiction is not on your reading list?
Not lately. I know. This completely goes against my post about fiction being more than a diversion, but I do indulge is a lot of fiction in the form of TV, movies, etc.
I did read the Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet recently. These books aren’t really fiction, but they’re not really non-fiction either, as the author explains Taoist principles (non-fiction) though interactions with Winnie the Pooh characters (fiction).
I hope to find some time to finish reading the entirety of Michael Crichton’s novels. I’ve really enjoyed everything of his I’ve read thus far, but I haven’t gotten around to reading everything yet.
For whatever reason I never really got into fiction books. Maybe I should give them a try…
I agree that it can be pleasurable to page through a local newspaper from time to time…they’re free there? I think the local paper here is like .50 or something for a daily and like 1.50 for a Sunday edition. I don’t purchase it very often but can usually glance at a copy at work or somewhere else along my daily travels.
I too enjoy the daily paper. I’ve had a subscription to the Chicago Tribune for years and enjoy the mornings that I have the time to read through the paper over breakfast.
We also receive a small local paper once per week. At one time it was a free but now it costs $0.50 per week.
There are several free local papers, as well as larger ones which cost money.