I rarely make New Years resolutions, at least not consciously. The statistics are just too daunting… most people fail by early February and I’m not so sure failure is the best way to start off a new year. So, this is not a New Year’s Resolution. This is simply spelling out my post-election resolution. And today happens to be January 8. That’s it… completely independent and coincidental.
Anyway, I’m trying to re-condition myself with regard to reading habits. See, I love reading books, but I have never been able to just sit and read or read before going to sleep (causes insomnia). I can read in two places – in the bathtub, or on public transportation. That used to be plenty… in my old job, I spent over an hour a day on the Metro, and traveled the East Coast either by bus or plane about twice a month. And I’ve always been big on soaking in a hot bath with a good book. But, in 2006, I moved to a narrow little rowhouse with no bathtub. And in early 2008, I switched jobs — I never use public transportation anymore. So, with very rare exception, I pretty much stopped reading anything that wasn’t available online (I don’t know why, but online reading is just different).
I know I can re-train myself. I mean, curling up with a cup of coffee and a good book always sounds so nice, I know I can learn to do that. Step 1: Get an Enoch Pratt library card. Check. Step 2: Come up with a reading list. See below. Step 3: Isolate myself… no phone, no computer, no television. Um, that hasn’t been as easy. But I’m still trying.
Things started off pretty well… I zipped through Summer for the Gods (mostly by trying to read before bed, and ultimately reading until I had to go to work the next day – that wasn’t smart.) Read a few chapters from Party of the People, and – even though I’m not a Hofstadter fan – The American Political Tradition.
But now I’m back to stuck. I checked A Fierce Discontent out of the library over two weeks ago, and I’ve made it all the way to page 60. I’m really trying, too. After work today, I made a fresh pot of coffee, put on a big, fluffy robe and sat in my rocking chair. How can that not work? I read all of ten pages and found something else to do. This is obviously going to take some more work. Still, I’m setting an arbitrary date – let’s say December 31, 2009 – and I’m committed to at least having worked my way through this reading list – plus any books I add to it – by then:
A Fierce Discontent
Bowling Alone (amazingly, I’ve never read this)
The Spirit of Community
No Ordinary Time
The Wisdom of Crowds
Skirmisher (not out until April)
The Populist Persuasion
