4 Books for Non-Readers
Must-reads for people who want to read more, but hate reading.
Truth is, anyone who says they don’t want to read more is either a full-time student, or trying to come off as dumb-er than they really are — in both cases, I don’t know if I’d trust their testimony.
Theoretically, we all want to read more.
(To be clear, it’s not the wanting that I’m comparing, but the reading. We want to read more than we do — not necessarily more than we want to binge The Great British Baking Show. But I digress.)
For me, reading feels like work, no matter how enjoyable the subject. I don’t like reading — I like having read.
If that sounds like you, you’re in luck — I’ve discovered four must-reads that anyone can not only get through, but enjoy.
Each one is broken up into bite-sized pieces, too, so you don’t have to set aside hours at a time to consume the content. Keep a copy in your bag or your car and take it out whenever you’ve got 10 minutes on your hands.
You’ll be glad you did when you’re at a dinner party (if those ever happen again) and finally get use that magical segue: “that reminds me of a book I was reading…” Did somebody say ‘discrete intellectual flex?’
1. The Book of Delights
Ross Gay is a masterful poet and joy-sparker. Probably best known for his Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, Gay’s Book of Delights is — as you might imagine — delightful.
The book is filled with 102 lyrical essays, each honing in on the complexity and beauty of everyday life.
Ranging from deeply philosophical to unapologetically personal, each entry is a breath of fresh air — and I mean that literally. Every time I sit down to take in one of these succinct sermons (some as short as a page and a half) I can feel my chest open up and my lungs expand. It’s like literary Xanax.
2. Gmorning, Gnight!
Little Pep Talks by Lin-Manuel Miranda, illustrated by Jonny Sun
Even those who have been living under a rock (a tempting option given how this year has gone) have heard of — and are probably obsessed with — Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Each page is seasoned with a simple affirmation — a “Little Pep Talk” according to Miranda — accompanied by a lovable illustration from the buoyant hand of Jonny Sun, fashioned to help you “change your morning mindset [and] calm your head before you sleep.”
My wife and I were in a habit of reading a “Gnight” before bed for several months, and I can confidently say — though the data is inconclusive, because it’s non-existent — my dreams were about 24% happier.
3. Whatever You Are, Be a Good One
Inspirational Quotes illustrated by Lisa Congdon
Lisa Congdon is an author and illustrator known for her work with global names like Facebook, Crate and Barrel, REI, and Harvard (yeah, that Harvard).
While a compilation of quotes might feel like a gray area in the ‘does this count as reading a book?’ department, I can assure you that the time spent flipping through these pages is well worth your while. (Plus, a casual quote from Oscar Wilde or Harriet Tubman will almost definitely garner more social credit than a poorly-placed Orwell reference — we get it Shane, these are ominous times.)
Not to mention, the quotes themselves are timeless. When coupled with Congdon’s whimsical illustrations, each page is a much needed boost in creative motivation and inspiration, and who wouldn’t want more of that?
4. Aimless Love
Selected Poems by Billy Collins
Billy Collins is a former two-term Poet Laureate of the United States. His approachable, often humorous style appeals to a wide audience, which is to say you don’t have to like poetry to like Collins.
Aimless Love is a collection of new and selected poems released in 2014, which I received as a gift from a friend a few years back. (In fact, I believe all of these books were gifts. Shoutout to good friends who know your taste in literature.)
The poems are often deeply emotional, but in an accessible way — each a playful, or ironic, or serious revelation on the universal themes of love, loss, and joy, as well as the less-universal theme of poetry itself.
The idea that reading can only mean consuming lengthy, classical works of literature is a misconception that took me a while to get past. (I’ll blame it on the fact that I was an English major.)
The more that I discover books that I actually enjoy reading, the more I actually read. Hopefully these books open up a similar door for you.
