Close the app, open your mind
Take control of your future by reading instead of doomscrolling
This is my 52nd weekly post in a row! I never knew where this would go when I started, but I’m excited to hit the one-year mark. I hope this blog continues to serve you. Thanks for your support!
I received an email from Ray, a reader of this blog and a recent college graduate:
“Tarek, you mentioned in a recent blog that you wished you had read more books that would have caused you to think when you were younger. I’ve never been much of a reader and wondered where’s the best place to start?”
What a great question, Ray! I read a lot growing up. Somewhere along the way, other things captured my attention. I would say I didn’t have time, but the truth is, I can find time for what is most important to me. For much of my adult life, watching TV was a priority. I loved shows such as The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, The Wire, and Lost, to name a few. That changed when, one day, I realized how many hours I had spent watching someone else’s creative expression instead of pursuing my own. An intentional pivot back to reading has improved my life immensely. I watch the occasional TV show, but most of my spare time is spent reading or writing.
So what should you read? Fiction is great. I love John Grisham and still enjoy his books. Many recommend the Classics, but investing 30 hours reading “War and Peace” seems too high a mountain to climb. I recommend personal growth books as a great place to start. Reading these books is like being mentored by people you will never meet. Here are three ideas to get started (not in any particular order):
1) The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential by John C. Maxwell1 John helps you believe in what is possible instead of remaining stuck. He reminds us that no one improves by accident. You must take responsibility for your growth because no one will do it for you.
2) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear.2 There’s a reason this book has been on the New York Times best-seller list for 240 weeks! James’ advice is practical and actionable. He shares that excellence isn’t about radical changes but minor improvements over time. Goals are good for someone who wants to win once, but systems are for those who want to win repeatedly. Creating daily habits is the key.
3) Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.3 Must-read account of how Dr. Frankl survived a concentration camp in World War 2. This quote sums up his experience: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
Ok, so now you have 3 book ideas. How can you get the most out of them? I recommend buying a physical book.4 Then grab a pen and highlighter. Writing in your books is good! In doing so, you engage with the author’s ideas and how they apply to your life. I use John Maxwell’s A/C/T method:
A - put an “A” next to an idea you want to apply to your life
C - put a “C” next to something you want to change in your life
T - put a “T” next to an idea you want to teach someone else
Q - [bonus letter] Put a “Q” next to a quote you want to remember later. Use Google Sheets to log these quotes by category
Reading just 15 minutes a day can change your perspective and your life. Doomscrolling Instagram will have the opposite effect.5 I hope this helps you start a personal growth journey. Have an outstanding week!
I have a short email course that you or a colleague may be interested in on how to make a successful transition from school to work. Access it here! Career Growth Kickstarter
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Great suggestions! I love marking up my books; I feel like they are really mine that way. Not to mention that it validates my extensive post-it and highlighter collection. One suggestion I have is that I think all writers should read Stephen King’s “On Writing.” I’ve read it through all the way once but I find myself revisiting it often for inspiration.
Great thoughts, Tarek. I started requiring my college students to read 2 books during the semester, chosen from a curated list I provide. Many of the books you’ve shared are on that list. I also “confess” that they will learn more in each of the books they read than I, or any professor, can teach them in a semester of lectures.
Congrats on the 52 consecutive weeks of writing. James Clear would be so proud! :)