I read 57 books in 2023, 17 in 2024 and so far 13 since the start of this year!

Throughout over 42,000+ pages (yes I counted) I have developed an even bigger appreciation for reading and writing over the last few years and recently I realized reading has had an even bigger impact on my life than I expected. So if you’re curious, here’s what I’ve learned…

I really really really love reading

I spent so much of my childhood reading voraciously and then just like so many others I just stopped. I only read a few books every year but something was missing. 

You can watch movies & TV and you can spend so many hours consuming media but being able to read something feels like a full experience that can’t compare to anything else. 

You can be transported into different worlds, understand new perspectives and learn about anything and everything.

Any reading is valuable

I have spoken to many people about reading: Their favorite books and their guilty pleasures. Sometimes people carry shame and devalue what they read. They shouldn’t. 

Love it or hate it #booktok has popularized reading that is accessible to everyone. Access to digital books has never been easier and I am so delighted. You can even try an audiobook… *Feel free to argue about whether listening to audiobooks counts as reading in the comments.

Whatever you are craving, there is something out there for you, and no matter where you start, you can continue expanding and strengthening your reading muscles. Reading can be relaxing, it can be educational, it can be thought-provoking, it can be challenging, and most importantly it can be fun!

Reading makes you a better writer, editor, speaker, & person

For those who want to improve their vocabulary, their spelling, their grammar, their writing, their speaking or maybe just their brain (no biggie): Reading is the solution.

Whatever your language level there is always something more challenging, something with new words, new structures and different styles. Reading is entertainment but it has also become unintentional research. 

Reading creates and strengthens neural pathways. And in the age of AI, social media and unlimited content I see reading as the alternative and the solution to create deep comprehension, understanding and critical thinking skills. And hey, I love a doom scroll like the rest of you but I made a distinct effort to convert some of that time to reading and I never looked back.

Reading shaped my career not just my personal life

Reading led me back to writing, which led me to Technical Writing. Technical Communications has secretly been at the core of my career for years but then I decided it was time to explore this new path. 

Reading made me appreciate the craft and re-inspired my love for writing (of any form). Maybe it can be that for you. Maybe you can get lost in a fictional world of fantasy, or sci-fi or even love. Maybe you can read about the history that shapes our world. Maybe you can find a solution to a problem. Maybe gain a new skill or understanding. You can learn something about yourself or about others, about your career or personal life.

I continue to read and as I flex my reading muscles, widening my scope of interest and raising my reading level I see a direct correlation with better writing skills, better comprehension and healthier brain habits.