I grew up watching television. What American kid of my generation didn’t?  However, I remember as a kid I read so much more than I do now.  I mean, I read a lot back then, sometimes a book a day and I could always find time to read AND watch all my shows.  Now, I’m not really sure when the last time I just sat down with the sole purpose of reading a book.  Occasionally, if I go into the city on a more frequent basis I will take a book along and read it over the course of a month as I commute to and fro.  Though that’s far from impressive and I can’t say truly in the spirit of enjoying a book to it’s fullest.

My father, on the other hand, is a reader.  Growing up, I swear he was constantly reading about fifty books at a time.  It was just something he did.  He still does.  One time he gave me an interesting theory on his reading, which I will share with you now.

Dad makes a habit of reading four books¹ at a time, each serving a different purpose.  

One just for fun.

If you’re not going to enjoy reading, what’s really the point?  Read a book that offers you a sense of pleasure.  It doesn’t have to be classic literature, ² just something thrilling.  It can be a romance novel or an anthology of WW2 guns.

Being a big fiction reader, this one isn’t too hard for me to choose.  I either go one of two routes with this, I either pick up a Sci-fi/Fantasy book or a first person character piece, usually about some sort of idiot savant.  And I’ll have  you know that both Ender’s Game and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time  were both excellant reads.

One to learn something.

This is where we obviously start to use our brains a bit.  Pick up a book that will actually teach you something.  This, of course, can be on a topic that you know very little about or that you know a bit about but could always know more.

Like the previous category, this one isn’t difficult for me.  Learning something new about something I’m interested in really isn’t a chore, so getting through a Film/Television book, or something, isn’t too much of an ask.  Though I recommend something that can really further your knowledge, not just an easy read.

Update: My father noted that this one, for him, is usually to learn something new about his particular career field, if you would like to take that on board.

One for faith and/or spirituality.

When I was about thirteen, my father jumped head first into participating actively in the Episcopal Church, and with that, came a whole new stack of books.  Obviously, not everyone out there is a Christian, or even particularly religious for that matter, but I sort of like this one, and I believe that’s it’s still applicable to everyone.  There’s more to spirituality than learning about Jesus.  Spirituality is about the incorporeal or immaterial nature we possess, or rather plainly, “the soul.”  Not a big fan of the big J.C.?  Maybe buddism is more up your ally.  Grab a book on meditation.

A bit too wanky for you?  Well, you can’t say that there’s not room for improvement.  What about picking up a self-help book of sorts.  I hear The Secret is revolutionary.  Don’t judge, that’s just what I hear.  Use this category to find a way to make you a better person, whatever way that might be.  Who doesn’t want to be a better person?

One to broaden horizons.

Pick up a book that you wouldn’t normally pick up.  I can’t speak for everyone but I have a very small comfort zone.  My interests are very limited and the idea of seeking outside of those interests is a concept that’s either terrifying or boring to me… Probably both.

This may sound like a bit like the second category, and I guess in a way it is, but this one isn’t as limiting.  This book can be anything that’s a leap for you, hence the term, “broadening horizons.”  Techincally, a action novel would be way outside my peripherals and no one is really argueing that they are the most educating books in the world, so really, this can be anything.³ Though, a book about South African Apartheid would certainly be stepping out of the box. The more we read, the more we learn learn, and that can’t hurt.

Though, I would like to note that dad always snubbed my SciFi thing, so maybe he should follow his own advice and picking up a book about space ships or dragons should be his next attempt under the “Broadening Horizons” heading.

So there.

I’m not going to pretend that I have ever been able to read four books at once, especially with such stipulations, but if you ask me, it’s not a bad discipline to have.  Reading is what keeps our brain active, so by all means, do what you can.  Start with any two of these books and work up from there.  My father’s a smart man, and perhaps this is why.  TV and movies are great and I have heard people say that it will be the end of reading, but why does it have to?  Why does one have to be to the exclusion of the other?  Paper is awesome, grab a book.

There is still another two to three weeks in summer hiatus left, so pick up a book or two…or four.  My dad will like you more for it.

Don’t ask about my Wii.  We aren’t speaking to one another.  Though this evening I rent on a real run.  Yes, I left my lounge room.  It was brutal, and probably a bit comical to watch.

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