I only reread a very small selection of books.
I own a lot of books. Most, if not all of them, I’ve read at some time or other. And most of them I will never read again.
This is why, a few years ago, I donated several large boxes of books to my local library. Given my tendency to move every 10 years or so – I’ve moved them many times. Books are a pain in the ass to pack and move.
And it occurs to me that I seldom reread them.
I love owning books. As an author, I appreciate it when people buy my books. But overall, I am not one to reread books.
There are many people I know who will read and reread the same books often – and then throw in a few new ones from time to time. Also, there are so very many books out there – by both established and independent authors – I tend not to reread.
There are a few books I’ll reread sometimes. But whatever you or I do, when it comes to this notion – there is no right or wrong.
I only reread what speaks loudest to me
When it comes to rereading books, I count relistening to audiobooks as a reread. But I can count on both hands – with room to spare – the books I choose to reread (or re-listen to).
Among the audiobooks, I have listened to Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass and You Are a Badass at Making Money multiple times. She reads them herself – which is fantastic. But also – the message in these books resonates with me and I like to reinforce it.
The other audiobooks I relisten to often are Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist (read by Jeremy Irons brilliantly. Also – I read it the first time), Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, and Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art.
When it comes to actual rereads of books, I will return to Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, Wallace Wattles’ Science of Getting Rich, and I believe that Gary John Bishop’s Unfu*k Yourself and Stop Doing That Sh*t will become rereads for me going forward.
Nine books get reread by me. And they all speak to me in some way or other that I feel a need to remind myself about – which is why I reread them.
That’s not to say that other books could join them. But all of these exist electronically in my world – either on Audible or Kindle. The bookshelves of books I’m unlikely to read again on the other side of my computer monitors still matter to me – but I don’t look forward to moving them again someday.
Yet I love books. And I am grateful that I own as many as I do. So, I choose to hold onto those that I have – and thus accept I might have to move them again.
Lots and lots of books to read
Between the major publishing houses, minor publishing houses, and self-publishing authors like me, it is estimated that between half a million to a million books (500,000 – 1,000,000) are published annually.
The quality amid the quantity is always up for grabs. I do multiple edits of my work before sending it off to a professional editor (and stuff still gets missed). However, multiple self-published authors don’t even bother with hiring an editor. And even some of the major publishing houses put out crap from time to time.
With all these books – and more coming every year – why reread at all?
From my perspective – writers tend to be more community-oriented and less competitive. Sure, I would love more sales of my books – I’m constantly striving for that. But I don’t see competition in other sci-fi or fantasy authors out there.
Instead, I see authors like me who are more likely to appreciate my support when I buy, read, and review their books. And I do review every eBook I read.
But sometimes a book splashes cold water on your face, wakes you up, inspires you, or otherwise speaks to you. Sometimes that is so bold that rereading said book is a matter of course. The impact might require reinforcement.
For example – The Alchemist.
Why do I reread The Alchemist?
To be fair – Jeremy Iron’s reading of this book on Audible is incredible. But that’s just the icing on top.
This book may be fiction – but it’s my favorite book. I love the journey that Santiago (the boy whose story this is) goes through in pursuit of his “personal legend.” It is deeply inspirational, and every time I relisten to this book I feel renewed and reinvigorated.
That feeling is so deeply empowering. And if I am feeling disempowered, frustrated, or down, rereading (relistening to) this book always makes me feel better.
But more than that – it reinvigorates me. And it makes me feel like I can find and reach my “personal legend” in this life.
For the love of words
Whether you reread books or not – reading is incredibly empowering.
I know a lot of people who don’t consider themselves readers. They don’t pick up books much at all. IF they read, they stick to magazines and even newspapers. But books? Too much for them.
To each their own. But to be honest – I feel sorry for people who don’t read books. You are missing out not just on knowledge, but entertainment, new ideas (real and imaginative), and the opportunity to sink yourself into a new world in a way TV and movies can’t.
Granted, I won’t deny I have a certain bias here. I’m an author – nonreaders are not my audience.
My father is an avid reader, and I suspect some of my love of reading came from him. My mother, on the other hand, is a nonreader – save her magazines. It just goes to show that we are not always a direct product of our environment.
Words have power. And strung together in book form, I always gain something new for myself. True, sometimes it’s how not to do a thing or an approach to avoid – but still a lesson learned.
I only reread a very small selection of books. But I spend the first hour of every day reading – and that is a habit I am deeply happy to continue, whether I read or reread.
Whether you reread books or not doesn’t matter – all reading can serve us in some way or other.
Do you have books you like to reread?
This is the one-hundred and fifty-third article exploring the ongoing creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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