Why Creating Reading Lists Jumpstarts Self Improvement Success

For the Love of Reading

Growing up, I was taught by my parents that books were the key to knowledge. My parents fostered in me a great respect for books. They read to me quite often, and I had a shelf in my room that had on it all of my favorite books. It seemed that all I did as a kid was play outside and read.

Some of my fondest childhood keepsakes are books, all because I associate them with a certain emotion, my parents and my childhood.

Although my life has gotten much busier and I don’t read nearly as much as I used to, I still believe that books are important to improving myself as a person.

Reading opens the mind to a variety of world views, people, ideas, and cultures, while also refining our sense of language and its ability to convey our every thought and mood.

Why Bother With a Reading List?

In the past few years, I have tried to regain the strong reading habits I had as a kid. I’ve done this by creating reading lists for myself based on a goal I have in my life, an upcoming event, or anything else that relates to me in some way.

Reading lists are beneficial because they guide our reading. Otherwise, we’d simply pick and choose what to read, which could lead to reading books that might not benefit us as much as if we had placed them in the greater context of our lives.

For example, two years ago, I went on a trip to Russia. Before the trip I created a reading list for myself that included many great works of Russian literature: Notes from Underground by Fydor Dostoevsky, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol, and others.

I felt that by reading these books, I could hopefully better understand Russian culture. It was fascinating, then, to be walking through Moscow and find myself touring Tolstoy’s Moscow residence. I felt like I could connect the writing to the author. I strongly believe that I got more out of that trip because I created a reading list of Russian literature.

What to Put on Your Reading List

Of course, the above reading list dealt more with a vacation than with a significant or serious part of my life. You might wonder if you could apply reading to a more serious aspect of your life, such as your career or financial worries. Well, the answer to that is easy!

Your reading list doesn’t need to just be literature. It can also include non-fiction. Just take a look at the New York Times bestseller list for some ideas. Also look into classic philosophical texts for ideas as well. Some great books that might give you ideas as to how you improve your career could include Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and the essay “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Ultimately, there are three steps you can take to create reading lists that may help you improve your life.

1) Find a purpose for your list. This purpose can come from any aspect of your life: your loves, your fears, your family, your career, your finances, your relationships, or any other concept that directly pertains to your passions. Make this concept the focus of your reading list.

2) Research books to put on this list. You can use traditional media outlets, such as the aforementioned New York Times bestseller’s list for ideas. But also don’t be afraid to ask your local librarian for recommendations. Finally you can search for book blogs on the internet to see if other readers have written about similar experiences.

3) Stick to a reading schedule. I try to read between one and two hours a day at lunch at before I go to bed, but this all depends on my schedule. The important thing is to read daily for however long you can. If you have trouble following a schedule, consider keeping a reading journal in which you can write down your thoughts about the book. This will make sure that you read ever day.

4) Bonus step! Enjoy yourself!

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Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.

Tagged as: Education, Reading