Adding some fiction to the mix

I tend to read mostly non-fiction*, but for 2019, I made a concerted effort to read more fiction and thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace. In all, I read 24 books during the year. According to Goodreads, that’s 8,410 pages.**

I picked up a couple of series this year, most recommended by panelists on The Incomparable. I enjoyed Rebecca Roanhorse’s The Sixth World series and Theodora Goss’ Athena Club trilogy. I read a bunch of Star Wars books in the lead up to The Mandalorian and Rise of Skywalker. I started the Imperial Radch series from Ann Leckie, with only the last book to go. Dan Moran’s Bayern Agenda was delightful and I’m looking forward to reading his next book this spring. On the non-fiction side, I enjoyed James Clear’s Atomic Habits and Dan Harris’ 10% Happier.

So how did I find the extra time to read more? As I started to change my relationship with social media, I also figured out that I needed to change how (and when) I used my phone. So most evenings, I avoided using my phone after dinner and read a book instead.

I also made sure I had a book to read at all times. I used Goodreads to track the books I wanted to read and then requested them from my local library. Richland Library has a online interface for requesting books. The book is typically ready for pick up in a couple of days although sometimes, it takes longer for popular books. It was much less expensive than buying them all new.

And finally, as I wrote about earlier this year, getting reading glasses might have contributed to reinforcing my reading habit.

For next year, I’m going to aim for 26 books — one every two weeks. It seems like a reasonable goal with all of the reading and writing I’ll have to do for graduate school this year. I looking forward to adding even more fiction to my reading mix.

* Even when I was a small child, I gravitated towards non-fiction books.

** That doesn't count all the books and journal articles I read for work. Or articles I read online.

Bob Wertz writes about design, technology and pop culture at Sketchbook B. Bob is a Columbia, South Carolina-based designer, researcher, college instructor, husband and dad. He’s particularly obsessed with typography, the creative process and the tools we use to create.