Most people approach reading focused on novelty. They want to read more and more new stuff, explore ideas and stories that are new to them, and fill up a bookshelf feeling proud of all the books they’ve read.
I think a better way to think about reading is like you think about going to restaurants, where you are excited to try new places, but also will go back time and time again to places you love.
Reading creates value in our lives through the interaction of what we are ready with the things we are experiencing at the time we are reading. A book is a journey you take over time and what is happening in your life while you read it impacts the experience.
There is a lot of pleasure in finding new ideas through a book, and an explorer’s mindset can help you find those new ideas. But deep understanding, comfort, and learning happen when you engage with something over time, in different situations, with different ideas.
We all know that trying a new restaurant is awesome, but we also know that becoming a regular at our favorite place is a different experience. We get to know the staff, we see the menu changing, and we try all sorts of new dishes. We have no hesitations about going back time and time again.
We should think about our favorite books in the same way. You can only experience the full menu of ideas by reading them multiple times. Because each time you read them, you are different, and it is a different experience. Different parts and different ideas or characters will impact you in different ways.
So the next time you’re looking for a new book to read, my suggestion would be to go back and read something you loved years ago and haven’t returned to, you won’t regret it.
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