Just popping by to say that this is very well put together but also to second the Bartleby rec: as well as being very good on its own, it's the story that let me wrap my head around Melville's style enough to finally make me read Moby Dick (which is amazing). If it doesn't feel too much like self-promotion, I put together a list of great short stories a while ago: https://joelsnape.substack.com/p/just-start-36-short-stories-worth
A couch to 5k for reading is so cool, you are brilliant. I have discovered that if I keep my current book on the kitchen counter so that I can read while waiting for the kettle/toaster, while children are being tiresome, while I'm stirring dinner, then it gets me into the books and keeps me in them, so that when I'm knackered in the evening, it's easy to reach for the book rather than scrolling. (Reminds me of that advice, was it Esther Perel? for sex in long-term relationships or when childcare demands are massive, where tiny moments of connection whenever possible during the day make the actual business more likely when there's an opportunity.)
I don’t need it — if I’m not writing, I’m usually reading—but so so applaud this idea Naomi. Cheering you all on from the sides and will be there hand clapping as you cross the finish lines. 🤲👏
I'm ready! I have an English literature degree and feel so ashamed of the fact that I barely read anymore. I've read two books this year so far, and one of them was only about 50 pages long. I developed ME/CFS back in 2010 after flu. That was the third year of my degree, and by that point I was already burning out even before illness hit me. I associate reading with cramming, forced speed reading and constant anxieties around intellectual inferiority. I am going to choose track 1 and see where it takes me
I paused right in the middle of the article to go finish Chapter 2 of The Odyssey (preparing to take on Ulysses which terrifies me a little). So I have to say, very effective so far! I am not sure what track I will be. I already have a good reading habit most days of the week, about an hour first thing in the morning before work. But I’m not a very swift reader so 300 pages might be more than I can manage. Must think on this!
Thank you for putting this together, it is very cool.
Ok, nothing like stacking a new habit while already working on two others. Ahem. I used to read a lot as a kid and my goal when I retired was to resume that habit. Sunday afternoons are my reading time, but I’ve been enjoying a lot of fiction on Substack. But the books? The ones that have been shipped across an ocean or picked up second-hand? Not so much. Yesterday, for the first time, I added actual books to the Sunday afternoon, although admittedly, it was a manga series I started and needed to catch up on. So I am in, but my rules nod is to pick up an actual book for that amount of time, not on screen. We’ll see how it goes.
So looking forward to this. It’s Track 2 for me. I’m starting with Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch. These are both books I want to read and gifts from friends, so you’d think it would be easy, but I’m so out of the habit. I read tens of thousand of words per week at work and I often tell myself I have no energy or focus left to read anything else, but then all I do in my spare time is read the news and Substack. I’m really hoping this challenge will be a reboot so I can read books again.
Thank you very much Naomi - I really appreciate the time you are giving to this. It’s a very special thing you are doing. I’m starting Track 2 right now 🙂
So glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s daunted by the movie homework, but I’m going to commit to it because I’ve fallen behind on watching good movies and end up scrolling through videos endlessly. So in the spirit of catching up on all those things I’ve missed I’m going to finally watch Oppenheimer.
As for the reading I have been halfway through books for longer than I care to admit, so I took the bookmark out of East West Street by Phillipe Sands. Wonderful if a bit hard going. (Subject matter, not writing which is wonderful).
So if I need a break from that I’m going to crack open a Sherlock Holmes short story - read them all as a kid but that was a long time ago.
As another commenter said, it’s not that I can’t do it in the cinema, or go to a show, but at home and especially as I live alone, it’s FAR too easy to be distracted/scroll/do a bit of housework/“oh look a squirrel!”
All lot of my home TV is actually live sport. I’m a huge rugby fan, and this year I had committed to a girls lunch on a Six Nations Saturday with crucial matches. I ignored my phone all day - didn’t even check it for the time - got home and watched two matches back to back with no knowledge and no social media. And I have to say it was glorious!
And have you managed to put your phone away for a whole day since then?
I’m fascinated that it’s the movie that is feeling daunting! Great for me to know for future calibration (I thought it would be an “easy class” one for week one…) but I’m really interested to hear how people find it!
Sounds great, thanks for doing this! I was tempted by track 3 but I think track 2 will already be an upgrade for my current habits. I only read fiction at the moment, so my idea of something "hard" is a novel that takes some effort to read (typically a "classic").
For the longer (>30 min) sessions, is it required/recommended to stick to the same book throughout the session?
Also, just to satisfy my OCD, for this week was the track 3 daily requirement meant to be 5+5 or one go (as per main text in post) or one go only (as per the plan at the end)? Though I'm sure track 3 people would hardly need to split the session.
I’m going for track 2. Interesting re film homework, I can easily sit and enjoy a film at the cinema without looking at my phone but struggle with a 30min tv show at home. So I think the ‘rules ‘are really important to my brain, I hate the idea of spoiling someone elses cinema experience so don’t look at my phone (and consequently enjoy the experience myself more) but at home I set the rules and then never follow them consistently.
Hooray! I love this idea. Will eagerly follow along. Also thinking about ideas for encouraging my undergraduate students, who need some confidence in tackling Big Books these days.
FWIW I think it is definitely fine to pause the film for loo/snack breaks. But just don’t look at your phone etc in the breaks. Take the time to think about the film, or just let your mind wander, or have a chat together as you make tea.
The pause button is the gateway drug in our house. It implies we’ll return in two minutes... we never do, so I thought I was being lenient by introducing the line of sight rule mod 😂
Just popping by to say that this is very well put together but also to second the Bartleby rec: as well as being very good on its own, it's the story that let me wrap my head around Melville's style enough to finally make me read Moby Dick (which is amazing). If it doesn't feel too much like self-promotion, I put together a list of great short stories a while ago: https://joelsnape.substack.com/p/just-start-36-short-stories-worth
A couch to 5k for reading is so cool, you are brilliant. I have discovered that if I keep my current book on the kitchen counter so that I can read while waiting for the kettle/toaster, while children are being tiresome, while I'm stirring dinner, then it gets me into the books and keeps me in them, so that when I'm knackered in the evening, it's easy to reach for the book rather than scrolling. (Reminds me of that advice, was it Esther Perel? for sex in long-term relationships or when childcare demands are massive, where tiny moments of connection whenever possible during the day make the actual business more likely when there's an opportunity.)
I don’t need it — if I’m not writing, I’m usually reading—but so so applaud this idea Naomi. Cheering you all on from the sides and will be there hand clapping as you cross the finish lines. 🤲👏
I'm ready! I have an English literature degree and feel so ashamed of the fact that I barely read anymore. I've read two books this year so far, and one of them was only about 50 pages long. I developed ME/CFS back in 2010 after flu. That was the third year of my degree, and by that point I was already burning out even before illness hit me. I associate reading with cramming, forced speed reading and constant anxieties around intellectual inferiority. I am going to choose track 1 and see where it takes me
I paused right in the middle of the article to go finish Chapter 2 of The Odyssey (preparing to take on Ulysses which terrifies me a little). So I have to say, very effective so far! I am not sure what track I will be. I already have a good reading habit most days of the week, about an hour first thing in the morning before work. But I’m not a very swift reader so 300 pages might be more than I can manage. Must think on this!
Thank you for putting this together, it is very cool.
Ok, nothing like stacking a new habit while already working on two others. Ahem. I used to read a lot as a kid and my goal when I retired was to resume that habit. Sunday afternoons are my reading time, but I’ve been enjoying a lot of fiction on Substack. But the books? The ones that have been shipped across an ocean or picked up second-hand? Not so much. Yesterday, for the first time, I added actual books to the Sunday afternoon, although admittedly, it was a manga series I started and needed to catch up on. So I am in, but my rules nod is to pick up an actual book for that amount of time, not on screen. We’ll see how it goes.
I thought I was in Track 2, but now feel like reaching for Track 3. 🤩 And this is outside of reading for work (scripts).
So looking forward to this. It’s Track 2 for me. I’m starting with Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch. These are both books I want to read and gifts from friends, so you’d think it would be easy, but I’m so out of the habit. I read tens of thousand of words per week at work and I often tell myself I have no energy or focus left to read anything else, but then all I do in my spare time is read the news and Substack. I’m really hoping this challenge will be a reboot so I can read books again.
Thank you very much Naomi - I really appreciate the time you are giving to this. It’s a very special thing you are doing. I’m starting Track 2 right now 🙂
So glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s daunted by the movie homework, but I’m going to commit to it because I’ve fallen behind on watching good movies and end up scrolling through videos endlessly. So in the spirit of catching up on all those things I’ve missed I’m going to finally watch Oppenheimer.
As for the reading I have been halfway through books for longer than I care to admit, so I took the bookmark out of East West Street by Phillipe Sands. Wonderful if a bit hard going. (Subject matter, not writing which is wonderful).
So if I need a break from that I’m going to crack open a Sherlock Holmes short story - read them all as a kid but that was a long time ago.
As another commenter said, it’s not that I can’t do it in the cinema, or go to a show, but at home and especially as I live alone, it’s FAR too easy to be distracted/scroll/do a bit of housework/“oh look a squirrel!”
All lot of my home TV is actually live sport. I’m a huge rugby fan, and this year I had committed to a girls lunch on a Six Nations Saturday with crucial matches. I ignored my phone all day - didn’t even check it for the time - got home and watched two matches back to back with no knowledge and no social media. And I have to say it was glorious!
And have you managed to put your phone away for a whole day since then?
Reader, I have not.
I’m fascinated that it’s the movie that is feeling daunting! Great for me to know for future calibration (I thought it would be an “easy class” one for week one…) but I’m really interested to hear how people find it!
Track 2 Let's Gooooooo!!!
Thankyouthankyou for your efforts - yours is my favouritest Substack.
(Also Ted Chiang is phenomenal)
Sounds great, thanks for doing this! I was tempted by track 3 but I think track 2 will already be an upgrade for my current habits. I only read fiction at the moment, so my idea of something "hard" is a novel that takes some effort to read (typically a "classic").
For the longer (>30 min) sessions, is it required/recommended to stick to the same book throughout the session?
Also, just to satisfy my OCD, for this week was the track 3 daily requirement meant to be 5+5 or one go (as per main text in post) or one go only (as per the plan at the end)? Though I'm sure track 3 people would hardly need to split the session.
I’m going for track 2. Interesting re film homework, I can easily sit and enjoy a film at the cinema without looking at my phone but struggle with a 30min tv show at home. So I think the ‘rules ‘are really important to my brain, I hate the idea of spoiling someone elses cinema experience so don’t look at my phone (and consequently enjoy the experience myself more) but at home I set the rules and then never follow them consistently.
Hooray! I love this idea. Will eagerly follow along. Also thinking about ideas for encouraging my undergraduate students, who need some confidence in tackling Big Books these days.
Rules mod for the film challenge: the kitchen remains in play.
Fridge trips are allowed provided the telly remains in sight. The moment you lose line of sight, you’ve officially paused.
FWIW I think it is definitely fine to pause the film for loo/snack breaks. But just don’t look at your phone etc in the breaks. Take the time to think about the film, or just let your mind wander, or have a chat together as you make tea.
The pause button is the gateway drug in our house. It implies we’ll return in two minutes... we never do, so I thought I was being lenient by introducing the line of sight rule mod 😂
if that’s what you need, your mod is excellent!
There’s a clean copy of the paper on literacy as technology here https://gwern.net/doc/psychology/writing/1992-ong.pdf