I’m about to speak heresy. I know I’ll get crucified by some of my peers. But sometimes you need to put the leadership/self development books down. Sometimes you need to stop reading for a bit and explore on your own.
So many of us become book and thought junkies. We’re looking for the latest trendy book to get our fix. So many of our ideas are homogenous with our contemporaries. When we’re all reading the same books and listening to the same ideas, we all head in the same direction. It’s very difficult to stand out from the herd when you’re stampeding in the same direction.
That’s why I propose you take a hiatus from reading. If you can’t do that, take a hiatus from reading the trendy books. Give yourself some space to develop ideas different than your peers’. Develop your own thoughts. Write them down. Blog them.
There’s nothing wrong with revisiting the trendy books once you’ve broken their hold on you. But those shouldn’t be your lifeline.
Now’s your chance to crucify me. Do you agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts.
Agree & Disagree.
On one hand, I think you’re right about everybody reading the same books. I don’t necessarily think that’s a problem in and of itself, unless those are the ONLY books you read.
C.S. Lewis suggested that for every book or two that you read from the current era, you should read one or two old ones to balance your perspective. He was talking about theology, but I think it’s helpful in terms of creativity too. Reading stuff from 50 or 60 years ago on advertising or film or art or anything like that can really shift your perspective in a good way.
Another thing I like to do is read in other genres (children’s fiction, or nonfiction about a subject matter I am not acquainted with) just to give me something new to chew on.
I agree with you too 🙂
Agree & Disagree.
On one hand, I think you’re right about everybody reading the same books. I don’t necessarily think that’s a problem in and of itself, unless those are the ONLY books you read.
C.S. Lewis suggested that for every book or two that you read from the current era, you should read one or two old ones to balance your perspective. He was talking about theology, but I think it’s helpful in terms of creativity too. Reading stuff from 50 or 60 years ago on advertising or film or art or anything like that can really shift your perspective in a good way.
Another thing I like to do is read in other genres (children’s fiction, or nonfiction about a subject matter I am not acquainted with) just to give me something new to chew on.
I agree with you too 🙂
I’ve never been into anything huge as far as tredy books go, but I do know where you are coming from. It’s easy to pick up the latest Steven Furtick book, or leadership best-seller, and read it, but I agree. We need to develop our own ideas and blog them.
BTW nice blog design man. Love the simplicity!
Thanks! 🙂
I’ve never been into anything huge as far as tredy books go, but I do know where you are coming from. It’s easy to pick up the latest Steven Furtick book, or leadership best-seller, and read it, but I agree. We need to develop our own ideas and blog them.
BTW nice blog design man. Love the simplicity!
Thanks! 🙂
Agreed. I’m a little burnout on non-fiction. It’s especially hard when everyone has their own opinions.
So you can read in one book that red balloons are the best, and in another that blue balloons are best, and eventually you can’t think for yourself anymore. heh.
What kind of nonfiction are YOU reading? All this talk of balloons…
No…I definitely agree. So many say different things…and each book has to say this is THE way to do it…otherwise they wouldn’t sell…
Agreed. I’m a little burnout on non-fiction. It’s especially hard when everyone has their own opinions.
So you can read in one book that red balloons are the best, and in another that blue balloons are best, and eventually you can’t think for yourself anymore. heh.
What kind of nonfiction are YOU reading? All this talk of balloons…
No…I definitely agree. So many say different things…and each book has to say this is THE way to do it…otherwise they wouldn’t sell…
This is true as much as learning from others is important one must let the intuitive horse run and some how learn by doing, I’ve seen this be very effective and often hard to forget, learning and creating ourselves is as or even more important at times than learning from others (book, class, conference).
This is true as much as learning from others is important one must let the intuitive horse run and some how learn by doing, I’ve seen this be very effective and often hard to forget, learning and creating ourselves is as or even more important at times than learning from others (book, class, conference).