How wide reading can change your life

I started collecting books at the age of 15 when I took over my grandparents' attic and turned it into my study/library. My collection was modest then, but it has grown considerably over the years, and now comprises about 3,000 books and counting. I am fortunate to have them all in one special space, complete with a fireplace, where I can read. Many friends frequent the sitting area in the library, where we discuss life together.

The common question when they see the books is, "Have you read them all?" Taking a line from Winston Churchill, my answer is "Some twice." While they think that means yes, I have read them all, it is not what I said. There is nothing better than discovering a book you've never read to dive into. I have plenty of those!

I am a fan of wide reading, and I will explain why. The collection is segmented into the following broad categories: Biography, history, war, theology, psychology, literature, leadership, Christian Living, commentaries, espionage and spycraft,  current events, and other miscellaneous treasures. 

I am a great fan of wide reading. By doing so, we discover worldviews other than our own, we start to understand that many people have bits of truth for us to absorb, our curiosity grows, and we open our minds to new ideas. It also helps us connect disparate dots and exposes us to other cultures in a new way. 

Too often, we read narrowly and remain in our own little bubble without realizing that there is a bigger world to be discovered. Even for  those of faith, reading beyond those who think just like us exposes us to possibilities that may be worth considering. At least they often are for me. In today's divided world, where we read tweets on X from our favorites and not from others, we frequently miss the nuances of life. 

I liken this to connecting the dots in life. History teaches us valuable lessons about countries and civilizations - how they emerge and how they fall. We can learn from history. Biographies reveal the greatness and frailty of even the most important historical figures. We all have feet of clay. How power and influence are wielded can be both a learning point for us and a warning. 

People often comment on the number of biographies I have of Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, Mao, Roosevelt, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Lincoln. These were fascinating individuals who changed the course of history, for better or worse. 

When people ask me what I am reading at the moment, I am faced with a dilemma, as there are usually around 30 books in various stages of progress around the house. Depending on my mood, I will pick up a book to read. 

I often liken a book to a mentor. We all need multiple mentors, and a good book leaves us with some truth or insight that we didn't have before reading it. I don't have 3000 books. I have 3000 mentors. 

I do mess with my books by underlining as I read. After all, it is about comprehension and underlining the important helps me to remember.  Of course, being me, I do it with a fountain pen with yellow ink! Ahh, yes, the fountain pens are a subject for another day, but an important one. 

From time to time, I outsource certain books, but the core of the collection remains. If book collecting is an addiction, it beats many other addictions one could have. And it benefits us.

If you are a reader, keep on. If you are not, try to become one. It can change your life. 

Self evaluation and personal growth

In the busyness of life, the hectic schedules we keep, and the many obligations we agree to, one thing often suffers self-evaluation and personal growth. We are too busy to consider and running too fast to be purposeful in our own growth. In this, we pay a personal price.

The price is that we miss out on personal perspective and growth that can give us greater personal health and happiness and can improve our relationships and life impact. How many times do we say to ourselves, "I wish I had known that when I was younger." An investment in our personal growth today can have a significant impact in the years to come. What we don't learn today will cost us in the years to come. It is the law of returns.

Growth always starts with self-evaluation. Taking the time to thoughtfully consider our lives, Emotional Intelligence, where we are going, relationships, work, finances, marriage, and the major building blocks of our lives. And then being brutally honest with ourselves regarding the state of our lives. 

In self-evaluation, journaling is a powerful tool. When we put on paper with our own hands the reality of our lives, good and bad, it is also imprinted in our brains. It clarifies what it is we are considering and demands action - a plan or strategy for growth. To journal, one must set aside time, quiet the mind, and think clearly. The opposite of the cacophony of daily life.

In addition, a periodic review of one's journal reminds us of our past thinking and often of our progress. It is a reminder and an encouragement. 

Intentional reading on subjects that will help us think more deeply, along with conversations with trusted friends, provides us with both insights and a mirror with which to see ourselves. Of course, there is no better mirror than scripture as it places in front of us the character, wisdom, and teaching of God. And, as the book of Hebrews says, it probes deeply into our hearts. For me, the simple act of blogging creates space in my life to think more deeply than I otherwise would.

Evaluation is understanding where we are, whereas growth is doing something about it. Again, I come back to putting thoughts on paper. I cannot reflect in my journal without also thinking through and writing down solutions, modifications, or new commitments. It is a natural part of the writing process. And again, looking back on our journal entries in months to come, we are reminded of our plan and can celebrate whatever growth has occurred. 

This simple blog required me to carve out an hour of my time, but it also caused me to think and put on paper simple thoughts of self-evaluation and personal growth. Without making space for it in my day, there would be no blog. Without making space in our day or week for personal growth, there will be far less growth than there could be. I wish I had known that when I was younger...