With the sheer variety and being overwhelmed due to the huge amount of great books to read, book hunting can sometimes be stressful. However, if you narrow down your current interest and preferred literary genres, it'll be easier to buy the right one.
On the other hand, if you are planning to give one to someone— well, this can be the best gift they have received so far! The tricky part is getting it right for them. A book as a present says a lot about how valuable your connection or relationship is. Don't sweat!
Here’s a list of tips to decide which book to read:
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1. Read Books From Your Favorite Author
The best option when you are having a hard time what to read is to go through the works of your favorite author. If you haven't checked it out, doing this isn't a bad idea at all. Or if you did, you may look at the next favorite author you have. Interestingly, these authors might share a common style that hooked up your interest.
You'd be surprised to discover this surprising experience of reading books from your favorite author. Somehow, it creates a sense of certainty that because of the familiarity of their writing style, you become accustomed yet anticipate the story plot. Therefore, the risk is scarce.
2. Personal Reading List
Are you fond of listing down book recommendations? Or, somewhat a reading list? It doesn't have to be a luxurious type. It can be a spare small notebook where you can write down 5 or more books that caught your interest and wishes to read it sometime.
One of the plans you can do is to categorize this list based on your needs for a particular time. These could be books you could grab when you feel like learning new skills, to feel good, for self-care, to be financial literate, or about business. By applying this strategy allows you to cater books in the areas of interest and curiosity.
On top of that, the list must change now and then. Since, it is inevitable that our natural needs change over time, too.
3. Go to a Bookshop and Grab A Book That Interests You
Even if we now have different online bookshops emerging everywhere, browsing bookshelves never gets old.
Now that certain cities have eased their strict health protocols, it'll be easier for us to visit a store and feel through the pages of our favorite books. Hanging around in the presence of lots of books is quite nice. Scan through the back covers of various books and listen to your intuition. It will tell you a good book for you. Surprisingly, it works and our intuition has never failed us.
Asking the employees isn't a bad idea, too. Discussing books with them while you explore the store gives you more ideas about which one to choose. It's a great activity!
4. Avoid Buying Books in Bulk
It's amazing how books attract our attention just with their enticing summaries, vibrant book covers, and mystery. No wonder we often found ourselves becoming a tsundere or a person who hoards book and delaying reading it.
However, this habit of ours kills the desire to read books after just finishing one. Seeing that, as we've managed to read the first few books, it is more likely that the other books may seem unappealing. As a result, you now perceive them as a must-finish product to read to not become useless.
Therefore, reading them while the spark is no longer igniting. It would be a waste of your money if you would let it idle in the bookshelves and eventually forget about it.
5. Refrain From Obsessing in Quantity
A booklist indeed helps you keep track and take notes on your next books to read. But, we can't also deny the fact that loads of books waiting to get your attention increases pressure; thus leaving you overwhelmed instead. The pressure of quickly finishing your current book to jump to the next one is common. Although a booklist might work for someone, it isn't necessary to have one if you don't like to.
Replenishing a new and good habit should be fun and easier, instead of having goals like, "This year, I'll read 50 books to keep up with the others". Setting up such expectations won't be effective in the long run. You might end up getting distracted from thinking about what to read next when you're currently holding a book.
Instead, you DO you. Be consistent with your own pace and rhythm.
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6. Don't Force Yourself Reading A Book You Don't Like
This is a common habit every reader is the guilt of. After a few flips, you got tired of continuing. However, you carry on for the sake of finishing a book.
If you found yourself in this dilemma, then stop resisting. Close the book and grab the one that piqued your interest. You are free to quit and nobody would know that you did. If they know, then, so what? An unenjoyable reading experience is not worth it.
According to Mark Ransom, he wouldn't read a book cover to cover; especially if some chapters serve him no good in real life. By doing this, you save time and have more room to read for books that interests you.
These tips guarantee to develop a healthy relationship with your books. All of these resonate with trusting your feelings and acknowledging them. So, you get to connect with your current needs in life.