Why You Need a Reading Plan

Today's blog post is based on an article from The Art of Manliness:

I don't know if you've ever thought about having a reading plan, but here's some info from AoM on why it's a good idea.

What Is a Reading Plan?

A reading plan is exactly what it sounds like. Rather than flitting about from random book to random book, you have a system — usually a list — for determining what you’ll read next. Whether that’s specific titles (all of Dickens’ works), or simply broader topics/genres (Civil War history), a reading plan guides your reading efforts and keeps you from stagnating or always choosing the path of least resistance (whatever is right in front of you, easiest, or most entertaining).

This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re only reading those books, of course. At any given time, I’m probably reading 2-4 books, one of which is part of a larger plan I’m following (right now it’s biographies of US Presidents, in chronological order; before that, it was a deep dive in the Western genre). If you’re a one-book-at-a-time person, maybe every other book is just for fun, and every other is part of your plan.

Here are some of the benefits of having a reading plan:

• Keeps you in a lifelong learner mindset.
• Keeps you disciplined in your reading.
• Helps push you to get through books you may otherwise not have the gumption to finish.
• Greases the reading wheels a bit.
• Creates room for mastery of a subject.
• Provides a sense of accomplishment.

Also included are some sample reading lists:

• Art of Manliness lists.
• The Great Books.
• Award winners.
• The entire canon of a single author.
• Read through some historical category.

I may personally start with the AoM list 100 Books Every Man Should Read. I've actually read a few of them over the years (and many of them have been made into movies...could be an interesting list of movies to watch, too).

So, pick a list to start with and then start reading. If you're not a reader, then check out yesterday's post on how to do a little more each day.

Interesting days

Today - Talk Like A Pirate Day and Butterscotch Pudding Day

Tomorrow - Punch Day and Pepperoni Pizza Day

Next Wednesday - Human Resource Professional Day, Johnny Appleseed Day, Batman Day, Lumberjack Day, Love Note Day and Fitness Day

October 19 - Evaluate Your Life Day