Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books (mostly)

  • Home
  • About
    • My CV
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / Reading Is Fundamental, But Read At Whim

Reading Is Fundamental, But Read At Whim

Reading Is Fundamental, But Read At Whim

Sure reading is fundamental to learning and making your way in this life.

I mean that reading is, of course, of enormous utility. You need it as a tool to learn and get through school.

But outside of the necessary education, a reading life should be less serious than probably first considered.

Reading is not a contest or a diet, after all.

I think this is all such good advice.

Read widely if in doubt. And slow down.

You should be enjoying yourself.

I, for one, will try to heed the impulsive approach of Randall Jarrell.

Simply: Read at whim!

So one reason I usually decline to give reading recommendations is that I don’t want to encourage such habits of mind. But there’s a positive counterpart to this negative reason: my commitment to one dominant, overarching, nearly definitive principle for reading: Read at Whim. I learned this principle from the essayist and poet Randall Jarrell, who once met a scholar, a learned man and a critic, who commented that he read Rudyard Kipling’s novel Kim every year.

-Alan Jacobs, The Pleasures Of Reading In An Age Of Distraction

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Pleasure, #Reading

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Notifications of all new posts by email.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Top Posts

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • Hyatt Hill Country Sunday House
    Hyatt Hill Country Sunday House
  • Track And Hook Songwriting
    Track And Hook Songwriting
  • Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
    Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
  • The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
    The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
  • The Rejection Then Retreat Persuasion Technique
    The Rejection Then Retreat Persuasion Technique
  • What Lonesome Dove Baptist Church Has To Do With Larry McMurtry
    What Lonesome Dove Baptist Church Has To Do With Larry McMurtry
  • Competition Cheer
    Competition Cheer
  • This Is How To Draw A Simple Stagecoach
    This Is How To Draw A Simple Stagecoach
  • Mary’s Cafe, Strawn Texas
    Mary’s Cafe, Strawn Texas

Supporting = Loving

Buy Me a Coffee

Copyright © 2023 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in