"Is there really any time to just enjoy something for enjoyment sake?"
Recently I have been struggling with this idea quite a bit. It has gotten so bad at times that I cannot seem enjoy the book I am reading; I'm too worried about not being "productive" enough! From what I've seen, especially in recent months, this a shared experience for a lot of people. We are often so focused on "optimizing" our time, and not what actually matters; enjoying what we are doing.
What I feel a lot of us are failing to realize is how much ENJOYMENT also matters when reading anything. It is so easy to get lost in book recommendations and, like you said, choose to read the most "profitable" ones. Currently I'm reading Crime and Punishment; I have tried to read it three times now, each time it gets left untouched for months until I have the heart to pick it back up again. This time I tried a different approach. Whenever it at time felt slow I didn't give up on it entirely, instead I have been giving myself a break by reading a few chapters of something that requires a little less "chewing"; something to read just for the pure enjoyment of it. This has given my mind time to relax a bit, and when I do go back to Dostoyevsky I have actually been thoroughly enjoying it.
Really good stuff here and I love the title. Like you, I had a tough time reading for fun after grad school. So glad to be past that and to be able to read for fun again.
Also like you, I started a YouTube channel that lead me to pay more attention to art that I thought would be more profitable to talk about.
I think you’re going in a great distraction. But don’t underestimate how much people want to know the real you and the books you really care about. And not every video needs to be focused on discoverability. Or more niche books will probably highlight who your core fan base is and make them stronger. Message me if you ever want to talk YouTube strategy or balancing YouTube and fun. I love talking about that stuff.
I've loved Le Guin since I first read Rocannon's World (her first published novel) as a teenager. 50 years ago. It was, of course, The Left Hand of Darkness, that really blew me away, a few years later. The Dispossessed, the Earthsea books, and many more… and one of my very favourites, the relatively unheralded 'Malafrena'. I've been much slower to find and read her essays, beyond Author's Notes in a few of her books, but they're full of wisdom too. (For newcomers, a good place to start is on the official website: https://www.ursulakleguin.com/miscellany (look under 'Ursula on Writing').
Sir this was very good as most of ur stuff is. But a little deep in some areas. Consider simplifying some parts so those people not as educated as you with 16 masters and a doctorate in the wings can understand. If I were writing this article I’d put the cookies on the lowest shelf. I’d perhaps start out on my level and go from there.
“ Today is pudding day and a short story. If you like my story you get chocolate and a spoon. If you do the other thing you get butterscotch and have to use your fingers.
And no wet wipes.
Either way, thanks for introducing us to this author and a very hard philosophical concept.
"Is there really any time to just enjoy something for enjoyment sake?"
Recently I have been struggling with this idea quite a bit. It has gotten so bad at times that I cannot seem enjoy the book I am reading; I'm too worried about not being "productive" enough! From what I've seen, especially in recent months, this a shared experience for a lot of people. We are often so focused on "optimizing" our time, and not what actually matters; enjoying what we are doing.
What I feel a lot of us are failing to realize is how much ENJOYMENT also matters when reading anything. It is so easy to get lost in book recommendations and, like you said, choose to read the most "profitable" ones. Currently I'm reading Crime and Punishment; I have tried to read it three times now, each time it gets left untouched for months until I have the heart to pick it back up again. This time I tried a different approach. Whenever it at time felt slow I didn't give up on it entirely, instead I have been giving myself a break by reading a few chapters of something that requires a little less "chewing"; something to read just for the pure enjoyment of it. This has given my mind time to relax a bit, and when I do go back to Dostoyevsky I have actually been thoroughly enjoying it.
Really good stuff here and I love the title. Like you, I had a tough time reading for fun after grad school. So glad to be past that and to be able to read for fun again.
Also like you, I started a YouTube channel that lead me to pay more attention to art that I thought would be more profitable to talk about.
I think you’re going in a great distraction. But don’t underestimate how much people want to know the real you and the books you really care about. And not every video needs to be focused on discoverability. Or more niche books will probably highlight who your core fan base is and make them stronger. Message me if you ever want to talk YouTube strategy or balancing YouTube and fun. I love talking about that stuff.
Thanks man! What's the YT channel called??
Pop Song Professor. Since defunct but the community was a lot of fun.
I've loved Le Guin since I first read Rocannon's World (her first published novel) as a teenager. 50 years ago. It was, of course, The Left Hand of Darkness, that really blew me away, a few years later. The Dispossessed, the Earthsea books, and many more… and one of my very favourites, the relatively unheralded 'Malafrena'. I've been much slower to find and read her essays, beyond Author's Notes in a few of her books, but they're full of wisdom too. (For newcomers, a good place to start is on the official website: https://www.ursulakleguin.com/miscellany (look under 'Ursula on Writing').
Sir this was very good as most of ur stuff is. But a little deep in some areas. Consider simplifying some parts so those people not as educated as you with 16 masters and a doctorate in the wings can understand. If I were writing this article I’d put the cookies on the lowest shelf. I’d perhaps start out on my level and go from there.
“ Today is pudding day and a short story. If you like my story you get chocolate and a spoon. If you do the other thing you get butterscotch and have to use your fingers.
And no wet wipes.
Either way, thanks for introducing us to this author and a very hard philosophical concept.
I hope to one day be on your podcast.
We can talk turtles and science fiction.
Respectfully
Frankie Chocolate