I ♥♥♥ Books
So, I’m not sure whether I just ♥ the physicality of books (due to my hoarding tendencies—see “I’m not a hoarder, I just have hoarding tendencies”) or if I ♥ actually reading them or both. If I had to think deeply about it, I guess it would be both, but I think I like actually just having books more than reading them.
It’s so much easier to go to Amazon and put a book or 2 or 3 or 5 or 10 in my cart and hit complete purchase and this process releases the neurotransmitter dopamine in my brain and I get a high from this. Then, when the book comes in the mail another shot of dopamine and then when I crack the book open and peruse through the pages and table of contents another shot of dopamine and then I write in the book the date I received it and start reading the introduction. At this point, I feel so proud of myself and I’m doped up on dopamine so I’m feeling good! And then after the 1st couple of chapters, I want to open up and start reading the other books I got (because I always buy more than one book at the same time…I’m never satisfied with just one…and sometimes I choose to have them shipped at different times so I can get that new dose of dopamine).
On the other hand, I really enjoy reading and learning new things. When I get a new book, it makes me feel smart. And my brain needs and enjoys the novelty, until its not novel anymore and it craves something different and new. That’s why I think I read 3-4 books at one time, trying to keep things different and fresh. Now, I find myself simultaneously reading 3-4 books at the same damn time…lmao…and I never finish one book because I’m constantly flipping back and forth between books. What an enigma, how am I suppose to learn anything, if I can’t complete on freaking book out of the hundreds that I own and the thousands that are in my Amazon wish list. So, I challenge myself to read one book at a time and I will not start a new book until I finish one. And to add to that challenge, I will write a synopsis on each book I read to help me retain the information. So far so good, I have read completed 2 books and I’m currently on my 3rd. However, the dilemma is that I just brought 4 new books from Amazon, what to do, what to do!!! The temptation is real, I might need to find BA (Bookaholics Anonymous) support group.
Anywho, I also decided to share my book completion journey so I will post the books I’m reading and their corresponding synopsis. I won’t call it a review because even though I’m a avid book reader I’m not an expert, at least not until I finish at least 10 books!!!
1. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
2. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
3. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
4. You can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
5. The Rhythm of Life: Living Everyday with Passion & Purpose by Matthew Kelly
6. Beat Depression & Anxiety by Changing your Brain by Debbie Hampton
7. Will I Ever be Good Enough? Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers by Karyl McBride
8. 20 something, 20 everything: A Quarter-Life Women’s Guide to Balance & Direction by Christine Hassler