#Our Reading Lives

Our Reading Lives features stories about how books and reading have shaped who we are and how we live.

Reading Slow, Short, and Selective

On reading slow, short, and selective to transition from reading for quantity into reading to understand, explore, and cherish more.

I Buy Cooler Books Than I (Usually) Read

I am not a person who spends every evening puzzling through Jacques Derrida, no matter how cool I’d think that would make me.

Does Anyone Actually Remember What They’ve Read?!

Does anyone actually remember what they've read?! Retaining what I've read is super difficult for me. In our society of shameless binge-culture excess not only applies to TV, eating and drinking, but to reading as well, certainly for me at least.

Cleaning Up My Bookshelves in the Wake of #MeToo

One reader has decided to remove books by authors who have been accused of sexual misconduct, and replace them with books by women.

Arguing With Myself About Finishing Books I Don’t Like

We've all had this conversations...with ourselves.

Babies, Books, and Cloth Diapers

One reader survived new motherhood by joining cloth diapering Facebook groups--and then she found one that produced book-themed cloth diapers!

How to Become a Morning Reading Person

How one reader changed her habits so she could get up at 5am and become a morning reading person.

Why I Never Recommend My Favorite Book

The title of my favorite book is not some big secret. But to say to someone, face to face, that they should read that book -- particularly if I know I’ll see this person again -- feels wrong.

The Greatest Benefit of Reading to Your Child May Surprise You

As research has shown, children reap so many rewards from having books read to them, but what about the parents? We consider the benefit of reading to your child from a parental angle.

My Mom Hid Romance Novels Under the Bed, I Write About Them on the Internet

One rioter interviews her mother to understand the difference in their attitudes about reading romance novels. Find out how one mother and one daughter got hooked on romance novels.