While She Knits - Whatcha Been Reading?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately. How about you?

Have you read something recently that you'd like to recommend to others? Tell us about it.

Comments

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

My favorite recent reads are both non-fiction, and both by the same author: Alex Soojung-Kim Pang's THE DISTRACTION ADDICTION and his newest book REST.

I would highly recommend THE DISTRACTION ADDICTION to those who enjoy social media but sometimes feel overwhelmed and even overworked trying to keep up with it all, and/or people who fret about not being able to get any Real Work done because they keep getting sidetracked by e-mail, text alerts, cat videos, etc. Pang has some very practical and balanced suggestions about reframing our perception of the tools we use to communicate, and putting healthy limits on them so that they work for us instead of causing us stress.

REST is a great companion to the earlier book, but also stands on its own as an argument in favor of taking deliberate, active breaks from work on a regular basis and how it actually increases your creativity, happiness and productivity. I was amazed and encouraged to see how many great writers, scientists, mathematicians, politicians and other busy people got their best work done in a matter of 3-4 hours a day with ample time for walking, reading, naps and exercise, rather than pushing themselves to work for long stretches without a break (which actually yields worse results in the end, both in terms of health and the quality of the work being done). There's a lot of scientific data in this book, but it's presented in a very approachable way with a minimum of jargon. As I said on Twitter, I'd love to give a copy of this book to all the stressed-out, overworked writers I know who can't understand why the chapter they stayed up all night to work on has to be thrown out the next day...

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Copied!...

[frosted-feather.livejournal.com]

This is a good reminder for me. I try to write on my own fiction weeknights and every Saturday. Somedays I spend all day writing and get nothing done. It really depends on whether I'm in a creative mind-set, which happens more when I'v had time to think freely.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I love your icon! :)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Roger is MY Disney Prince. :D

(Well, and Robin Hood, obviously.)