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My Favorite Reads, April

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If you haven’t read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent, because your personal experiences alone aren’t broad enough to sustain you.

–Jim Mattis, Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead

I will keep this quote (almost as a theme) for this category of posts–my monthly reading log. For 2020 I have decided to write a round-up each month (end of month/beginning of new month) to share good books. If you’re interested, here is January;  February; and March.

April 2020 Reads

I read only four books in April: three non-fiction, and one fiction–that seems like a very small number for me! I have a lot in progress, so I expect May’s book list to have a much higher number.

Favorite Non-Fiction

My favorite non-fiction book this month was a re-read: All the Money in the World: What the Happiest People Know About Wealth by Laura Vanderkam.

I have loved Laura Vanderkam‘s work for years. This is the first book I ever read of hers; I read it in 2012 when it came out; and it is one of my favorite personal finance books.

Some of my favorite takeaways:

“If you had all the money in the world—not literally, but all you wanted—what would you change about your life?

All the Money in the World.

–People who are happiest about money hold three truths:

  • I have enough.
  • If I want more than I have now to achieve big goals, I can figure out a way to get there.
  • Every dollar is a choice. How I earn it and spend it are up to me.

–A chapter titled, “The Selfish Joy of Giving”–showing that giving makes the giver happier; that “microphilanthropy” can be effective use of money–such as giving a super-big tip or giving very locally for maximum impact.

–“Reverse-engineering” a weekend to fit in experiences you want to have, rather than letting a weekend “happen” to you. I have found this a very good rule–I typically can’t get my whole family on board with this, but I tend to do this myself, and when it’s a special occasion for me (like Mother’s Day this weekend!) I will impose “plans.”

–A wonderful end-of-book section: The How to Buy Happiness Handbook. The handbook offers space to write down ideas and thoughts on money, prompted by a series of questions. The questions lend themselves well to reflection and/or discussion about money.

(No) Favorite Fiction

I cannot recommend the one fiction book I read this month, so it won’t be linked here. It was a book from Hoopla Digital, that our library offers for taking out e-books, audiobooks, and movies. The selection is not comprehensive, but I have found quite a few books, and the borrowing process is super easy. I promise that I will have several fiction books to recommend in May!

What have you been reading this month? I’m (still) especially interested in good audiobooks, as I have several Audible credits.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

My Favorite Reads Recently

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If you haven’t read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent, because your personal experiences alone aren’t broad enough to sustain you.

–Jim Mattis, Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead

I will keep this quote almost as a theme for this category of posts–my monthly reading log. For 2020, I have written a round-up each month (end of month/beginning of new month) to share good books. If you’re interested, here is January’s post and here is the February’s post.

March 2020 Reads

I read eight books in March: five non-fiction, and three fiction. Only one re-read: Pride & Prejudice. More on that later. For those keeping count (I do like keeping count!), that is 29 books so far in 2020.

I am actually surprised I did not read more in March because of the stay-at-home orders. That is chiefly because I had SO MUCH FUN re-reading Pride & Prejudice for my an online book group I started when the shelter-in-place took place.

Favorite Non-Fiction

My favorite non-fiction book this past month was The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs.

I am really glad that I read at least one book each month I will highlight. This one is no exception. What a wonderful fast read! Some key elements:

*”read at whim” — that mostly, people should read at whim, rather than from dusty book lists of “what you should read”

*books “yield their secrets” — so true!

*this tremendous quote from the end of the book:

(N)onreaders outnumber us–always have and always will–but we can always find one another and are always eager to welcome others into the fold. May our tribe increase.

-The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction

Favorite Fiction

It will surprise no one to learn that my favorite book for March was my umpteenth re-read of Pride & Prejudice. (The link is to the unabridged audiobook well-read by actress Rosamund Pike, who interestingly, played Jane Bennet in the 2005 movie version of P&P.)

Reading P&P one volume at a time (there are three volumes, all about the same size) and discussing it weekly with a group of friends over Zoom has been delightful.

I find so much “new” to me on this re-read, since I take notes and prepare questions that we can use for discussion during our Zoom meetings.

For example, in chapter 3 of Volume Two, Elizabeth’s aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, warns her against developing too strong of an attachment to Wickham because a match would be imprudent. Elizabeth jokes with her a little about it, but assures her she is taking her advice. She then asks her aunt if she is satisfied that Elizabeth has heard her:

Her aunt assured it that she was; and Elizabeth having thanked her for the kindness of her hints, they parted; a wonderful instance of advice being given on such a point, without being resented.  

–Pride & Prejudice Volume Two, Chapter 3

What a noble quality to emulate—being able to take advice without resentment!

One of my daughters shared this charming video of Jennifer Ehle reading Pride & Prejudice on her Instagram “story.” She has been doing this often while everyone is at home. As of March 30, she was up to Chapter 24 (which is actually Chapter 1 of Volume Two, for those who have an edition that breaks it up into volumes). So worth listening to!

Excessively diverting!!!

What have you been reading this month? I’m (still) especially interested in good audiobooks, as I have several Audible credits.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.