Weekly review cw 43
My exchange student asked me how I could read several books at once, as if it were like watching several TV shows. But each book serves a different purpose: one inspires, one solves problems, one relaxes. This conversation reminded me how much reading shapes my thinking—and that true learning only begins when you retain knowledge, not just consume it.
My exchange student emerges from his room at lunchtime—hair dishevelled, still half in dreamland—and finds me at the dining table. In front of me: a book, a cup of coffee, and a yogurt. He points curiously at the book in my hand. “Is this the new book you told me about? The one you were so excited about?” I shake my head. His expression betrays genuine confusion: “But… why aren't you reading it then?”
I continue to spoon, grin, and explain that I am reading it—just not right now. Now it's time for another one. This completely throws him off track. Several books at once? That's like watching numerous TV shows at once!
I think for a moment, sip my coffee, and realize the comparison is flawed. Because my books serve different purposes—like tools in a well-stocked toolbox:
- The book in my hand is my casual reading. Not a textbook from my discipline, but one that interests me—psychology, history, or culture. I'm currently reading about the history of thinking on paper (Amazon affiliate link).
- The second book is a textbook that helps me solve current problems – currently Design Thinking for Life (Amazon affiliate link).
- The third book is my fun book: a fantasy or thriller. My literary after-work treat – perfect for lunch breaks or the moment before my eyes close.
If you still want to make the series comparison: My fun book is the series. It has a plot, characters, depth—I immerse myself and forget the world—the other two, on the other hand, aren't series but rather documentaries and essays. I don't just read them, I study them.
After this explanation, I invite my exchange student on a little expedition through my bookshelves. Non-fiction books and novels are lined up in the living room, one after the other. Many of them he only knows from movies: Jack Reacher by Lee Child, the Tom Clancy series featuring Jack Ryan – all familiar from Hollywood or Amazon Prime.
Arriving in the study, I pause for a moment. What could fascinate him? And before I know it, I'm philosophizing about books that have influenced me:
- “Rapt – An Attention-Focused Life”: Your life is where your attention is.
- “Storyworthy”: The origin of this post – a declaration of love for storytelling.
- “Make Time”: How distraction controls us and how I fight it.
- “Can't Hurt Me”: Limits exist primarily in the mind.
In fact, I'm only pretending to talk about his interests. In truth, I'm talking about books I wish I had read as a young person. I notice how everything is connected—how my thoughts, experiences, and what I've read are interwoven.
My guest student is amazed: “How can you remember all that?” I laugh. “Because I read differently now.” I take notes, record thoughts, and connect ideas. I didn't do that before—so much has disappeared into the mists of memory. And that's precisely what shows me how valuable mentors are: people who take you by the hand before you lose track.
Later, after we've cleared the table, I sit with my journal. My own words still resonate in my mind. Two insights shine particularly brightly:
- There's no productivity without goals – otherwise, I'd just be running around in a hamster cage – looking busy.
- Good sleep isn't a luxury, but fuel for the next day.
As I write about this, a moment of clarity arrives. I ask myself: What projects am I currently working on—both professionally and personally? Are they really leading toward my goals? And – wait a minute – where are these goals actually located? Have I written them down?
I have to laugh. Maybe the conversation with my exchange student was more than just a lunchtime topic. Perhaps it was a wake-up call. Time to tidy up a bit – in my head, on my bookshelves, and in my life.
