One of my 2019 self-improvement goals is to read 14 books this year, which I know is not impressive, to say the least, compared to some people’s goal to read 1 book per week… or 100 books for the year.
That averages to almost 2 books a week!
I can’t fathom reading at that speed, but I’m very impressed by people who can.
The old me would have been upset at myself for not setting an impressive goal, but since my 2019 theme is
Be better than you were yesterday
I’m no longer comparing my progress to that of others.
We all live, learn, and work at a different pace, so it’s unfair of me to me to compare my weaknesses to others’ strengths.
Instead of living through each day lamenting what I haven’t accomplished, I’m going to build on what I have to make improvements, and become the better version of myself.
And there’s no better way to start than reading books.
Reading gains me perspective on others’ thought processes, is amazing for self-reflection, and allows me to travel boldly around the world without leaving the comfort of my couch.
I used to be such an avid reader in high school that I once got in trouble (yes, that’s right) in math class for reading. That was the closest I ever got to being a rebel. Oh, what glorious days.
Sadly somewhere along the way, I lost that part of myself.
The girl who read classics, non-fiction, mysteries, mythologies, and historical fiction in English and Chinese couldn’t remember the last time she picked up a book that wasn’t part of her syllabus.
But now she’s ready to make a comeback.
This month I picked up Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz.
So far I’m about halfway through Everybody Lies and it has proven to be a very enjoyable read.
Data scientists probably would not approve of it since it doesn’t go into much analytical detail, but I think Seth Stephens-Davidowitz does a great job of breaking down and simplifying the concept of big data.
It is perfect for the general audience who is intrigued by the topic but does not want to drown in terminology.
I was immediately attracted to this book because at my previous job I had the chance to represent my company at trade shows and connect with industry experts who were talking about big data and IoT left and right.
You can imagine how excited I was when I found Everybody Lies on Libby, which is a brilliant app if you don’t use it already.
A surge of curiosity kindled within me.
Could it be that the book rebel is alive again?!
That’s up for debate, but one thing for sure is that I’m happy with my progress and I’m pumped to see where it leads me!
What have you been doing to achieve your 2019 goals? What’s on your reading radar this month?
Counting My Apples 