I've spent years setting reading goals that looked impressive on paper but left me feeling overwhelmed. This year, I’m taking a healthier path. I explain why focusing on total books read can quietly harm the reading life, especially for those of us who love challenging nonfiction. Then I offer the goals I’m using for 2026 and the eleven books from 2025 that helped me rethink everything.

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I’ve tried every trick in the book to remember what I read—and the one that works isn’t about highlighting or taking notes. It’s about applying ideas. I’ll show how I take concepts off the page and into real life so that books don’t just get read—they get remembered.

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In this episode, I sit down with author Thatcher Wine to talk about something most of us overlook: the space where we read. Thatcher shares practical ideas for creating a room that invites focus, comfort, and deeper engagement with books. We also walk through his books For the Love of Books and The Twelve Monotasks, and explore how slowing down and reading with purpose can change the way we approach challenging texts. If you're trying to build a stronger reading habit, this conversation will give you tools you can use today.

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Reading deeply takes practice. The more you wrestle with complex ideas, the more your mind learns how to sit still with them. In this episode, I talk about what that practice looks like, how it’s shaped my life, and why walking away from the bookstore I hoped to buy reminded me that growth always costs something. I’ll also share a book that offered a little lightness when I needed it most.

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I’ve found that reading a book isn’t enough—you have to wrestle with it. In this episode, I’ll show you how Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages method can help you process what you read so the ideas actually stay with you. I’ll walk through how to use this practice after a reading session and share a book recommendation from Tayari Jones that’s worth reflecting on.

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In this episode, I talk about a simple motto that changed the way I read: Read slowly, take notes, apply the ideas. Most of us rush through books hoping the next one will fix what the last one didn’t. But real learning happens when we slow down and wrestle with one book at a time. I’ll share how I use pauses between books to reflect, and why action—not speed—is what makes a reader grow.

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Nietzsche once said, “Live dangerously.” But what did he mean by that? In this episode, I explore the heart of that idea—why safety can dull the human spirit, and how risk is tied to becoming who you are. I’ll share my own struggle with this concept and recommend a book that might help you take the next step toward a more honest, courageous life.

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I’m behind in my reading. Does that ever happen to you? Let’s chat about why it happens, how it messes with the brain, and how to get back on track without all the reader’s guilt and drama.

In this episode, I share:

1. Why we get behind as readers
2. How it weighs on us mentally
3. Tips for getting back on track
4. A book recommendation

I also take a moment in the middle to talk about some of the coffee that I sell at my bookstore. I love this stuff, as it fuels my reading day.

This Episode’s Sponsor: Edgewater Bookstore Coffee

The Deep Read (dark roast great for espresso) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/the-deep-read

Anthology (Medium roast great for french press and pour-over) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/anthology

Prose (Light roast from Ethiopia) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/prose

Plot Twist (Light roast that changes monthly) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/plot-twist

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In this episode, I close out my series on Emerson’s journals by looking at what his essay Self-Reliance can teach us about keeping a thoughtful record of our lives. I also share a book recommendation—Agnes Callard’s Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life—and give a quick update on my bookstore and the growing Edgewater community.

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In this episode I explain how John Locke created a system for indexing journals that looks clever at first but quickly becomes a burden. I also share why Ralph Waldo Emerson abandoned the method and point you to his essay Self-Reliance. The larger point is simple: if a journaling system is too complicated, you won’t use it.

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👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Join my Book Club Here): https://community.thereadwellpodcast.com/deep-reading-community?el=podcast