Around mid-way through 2018 I realized something: I wasn’t making time to read. I don’t just mean reading academic texts, I mean reading of any kind.
So I decided to make time to read (partially by cutting out other things, like scrolling through Facebook on my phone, partially by listening to books on Audible during kid-running).
I thought you might enjoy my five must-read books for 2019. Happy reading!
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1. Finish by Jon Acuff
If you only read ONE non-academic book this year, read Finish! Seriously, this was a game-changer for anyone who has had trouble finishing anything (hello, almost-done articles!). Learn to goal-set, achieve your goals, and be kind to yourself. GO READ IT RIGHT NOW!
2. Deep Work by Cal Newport
I think that most of us got into academia because, well, we like to think about stuff! But once we really started down this academic road, we realized that deep thinking is not what we are doing for hours every day. Writing is deep work, and if you want to get some done, you need to read Cal Newport’s book. He gives lots of how-to’s — real, concrete techniques — for doing deep work. It has changed my writing practice completely!
3. The Slow Professor by Maggie Berg and Barbara K. Seeber
This book had me at the title. I mean, how appealing is it to think about slowing down? What it is really about though, is applying the values of the Slow Food Movement to academia (anti-corporate, local). The authors argue that the only way to stop the corporatization of higher education is to push-back at the professor level. This book makes you feel like you are not alone, or crazy. The frazzled day-to-day life we experience is part of this middle-management heavy beast that the university has become. This book is only 100 pages long–easily read in an afternoon–and the chapter on time management is priceless.
4. Mama, PhD edited by Elrena Evans and Caroline Grant
Feeling alone? Just pick up one of the wonderfully-written essays in this book and you are sure to relate. Or feel horrified. Yes, there are stories of feminist advisors who fire pregnant graduate students, but hearing how mamas fought their way through will both inspire you and challenge you to do better.
5. The Battle for Paradise by Naomi Klein
I have to include this book because (1) it is so well written, and (2) everyone who cares about Puerto Rico should read it. I care about Puerto Rico, a lot. It has been my home for almost 15 years. It is where my children were born and will be raised. There is truly no place else on earth that I would rather live. Experiencing Hurricane Maria here actually solidified that feeling more for me. But it’s not easy working for a public university in a colony, in a country in financial crisis that is worsened by those who claim to “take care of” (eyeroll) Puerto Rico. Understand the current situation of Puerto Rico in this lovely 60-page long-essay-in-booklet-form by Naomi Klein. Please. It would mean a lot to me.
Thank you for this – the reminder to read and the suggestions.
It’s disconcerting that Acuff’s book does so poorly on Fakespot, with roughly half of its Amazon reviews judged unreliable (e.g., coming from single-use accounts created to copy+paste advertising text). None of the other books you list raise any red flags. If it weren’t for your enthusiastic recommendation I wouldn’t touch “Finish” with a ten-foot pole.
Too bad about Fakespot. Amazon reviews at 4.8 stars! It is really great!
Deep Work is available on the Axis 360 library app! I’m looking forward to checking it out and seeing if I need to add it to my personal library. Thanks for the suggestions!
Thank you Cathy! I just bought the Klein book for the plane–I’m looking forward to educating myself.
I would recommend
The Truth About Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What to Do About It
by Christina Maslach, Michael P. Leiter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00267SROQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Absolutely loved “Deep Work”. Am liking “Voice and Vision”. Adored “How to Write History that People Want to Read” by Ann Curthroys & Ann McGrath. Eviatar Zeruvabel’s “clockwork muse” = oldie but goodie that could be read from library – the others, I bought because I feel like I want to re-read a few more times to apply their awesome advice…
oh yeah, and Naomi Klein is up there with coolest woman ever… she gave a talk about that book in Toronto and it was very powerful! She did an amazing video analysis for “The Intercept” also – https://theintercept.com/2018/03/20/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-recovery/
I ordered Finish after watching your first summer writing video, and I loved the Slow Professor. I will definitely check out the others. Thanks
Thank you for the Naomi Klein recommendation! As an adopted Puerto Rican 🙂 I am always seeking to understand Puerto Rico’s situation more deeply.