124 books in 2022: why, how and what I read
Children reading comics, 1997 Milan, Italy. (© Ferdinando Scianna/Magnum Photos).
I revised this post to include my book count for 2022. I am very happy to have done this exercise. But I also think that it was a lot. I could have read less and with more focus to retain more knowledge. I'll try to do that in 2023.
Why
Madness probably is the most precise answer. But not the best one. I read more than the usual person since 16 years old. Nevertheless, this year was by far the most prolific in readings. As I analyze the reasons that made me get here, I think that curiosity, the will to learn, the need to keep my mind positively active and access to books are the main ones.
While at the University of Brasilia centuries ago, I could borrow up to 10 books simultaneously. And there were times I did exactly that. Although I could never read all of them, that was not necessarily the idea. The custom of having books around makes me happy. Access to knowledge nourishes me.
I believe I am also trying to keep my mind busy. I think a lot, as probably most people do. And if I don't have anything interesting to think about, I usually think about bad things. An empty mind brings me chaos, stress, self-doubt, politics (in the worst impractical way - you know what I'm talking about), hatred, insecurity etc. I tend to create stories in my head that lead to the worst possible scenarios. Not fun.
On the other side, there are so many fun and exciting things in the world. And people that have studied those things and created stories based on their experiences. I'm just happy to have access to all of that.
Elephant and Man Reading, 2010, Steve McCurry.
How
When I say “read,” I mean also listening to audiobooks. Purists may censor me. But I don't care. I'm not interested in proving anything; just celebrating my achievement and sharing something that impacts someone positively. Of course, listening broadens my scope of reading possibilities a lot.
I speed up the audiobooks as the apps allow. In Audible, you can go up to 3.5x faster. But I don't go higher than 2.2x. Libby’s limit is 2x. Depending on the narrator and the complexity of the topic, I slow things down.
I also taught myself to read dynamically. Depending on the topic of technical books, I read the beginning of paragraphs to get the idea. If a section is interesting, I follow it to the end.
Whenever I'm doing something physical, like running, cycling, cooking, shopping for groceries etc., I listen to something.
The app Good Reads also helped me. You can create a personal reading challenge for the year. In January, I set 52 books as the target. Although I reached way beyond that, it is still meaningful to me to have set a goal in the beginning.
After moving to Toronto, I was introduced to Libby, an app that allows Toronto Public Library cardholders access to unlimited books (up to 30 simultaneously, each for 21 days). Before that, I read through Kindle, Audible and physical books. My desire to learn, along with my curiosity, has the perfect engine with Libby. I also read some magazines through the app, like Rotman Management Magazine, The Paris Review, The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books. But, except for Rotman’s publication, I don’t hold a commitment to reading the magazines from back to back, only what interests me the most.
The roots of knowledge, 2014, Alberto Magrin.
What
I like Literature a lot. For me, it's a way to access humanity and understand myself and others. It's the origin of empathy, gentleness, kindness, and access to the other. Literature shows what we are capable of, for better and worst.
I read non-fiction too—technical business books, but also these Ph.D. books that summarize scientific studies.
Philosophy and sociology books are always on my list. Especially the ones I disagree with. I love to read an opinion different from mine. And the arguments. So interesting to know an approach I've never heard of. I love new ideas. That doesn't mean I'm comfortable with them right away. But in the long run, I know that getting in touch with something new/different/challenging always benefits me.
If you're interested in the books I read, I keep track of them through Goodreads. Hit me there. We can share book tips. I'd love to.
I don't know if I'll be able to keep the reading pace next year. But it's been quite fun and productive until now.
My count [revised on January 2nd, 2023]
Of the 124 books I read in 2022, 74 were audiobooks, and 50 were written.
Best books of the year
Quiet Power - Quiet (the first book) is one of the books that have most impacted me.
Lolita - this one I started reading and ended up listening to. It made a lot of difference. Reading was better.
Mutoko, 2021, Tafadzwa Tega.