2010 Reading Goals

Since I embarked on my Great Books Project seven years ago, my life has been enhanced in immeasurable ways by a renewed devotion to reading. Well, not entirely immeasurable, since I have kept track of every book I have read since 2003 (508 so far).

In 2008, my goal of reading 100 books was a great success, and the quantifiable nature of the endeavor made it easier to motivate myself and to track progress. However, it resulted in a notable preference for reading slimmer books. In an attempt to correct for that, last year's goal was to read 30,000 pages, a goal I was able to meet. Though I read fewer titles, the average length was upwards of 500 pages per book.

Things are going to have to be different this year. My first child was born about a month ago. I am studying for the one-day Attorney's Exam in February to enter the Georgia Bar. And I start a new job on the 1st of March. I will not have any three-month stretches in Kuwait with little to do after work but read. So the 30,000 pages per year pace I have set the past two years will surely not survive. On the other hand, I want to remain ambitious about reading, and I believe if I can keep it a significant part of my life during a year like this, it will remain so forever. So here's my goal for the new year:

I will read 15,000 pages in 2010, including twelve books of greater then 650 pages.

Obviously this cuts the overall numerical goal in half. The purpose of the second clause is to again encourage myself to tackle the thicker volumes. In 2009, I rated eight books at 5 or more stars (out of 6), and the average length of those eight was just over 650 pages. I'm hoping for a similar rate of success on the door-stoppers this year.

My other goal is to catch up on my reviews. I really let that part of my project slide after my most recent return from overseas, what with getting ready for a newborn baby and all. But writing the reviews has been an important part of grappling with and coming to an understanding of what I am reading, and over the next several weeks I hope to make determined progress through the backlog.

Here's to a wonderful year of reading! Happy New Year!