Reading can lead to success and it is important to be well-read, regardless of your industry. However, not all of us are natural readers. Some of us have to revisit literature as an adult in order to fall in love with it. Some of us are new readers.
A new reader is not a three year old who is just learning to read. A new reader is an adult who has rediscovered a love of reading and, perhaps, needs a guide on what book to read next. These recommendations are very important, as the wrong recommendation can derail a new reader from the path of loving literature. We all know how hard it can be to establish the habit of going to the gym. Reading can take the same amount of dedication, except you are exercising your mind instead of your body. It takes practice to get in the habit of reading regularly, but the more you practice, the more you want to read. If you know a new reader or are a new reader, yourself, check out these nine books, that we have chosen specifically for you, to get you hooked on reading.
1. Reread a Book From Your Childhood
There are certain stories that are read to you at a young age that can stay with you for the rest of your life. These books are often filled with magic and characters that spark your imagination. Rereading them as an adult can bring back that childhood wonder that will make you want to pick up another book as soon as you finish.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
2. Read Something That Inspires You
Everyone has somebody they look up to or a goal for themselves. If you are a new reader, pick up a book about that topic or that person. These books are usually nonfiction or how-to books, and they can show you that the path to your dream really does exist. Once you pick up one of these, you will be inspired to keep reading and gaining as much knowledge as you can to go after your dream.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- How I Sold 80,000 Books by Alinka Rutkowska
- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
3. Read Something That Terrifies You
When you are just starting to fall in love with reading you should try a book in every genre, and that definitely includes a horror story. There is something about a book that scares you that just makes you want to keep turning the page to see what happens next.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
- The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
4. Read an Autobiography or Biography
Another type of book that is good for new readers is an autobiography or biography. These are good books to read because they often cover the life stories of the people you follow anyway. They can be raw and honest, making it easy for you to connect with them. Reading about these people may inspire you to read another biography or autobiography, and learn to love reading.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
5. Read a Book That Has Been Made Into a Movie
One of the ways a new reader can be inspired to pick up a book is to look at the movies they enjoy. Many of the most popular movies were originally adapted from the book. Of course, there are always differences in the book and the movie, but there is nothing wrong with having the movie be the inspiration to pick up the book in the first place.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
6. Read a Nonfiction, Educational (and Possibly Academic) Book
The opportunity to learn something new can be a great motivator to start reading. Nonfiction, educational books can cover pretty much everything, including events throughout history, scientific theories, or even how to create and market a new skill set. You do not have to look at these books as textbooks, although they can provide such valuable information that they are sometimes used in college courses.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- DIY MFA by Gabriela Pereira
- Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
7. Read a Classic
Classic novels are the books that most kids have to read in their high school English classes. Unfortunately, there is a certain ingrained distaste for these novels. They are classics for a reason, which means that in addition to having a good story in the first place, they have also mastered the art of writing. Try rereading the classic story that has stuck with you since high school, even if you didn’t finish it, or even like it, back then. If there isn’t one that you remember from high school, pick up a new one. It can completely change the way you look at literature.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
8. Read a Book of Short Stories
A short story is typically anywhere from a few pages to 30 pages. Depending on who you ask, that number can vary a little, but anything longer is usually considered a novella or a novel, and anything shorter is considered a flash. Flash and short stories are great introductions to the world of reading because they don’t take long to finish. In today’s society, many people feel like they can’t just sit and read a book because is takes up too much time and they have too many other things to do. In comes the appeal of the short story. Complete stories in one nice, neat little package that are quick to finish, but still a great read.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- Skeleton Crew by Stephen King
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
9. Read a Book of Poetry
Like a book of short stories, a book of poetry can be ideal for short attention spans. Poetry spans hundreds of years, so there are very old options to read, like Beowulf, and much newer options that have been published in the last century or so. Not to mention, the thousands of poems that were published in between. The appeal of poetry is that it can give rhythm and a sense of beauty to the language, that is possible in prose,but much less prevalent.
Quill and Tome’s Suggestions:
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
- Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
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Over To You
Hopefully, you found this helpful. Reading can help you develop good mental health habits and help lead you to success. So, find what you enjoy reading, and never stop! If you have any or need any suggestions on what to read next, you can head on over to our bookstore or drop us a comment below.
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