How To Curate Your Own Booklist - And Stop Reading What Everyone Else's Reading | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR
This video provides a three-step process for curating your own reading list, embracing confusion, wandering through bookstores, and utilizing the bibliography of non-fiction books.
Key Insights
- 🔎 People struggle with selecting books to read, questioning whether to trust friends, elders, book reviews, or book talk on platforms like BookTok. Everyone's reading preferences are unique, making it difficult to find a universal reading list. Education systems often discourage independent book selection, leading to self-doubt and mistrust in one's judgment.
- 📚 To become more confident in curating a personal reading list, one must embrace confusion and be willing to make mistakes. Learning involves failure and mistrials, and growth cannot happen without enduring confusion. The fear of selecting the wrong book prevents individuals from exploring intellectually and artistically adventurous reads.
- 📖 Browsing bookstores without any specific book in mind can rekindle a sense of exploration that traditional education may have stifled. By reading the first few pages of different books, individuals can rediscover curiosity and find genuinely interesting reads. Motivation to read comes from finding the right books that resonate with personal interests.
- 📚 Utilizing the bibliography or notes section of contemporary non-fiction books can be a shortcut to discovering great titles. Rather than neglecting these pages, they serve as a curated list of recommended reads by respected authors. While it's helpful to use these references as a starting point, it's essential to develop one's taste and select books according to individual preferences, temperament, and personality.
- 🔍 The goal is not to become a book snob, but rather to be a critical thinker who selects books based on personal interests and preferences. Customizing reading experiences promotes life-affirming and transformative reads that make a meaningful impact. Memorizing facts is not the purpose of reading; instead, it is about selecting books that resonate with one's own life.
- 💌 The content creator also shares additional book recommendations, podcast episodes, and personal thoughts through a weekly update newsletter. The newsletter provides insights into the author's own reading experiences and interests.
- ⭐️ The author acknowledges that their inconsistent YouTube uploads were due to their enjoyment of writing articles on their Substack page. Readers are encouraged to check out the Substack page for extra content and interesting thoughts.
- 😊 The video concludes with a message of well-wishes and a reminder to take care before saying goodbye.
Transcript
just for my own personal observation there seems to be a bit of a crisis going on with this method of selecting books to read you know should you trust your friends should you trust your elders should you trust the New York Times book review or should you trust book talk when you're trying to select your next read to make sure that that read is wor... Read More
Questions & Answers
Q: How does embracing confusion help in curating your own reading list?
Embracing confusion is crucial because it allows you to be open to new experiences and be willing to make mistakes in selecting books, ultimately leading to a more adventurous reading journey. By accepting that there will be failures and confusion, you can grow and learn from those experiences.
Q: How can wandering through bookstores help in curating a reading list?
Wandering through bookstores without a specific book in mind allows you to explore and discover new books that catch your attention. By browsing through different genres and reading the first few pages of various books, you can tap into your curiosity and find books that genuinely interest you.
Q: Why is utilizing the bibliography of non-fiction books helpful in curating a reading list?
The bibliography of non-fiction books provides a shortcut to a curated list of recommended titles. If the author of a well-researched book references other writers and works, it can be a good guide in finding additional books that align with your interests. It's an opportunity to expand your reading and trust the recommendations of credible authors.
Q: What is the main goal of curating your own reading list?
The goal is to develop critical thinking skills and trust your own judgment when selecting books. By tailoring your reading experience to your own interests, temperament, and personality, you can make reading more meaningful and transformative in your life. It's about customizing your reading journey to what resonates with you personally.
Summary & Key Takeaways
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Step 1: Embrace confusion and be willing to make mistakes in selecting your own TBR list.
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Step 2: Wander through bookstores without a specific book in mind to reconnect with curiosity and explore new interests.
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Step 3: Use the bibliography of non-fiction books to discover recommended titles and broaden your reading horizons.
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