A good book comes in all shapes an sizes. Genres abound and there is something – often multiple somethings – for everyone. Whether you fancy fiction or non-fiction, history, thrillers, romance, or legal, a good book can soothe your idle mind.
Non-fiction books provide an opportunity to grow your mind, much like learning a new language. You can learn something new, learn more about something you are passionate about, or stay up-to-date with trends in your industry. Books are written on virtually every subject imaginable. Turn your black thumb green with books on gardening. Learn more about how to best take care of your body with books on nutrition and exercise. Satisfy your inner history geek with biographies and books about time periods and events. The options are limitless.
Fictional books play just as important a roll as non-fiction in our minds. Whatever genre you lean toward, they provide an opportunity for escape and relaxation. They can transcend you to a different time, a different place, a new experience. They allow you to put reality and the stressors of every day life aside for a period of time and just be. And a fictional book can help you expand your mind, challenging it to use creativity in a way non-fictional books do not.
But how do you find that perfect good book? For multiple reasons, I read everything on my Kindle. Nothing will ever quite compare to the feel of a real, paper pages book, but my Kindle makes reading – especially at the rate I do – so much easier. When I finish a book, Amazon is always ready with a new suggestion based on what I have previously read. And my previously read books are very varied!
Another great source is Goodreads. Goodreads, like Amazon, books based on what you have previously read. But you can “follow” your friends, see what they are reading, and get recommendations based on their reviews. It’s a great way to learn about a book without starting it, hating it, and shunting it off to the side, something I’m unable to do no matter how much I dislike a book.
What do you like to read? Whatever it is, find your next good book. Make the time to sit and read for a little while each day. Your idle mind will thank you.
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