Advice on reading, sent to a friend.

A letter

NB: When I had a much smaller newsletter, before this one was launched, I wrote some posts that I thought were good — or at the very least worth reading. This is one of them. It has been lightly revised since its original publication.

My friend,

I am writing to you because you are a reader, and you want to be a writer, and maybe one day you want to a philosopher, a theologian, or a critic. I am writing to you because you have a goal in mind (however hazy it may be, out on the horizon), and I want to help you achieve that goal.

You have asked me what to read, and you have asked me how you should read. That is a good set of questions, though perhaps it isn’t in the right order. So allow me to answer those questions in reverse.

You should read, primarily, in a quiet place. You should find a nice chair. You should not listen to music when you read. Your phone or electronics should be away, ideally in another room. Perhaps you should buy a box, and put your phone in that box, and lock that box with a strong lock. You can always unlock it when you need it later. If you live in the city, as I do, I would say you should keep your windows closed whenever there is too much noise. Since you live in the country, I say you should keep your windows wide open. Let in the fresh air and the birdsong. Fight against the wind as nature tries to turn the page for you.

Keep this area very clean. Do not keep clutter on your desk or in your mind.