During the last three years, my life has been significantly enhanced and helped by a new habit: listening to audiobooks. For years, I enjoyed reading a few books per year, but was always feeling like I was missing out. Time to read was short and I always struggled with the act of sitting or laying down and trying to read a book. I would become tired, give up and go to sleep at night, or find a more interactive hobby. So, my wife introduced me to audiobooks and the fact that you could check out an audiobook from the library just like a regular book. This was a brilliant find, and I finally started reading like I always wanted, but never accomplished. The last three years, I’ve been able to read roughly 40 books per year, just by listening when I’m driving, going for a walk, or often exercising. I haven’t added reading time, I’ve just multi-tasked my thoughtless hours.

I’d like to report my best finds over the last three years. They are not just new works, fiction, or classic novels: I like to mix it up with books that I’ve always wanted to read but never did, and books I’ve heard about but just missed actually reading.

2022

2023

2024

As you can see, variety is the spice of reading! So why is reading helpful? Your brain needs to exercise just like the rest of your body. Reading, listening to books, learning about new things, and the act of discussing these books with friends or family is serious exercise for the brain and is correlated with long term brain health, and decreased risk of diseases like dementia.

It is finally just plain enjoyable! I love the way an artist unfolds the story before you in a novel. Feel free to take my list and make it your own!

Feel free to share your list in comments! I’d love to hear and get ideas for my next read.

[The featured image is a picture I took from inside the Library of Congress in Washington DC]