Reading Outside the Lines

The best reading lists are rarely tidy. One book leads to another through a passing reference, an odd recommendation or a cover spotted on a train. That slightly untidy path is often where the most rewarding reading begins.

Let curiosity choose the next book

Instead of deciding that you should read more of one particular kind of book, follow the question that keeps returning. If a novel makes you curious about a place, a period or a profession, let that curiosity choose what comes next.

Keep the list light

A reading list is a set of invitations, not a contract. Keep a short note of titles that catch your attention, but leave room for a book to surprise you. The freedom to abandon a book that is not working is part of building a lasting reading habit.