Why Read Books

6/22/2022

Dear Why Team member,
I hope this week’s message finds you well and enjoying a great book.

I can say with certainty that nothing has impacted the quality of my life more profoundly than reading books.

Audio:🗣

In recent years I have noticed a decline in my reading of books as I find myself listening more and more to audio books and podcasts.

This past May, however, I took a media-fast per the suggestion of my climbing guide and advocate Matt Walker. The moment he suggested it, I got excited about the idea. My gut told me it must be something good for me since I got so excited. And, my gut was right, so good was the fasting I’ve extended it through June.

Helped by the media fast, I am now back into several books and enjoying myself immensely - I can feel the rise in creativity, not to mention the decline in reactivity. Modern media is leveraging the latest in technology that is hooking us more quickly and deeply than at any other time in history. We can never fully know the impact our modern world is having on us through all the “conveniences” offered. Sure, convenience is generally good but all good is good in moderation.
And, we can, however, unplug!!
Consider now how emotionally difficult that may be for you. The more difficult for you, likely the more beneficial. If a media-free month is a bit much, why not start with a week or even one day each week?

My reengagement with actual hard and soft bound books has been so good for my soul. More so than audio books where the words are being read for me. Reading is good food for the mind. Reading engages our creativity as we take the words from the pages and create images. Reading slows us down, develops our ability to concentrate and be more present.

It never fails how the variety of books I’m reading start to intersect and contribute to each other - and with what is happening in my life. It often feels like the books are coming to me, rather than me going to them.
I have often shared the importance of reading books that have been recommended to us more than once.
We all have questions, maybe the answers are trying to get to us.

I was not early to reading. My mother was a prolific reader and, in comparison to her, I didn’t think I was a reader. The early books she gave me were beyond my reading level helping to further fuel the lie that limited me. It’s wasn’t until I broke my leg skydiving on my 30th birthday that I finally picked up a book voluntarily.
I remember it was a Steven King novel about a virus that escaped from a lab. It uniquely captivated me, keeping my attention, little did I know then, I’d get to experience something similar in my lifetime.

My mom pointed out that since I broke my leg, I finally slowed down long enough to read - and although I read slowly, and still do to this day, I believe it has helped my comprehension.

I remember finishing the book and feeling a huge sense of accomplishment; so much so that I immediately jumped into another book out of the fear I would return to the limited life of being a non-reader.
Later, to further eliminate that fear, I began reading multiple books at one time to remove the risk of finishing one book and not starting again - knowing that there was no risk of me simultaneously finishing all the books I was reading. Plus, reading multiple books on multiple subjects kept me from getting bored of any one book.

It also has served me well not to be in a hurry to finish books, but more so to enjoy the journey of reading and learning. Just reading a single page gives me a sense of progress - knowing that a journey of a thousand miles is accomplished one step at a time. I never would have dreamed that I would read as many books as I have read. Of course, I didn’t say I finished all of them :-)
If a book doesn’t call me back, I’ll be busy reading the books that do.

The May Media-break I took helped break the trance that had significantly reduced my time with a book in hand. God forbid I waste another valuable moment swiping from video to video on my “dumb phone”. I try instead, to be a reminder to others when they see me reading an actual book of the joys of turning the pages and feeling good about finishing a task: finishing a page, a chapter, a whole book no matter how thin or thick it is.

How about us leaders, who are called to go first, set down our phones more often and pick up a good book?!!
God knows we will all be better for it.

Make it a great week of reading!!

Steve Luckenbach

A few of my current reads:

A WILDERNESS SO IMMENSE
The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America by Jon Kukla
(An outstanding and entertaining read that brings together in detail such a remarkable time in history)

BREATH
The New Science of a Lost Art
By James Nestor
(A must read for anyone who cares about their health and desires to optimize their life)

THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
A Peak Performance Primer
By Steven Kotler
(I had just finished Steven’s outstanding book “Stealing Fire” when this book showed up in the mail from my good friend and advocate Dr. Roger Hall. Roger said it was one of his best books in 2021. I’ve just finished the introduction and have made notes on almost every page.
So good!! Thanks Roger!)

Steve Luckenbach

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