“We are readers. Books are an essential part of our lives and of our life stories. For us, reading isn’t just a hobby or a pastime; it’s a lifestyle.”
The Book
I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
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Publisher: Baker Books, 2018
What It Is
I’d Rather Be Reading is an adorable short book about the joys of being a reader. Broken up into 21 short essays, Bogel examines everything from what it was like living next door to a library (which is pretty much my new goal in life!), to finding your “book twin”, and organizing your bookshelves.
Anne Bogel is the creator of Modern Mrs. Darcy, a book and lifestyle blog, as well as the What Should I Read Next podcast. She’s well-known in the book community and is well-suited to writing a book about all of the wonderful aspects of reading.
My Thoughts
I’ve always enjoyed books about reading and writing, so it’s no wonder that I enjoyed I’d Rather Be Reading. It’s a book that can be easily finished in just a few hours and would make a great gift for your bookish friends.
My favorite sections of the book were “Bookworm Problems” and “How to Organize Your Bookshelves.” I frequently pull every single book off my shelves to find new ways to reorganize them. In the past few years, I’ve organized by spine color, subject, author, enjoyability or, at times when I’ve gotten frustrated by the whole process, by just putting them back on the shelf with no organizational plan at all.
Overall, I’d Rather Be Reading is an adorable book written by a delightful person. It’s funny, relatable, and a good reminder of why we read.
Verdict (Buy/Skip/Borrow)
Buy. In fact, buy one for yourself and another for your book-loving friend. It’s small enough to be a stocking stuffer.
Read Yourself Happy 