Do you read mostly for pleasure, escape, learning or a combination of all three? At one of my recent book clubs a colleague said, she makes herself read one book out of her comfort zone during the summer. What does she mean out of her comfort zone?
That made me wonder what out of my comfort zone meant. Book clubs often suggest books I would not ordinarily select on my own. Are these books out of my comfort zone? What books are in my comfort zone and what books are not?
Take a look at these questions.
- Do you read the in same genre most of the time?
- Are the books listed on your Amazon suggestion list, relevant to your reading? In other words, have you been so consistent in your selections, that Amazon can figure out what you should read next?
- When you go to a book store, do you tend to drift to the same shelves. Those for mystery or fantasy or sci-fi or historical fiction?
- Are you an expert in a genre? Do you know most of the writers for that genre? Have you read all the series of books by the same author?
- If a friend loans you a book that is not your typical read, do you put it aside for that rainy day that never seems to come?
- Do you belong to book clubs that focus on one genre, be it fiction or non-fiction?
Answering yes to four of these six questions suggest you like to read in your comfort zone. We don’t know what that zone is, but that’s where you are.
So, why venture out? Why does my colleague challenge herself each summer?
It’s not just learning something new, it’s reading something she thought she wouldn’t enjoy.
Whether you read in your comfort zone or not, it’s important to keep reading. When we stretch, our minds grow. Think about ways your can grow your interests.
Share your thoughts and your answers to the questions above.
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