My 100 Book Challenge

Why the challenge?

When I was a kid - I loved reading. 

I read a lot of the standard kids/YA fiction (Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, etc.) - but I was also never afraid to check out a book from the library that was a bit beyond my reading level. I have some fractured memories of checking out a college level robotics book when I was about 8 years old. I don't expect I gleaned much from that particular volume but the intent was there.

 

In the time since then my relationship with reading had waned.

• 10 year old me read dozens of books a year
  
  
• 15 year old me read maybe a dozen books a year (and most of those were required for an english class)
  
  
• Between 20 and 30 years old I probably only read about a dozen books total.

Despite this - in the back of my mind I've always continued to imagine that reading is a part of my core identity.

 

So entering 2025 I decided I'd set a resolution to read more - and not just more, but a LOT more. In my arrogance I decided that my goal was to read 100 books in 2025. 

Crazy right? Like - totally out of touch with reality. But to quote Zava - "Dream big, and you may never wake up"

I didn't set any hard rules or regulations. They could be books I've read before, they could be fiction or non-fiction, they don't have to be a certain length to qualify.

The only real limitation I set was that my 2 year old daughter's books don't count. If I was counting each time I've read the Little Golden Books "I am Elphaba" and "I am Galinda" - I think I'd be just shy of 1 million books read this year.

How it's going so far

By January 7th I had already finished 4 books - setting a blistering pace!

Then I didn't finish another book until February 7th. 

But in February I was determined to get myself back on track - by Feb 28th I had finished another 7 books, bringing my total to 11!

Then I didn't finish another book until March 30th.

But in April I was determined to get myself back on track (again) - by April 30th I had finished another 8 books, bringing my total to 19!

And this time I kept up the pace! I finished another 8 books in May. And then 6 books in June. (Total is now 33).

Then in July I only finished 1. (34)

In August - we took a trip to my family's camp in Maine. Camp is my favorite place to read - I finished 6 books in 5 days, and another 2 before the month was up. (42)

Since that camp infused sprint - I've totally lost pace. Only completing 3 books in all of September and October so far. (45). 

 

So I'm a little behind schedule. 33 books behind schedule to be exact.

But even still I'm refusing to revise my goal and I'm foolish enough to talk about it here because I think I can still make it happen.

I've got some quick/easy reads stashed up my sleeve and 2 weeks of planned vacation at the end of the year. I spend a few hours listening to audio books (at 1.7x speed) pretty much every day - and I know that at my maximum pace I can make up all the ground I've lost.

If you want to follow along with the books I'm reading - or are feeling brave and want to join me as I read them; you can follow me on goodreads 

Why am I telling you all of this?

None of this so far explains what this has to do with my professional growth or why its relevant to this blog.

A LOT of the books I've read this year have been focused on topics related to the exact skill sets that I'm looking to nourish and develop - but I've been missing out on the opportunity to have a place to really share the value that I'm getting out of them or to open a dialogue on the lessons I'm learning. 

I want to do that here.

I want to talk about how 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkemann completely changed the way I think about managing my time.

I want to talk about how The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker articulates and addresses frustrations I've had with bad meetings for years.

I want to talk about all of the incredible books I've been reading and how each of them supports my core driving principle to stop fighting fires and start building houses that won't burn.

I'm still figuring out how to create a rhythm here - but I'm thinking I'll try something like:

• On Wednesdays - I'll continue the 'main story line' I started with "The Plan." I'll talk about the specifics of my growth and development and try to pave a path that others might be able to follow.
  
  
• On Sundays - I'll take time to post my reflections on a book I've read and how it has influenced my thinking. 

I think this two-track approach gives me the right opportunities to share one thread for my ongoing journey, and another for the lessons and resources that are fueling it.

 

I'd love to hear from you - Do you believe that I can close the gap by December 31st? and more importantly—what should I be reading to make it count? 

 

CHG