Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"
Wings Wednesday – The Value of Comfort Entertainment
We’ve been through a lot this past year. Some, sadly, more than others. Between lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, closed businesses, and quarantines, it can be a challenge to find any sense of normalcy in our world’s current state.
But when things get stressful, when things don’t make as much sense as they once did, I often reach to sitcoms as a quick remedy. Sure, the problems outside still exist, but for that half-hour – or a full season of episodes – you can escape to a happier time when things didn’t seem so grim.
As humans, we all tend to gravitate toward the familiar: familiar sights, sounds, voices, people, objects. We find comfort and peace in them. That’s why many people put up their Christmas decorations early in 2020 and started listening to Christmas music in November; it reminded them of better times that these we’re currently in.
For me, Wings is one of those shows. A sitcom that delivers laughs, entertaining characters, and leaves me happier when the credits roll than I was before. Call it Happiness Therapy. Call it Escapism. Or just call it Entertainment. Either way, sometimes watching a show you know can be a nice respite from the disorganized chaos of our current world.
We all have a favorite TV show, movie, book, or podcast that we use to escape. My favorite sitcom list is too vast to mention here, but Wings has always been one of them, ever since I saw my first episode at the gym in 1998. When a show almost makes you fall off the treadmill from laughing too much, you know you have a keeper!
And each time I moved for college or work to a new place, it was the shows that I knew that helped get me through the rough patches and challenging days. Sometimes getting a laugh from a show I’ve seen dozens of times can be the best medicine.
So, as we soldier on into January 2021, take a moment to think about that show, movie, or book you enjoyed in the past. Maybe it’s a comedy like I Love Lucy or The Office, or even a drama like Lost or Firefly. And in those moments this year when you’re feeling down, check out your favorite episode or season and give your mind and your emotions a much-needed break.
This is the final Wings Wednesday post. I truly enjoyed interviewing Dave Hackel and talking about the series. I hope you enjoyed these posts as well.
Oh, and if you’re curious, here’s a shortlist of my favorite escapist shows: I Love Lucy, Wings, Frasier, Two and a Half Men, Perfect Strangers, Full House, The Munsters, 227, Married…with Children, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, and the list goes on and on.
What are some of your escapism shows, movies, books, or podcasts? Leave a comment and share below.
But when things get stressful, when things don’t make as much sense as they once did, I often reach to sitcoms as a quick remedy. Sure, the problems outside still exist, but for that half-hour – or a full season of episodes – you can escape to a happier time when things didn’t seem so grim.
As humans, we all tend to gravitate toward the familiar: familiar sights, sounds, voices, people, objects. We find comfort and peace in them. That’s why many people put up their Christmas decorations early in 2020 and started listening to Christmas music in November; it reminded them of better times that these we’re currently in.
For me, Wings is one of those shows. A sitcom that delivers laughs, entertaining characters, and leaves me happier when the credits roll than I was before. Call it Happiness Therapy. Call it Escapism. Or just call it Entertainment. Either way, sometimes watching a show you know can be a nice respite from the disorganized chaos of our current world.
We all have a favorite TV show, movie, book, or podcast that we use to escape. My favorite sitcom list is too vast to mention here, but Wings has always been one of them, ever since I saw my first episode at the gym in 1998. When a show almost makes you fall off the treadmill from laughing too much, you know you have a keeper!
And each time I moved for college or work to a new place, it was the shows that I knew that helped get me through the rough patches and challenging days. Sometimes getting a laugh from a show I’ve seen dozens of times can be the best medicine.
So, as we soldier on into January 2021, take a moment to think about that show, movie, or book you enjoyed in the past. Maybe it’s a comedy like I Love Lucy or The Office, or even a drama like Lost or Firefly. And in those moments this year when you’re feeling down, check out your favorite episode or season and give your mind and your emotions a much-needed break.
This is the final Wings Wednesday post. I truly enjoyed interviewing Dave Hackel and talking about the series. I hope you enjoyed these posts as well.
Oh, and if you’re curious, here’s a shortlist of my favorite escapist shows: I Love Lucy, Wings, Frasier, Two and a Half Men, Perfect Strangers, Full House, The Munsters, 227, Married…with Children, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, and the list goes on and on.
What are some of your escapism shows, movies, books, or podcasts? Leave a comment and share below.
Reading Challenge: Trying Out a New Author or Genre
I’m a huge Stephen King fan and an avid reader of his novels. This past month when I was on vacation, I went to Barnes & Noble and found a new author in the horror genre: Ronald Malfi. I had never read any of his books before, so I took a gamble and bought one of his books.
I’ve found a new favorite author!
The next time you’re at the bookstore, on Amazon, or considering buying a book from an author you know, consider trying out a new author in the same genre. You can also experiment and try a new genre outside your comfort zone. If you love fantasy, try romance; if you love sci-fi, try historical fiction, etc.
Or, if you are a hardcore fiction reader, try a non-fiction book on a topic that interests you.
It’s easy to get locked into reading patterns – I know I do – but every once in a while, give yourself the challenge of trying out a new genre or author. You may not like it and run back to what’s familiar, but at least you know you tried.
Or you’ll be like me and find a new author to enjoy.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
What authors or genres have you tried and found you enjoyed? Leave a comment and let me know!
I’ve found a new favorite author!
The next time you’re at the bookstore, on Amazon, or considering buying a book from an author you know, consider trying out a new author in the same genre. You can also experiment and try a new genre outside your comfort zone. If you love fantasy, try romance; if you love sci-fi, try historical fiction, etc.
Or, if you are a hardcore fiction reader, try a non-fiction book on a topic that interests you.
It’s easy to get locked into reading patterns – I know I do – but every once in a while, give yourself the challenge of trying out a new genre or author. You may not like it and run back to what’s familiar, but at least you know you tried.
Or you’ll be like me and find a new author to enjoy.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
What authors or genres have you tried and found you enjoyed? Leave a comment and let me know!
Five Ways to Plan Your 2025 Reading Challenge
It’s hard to believe, but 2024 is winding down, and 2025 is quickly approaching. With all the other end-of-year/start-of-year events, I thought now would be a good time to discuss ways to plan a reading challenge for yourself in 2025.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked about why it’s important to read books, and challenging yourself to read a certain number of books over the course of a year is a great way to stay motivated and keep reading. Let’s talk about five ways to plan your reading schedule for 2025 and ensure you meet your goal before 2026!
#1 - How Much Time Do You Have?
If you have a busy schedule and your free time is filled with errands and other activities, keep your reading goal small. I recommend planning to read six to eight books over the year, seeing how that goes, and then extending the amount moving forward.
If you have time to binge-watch seasons of TV in one weekend, you have time to read more. I suggest attempting to read 12 or more books during 2025. One book a month may sound daunting, but you'll quickly reach your goal once you get into the reading rhythm.
#2 - What Counts as a Book?
Reading a book to your kids? That counts. Like comic books? Those count. Reading for class? Yep, textbooks or other assigned readings count. If you prefer digital to paper, eBooks count as well.
Don’t be afraid to include all types of books and reading material in your reading challenge. You’ll find that you’ll read much more during the year than you initially thought.
#3 - Is Listening to Books Okay?
Around this time each year, I see people on social media announce they have read 300+ books, and I often wonder how that’s possible. Then it dawned on me: audiobooks! Yes, these 100% count as books read over the year, and if you can listen to them on your commute, at work, at home, or anywhere else, you can knock out a lot of books in 365 days.
If this is a more viable option for you and fits your lifestyle, go for it!
#4 – Make a Game Plan
Once you decide how many books you’d like to tackle in 2025, determine what you plan to read. Things can change over the year, but having a list of books you want to work through beforehand will set you up for success.
Maybe there’s an author you enjoy that you’d like to read more from. Or maybe it’s a genre you’re curious about. Perhaps a non-fiction topic piques your interest or a historical period.
Alternate between physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks, or stick to one medium for the whole year.
Or, maybe you’re like me, with more books than space, and you need to read through what you have!
Whatever you decide, it’s always good to have a basic idea of what you want to read over the next year so you don’t have to guess what’s next. It’s okay to change things if another book interests you, but having other books ready to read is helpful.
#5 – Track It
You can do it on your own with a list on your computer or paper, or you can use one of many reading tracking apps or sites like www.goodreads.com, where you can join their annual reading challenge and write and post reviews of the books you read throughout the year.
These reading challenge trackers also tell you how many books you have left to go and how many books you are ahead or behind in your stated challenge.
Other apps include Bookly, Bookmory, StoryGraph, TBR, and many others you can check out on your phone’s app store.
Final Thoughts
I’m a huge fan of reading, and I want as many people worldwide to read and enjoy books as much as I do. Challenge yourself to read as many books as you’d like throughout 2025 and be amazed by how much you read and learn from January 1 to December 31!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked about why it’s important to read books, and challenging yourself to read a certain number of books over the course of a year is a great way to stay motivated and keep reading. Let’s talk about five ways to plan your reading schedule for 2025 and ensure you meet your goal before 2026!
#1 - How Much Time Do You Have?
If you have a busy schedule and your free time is filled with errands and other activities, keep your reading goal small. I recommend planning to read six to eight books over the year, seeing how that goes, and then extending the amount moving forward.
If you have time to binge-watch seasons of TV in one weekend, you have time to read more. I suggest attempting to read 12 or more books during 2025. One book a month may sound daunting, but you'll quickly reach your goal once you get into the reading rhythm.
#2 - What Counts as a Book?
Reading a book to your kids? That counts. Like comic books? Those count. Reading for class? Yep, textbooks or other assigned readings count. If you prefer digital to paper, eBooks count as well.
Don’t be afraid to include all types of books and reading material in your reading challenge. You’ll find that you’ll read much more during the year than you initially thought.
#3 - Is Listening to Books Okay?
Around this time each year, I see people on social media announce they have read 300+ books, and I often wonder how that’s possible. Then it dawned on me: audiobooks! Yes, these 100% count as books read over the year, and if you can listen to them on your commute, at work, at home, or anywhere else, you can knock out a lot of books in 365 days.
If this is a more viable option for you and fits your lifestyle, go for it!
#4 – Make a Game Plan
Once you decide how many books you’d like to tackle in 2025, determine what you plan to read. Things can change over the year, but having a list of books you want to work through beforehand will set you up for success.
Maybe there’s an author you enjoy that you’d like to read more from. Or maybe it’s a genre you’re curious about. Perhaps a non-fiction topic piques your interest or a historical period.
Alternate between physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks, or stick to one medium for the whole year.
Or, maybe you’re like me, with more books than space, and you need to read through what you have!
Whatever you decide, it’s always good to have a basic idea of what you want to read over the next year so you don’t have to guess what’s next. It’s okay to change things if another book interests you, but having other books ready to read is helpful.
#5 – Track It
You can do it on your own with a list on your computer or paper, or you can use one of many reading tracking apps or sites like www.goodreads.com, where you can join their annual reading challenge and write and post reviews of the books you read throughout the year.
These reading challenge trackers also tell you how many books you have left to go and how many books you are ahead or behind in your stated challenge.
Other apps include Bookly, Bookmory, StoryGraph, TBR, and many others you can check out on your phone’s app store.
Final Thoughts
I’m a huge fan of reading, and I want as many people worldwide to read and enjoy books as much as I do. Challenge yourself to read as many books as you’d like throughout 2025 and be amazed by how much you read and learn from January 1 to December 31!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Reading Question of the Week: Where Are You Reading This Summer?
Summer officially begins on Friday, June 20th, which made me wonder what everyone might be reading this summer. With so many types of books to choose from, I thought we’d explore some of the options available for car rides, plane trips, or hanging out at the beach or by the pool.
Road Trips
If you’re the driver, reading a book is out of the question, but audiobooks are always a great option to utilize as you make your way from Point A to Point B. Depending on the length of your trip you can choose an audiobook that will take you to your destination, or break it up between traveling to and from where you’re going.
I would recommend choosing a book that will keep you engaged and awake, which also means finding an audiobook with an author who doesn’t put you to sleep as you drive.
If you’re the passenger, you can either have a say in what audiobook is chosen, or you can pick any book you wish to read on your road trip. An eBook is also an option, and having a variety of books to choose from can make the journey pass more quickly.
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Planes are good for audiobooks to drown out the other passengers, crying babies, fights, and other hindrances to your enjoyment of your flight. It’s a great way to fully immerse yourself in another world as you fly above ours.
If you choose a regular book, you may want to consider something light since you’ll be lugging it around with you. I would recommend avoiding 1000-page books and sticking with lighter fare for your trip. No need to add more weight to your carry-on and get charged an additional fee.
Like the car trip, an eBook is also an option, but if the flight has strict rules about electronics, this could put a damper on your eBook reading plans.
Beach or Pool
I would avoid bringing books with any value or that you don’t want to get wet (or, in the case of the beach, wet and sandy). Nothing ruins a first edition’s value faster than saltwater, chlorine, or wet sand.
If you want to read an eBook, make sure your device is in something waterproof so you avoid any technology versus water mishaps.
Staycation
Read whatever you want in whatever format you wish. You’re home, you’re in your own space and comfort zone. Enjoy the peace and quiet and immerse yourself in a book!
Have Fun!
No matter where you travel, make sure to put the book down long enough to take in your surroundings and enjoy the scenery. Make memories and enjoy your time with family and friends as you travel this summer, and don’t forget to pick up a new bookmark wherever you go!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Road Trips
If you’re the driver, reading a book is out of the question, but audiobooks are always a great option to utilize as you make your way from Point A to Point B. Depending on the length of your trip you can choose an audiobook that will take you to your destination, or break it up between traveling to and from where you’re going.
I would recommend choosing a book that will keep you engaged and awake, which also means finding an audiobook with an author who doesn’t put you to sleep as you drive.
If you’re the passenger, you can either have a say in what audiobook is chosen, or you can pick any book you wish to read on your road trip. An eBook is also an option, and having a variety of books to choose from can make the journey pass more quickly.
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Planes are good for audiobooks to drown out the other passengers, crying babies, fights, and other hindrances to your enjoyment of your flight. It’s a great way to fully immerse yourself in another world as you fly above ours.
If you choose a regular book, you may want to consider something light since you’ll be lugging it around with you. I would recommend avoiding 1000-page books and sticking with lighter fare for your trip. No need to add more weight to your carry-on and get charged an additional fee.
Like the car trip, an eBook is also an option, but if the flight has strict rules about electronics, this could put a damper on your eBook reading plans.
Beach or Pool
I would avoid bringing books with any value or that you don’t want to get wet (or, in the case of the beach, wet and sandy). Nothing ruins a first edition’s value faster than saltwater, chlorine, or wet sand.
If you want to read an eBook, make sure your device is in something waterproof so you avoid any technology versus water mishaps.
Staycation
Read whatever you want in whatever format you wish. You’re home, you’re in your own space and comfort zone. Enjoy the peace and quiet and immerse yourself in a book!
Have Fun!
No matter where you travel, make sure to put the book down long enough to take in your surroundings and enjoy the scenery. Make memories and enjoy your time with family and friends as you travel this summer, and don’t forget to pick up a new bookmark wherever you go!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Reader Question of the Week: How Many Books Do You Read At Once?
I love books. I have more books than I have places to put them, but I can only read one at a time. I know that some people can read multiple books simultaneously, so I thought we’d examine the pros and cons of both reading methods.
Reading One Book
Pros: You know exactly what you’ll be sitting down to read. You know where you left off in the story. And, at some point, you’ll be determined to hunker down and power through to the end so you can start the next book.
Cons: You might feel stuck in a book you can’t stand and want to escape, but don’t want to feel like a quitter and walk away. It’s a book that sounded interesting from the back cover, but now it’s a tough slog that keeps putting you to sleep. Frustrated, you hope the main character meets some horrible fate so you can get excited about the book once again.
Reading Multiple Books
Pros: Variety. Lots of options and choices for any mood you might be in at any time. You can have books for home, for your commute, for your breaks at work (or while you work), books for the weekend, books for vacation, and even a different book for each day of the week.
Cons: Narrative confusion. The storylines and characters begin to merge into one massive narrative blob, and you lose track of where you are and what happened in each book. Is Pennywise taking the One Ring to Mordor with Jon Snow and Atticus Finch? Or is Ramona Quimby stuck at the Overlook Hotel with Mark Twain and Frank Sinatra while a volcano erupts outside?
Final Thoughts…
Like everything related to reading, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you prefer staying focused on one story and reading one book at a time, this approach is right for you. If you like having options based on your mood, multiple books are the way to go.
The key is to read, keep reading, and never stop reading!
Happy reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Which reading method do you prefer? Leave a comment and let me know!
Reading One Book
Pros: You know exactly what you’ll be sitting down to read. You know where you left off in the story. And, at some point, you’ll be determined to hunker down and power through to the end so you can start the next book.
Cons: You might feel stuck in a book you can’t stand and want to escape, but don’t want to feel like a quitter and walk away. It’s a book that sounded interesting from the back cover, but now it’s a tough slog that keeps putting you to sleep. Frustrated, you hope the main character meets some horrible fate so you can get excited about the book once again.
Reading Multiple Books
Pros: Variety. Lots of options and choices for any mood you might be in at any time. You can have books for home, for your commute, for your breaks at work (or while you work), books for the weekend, books for vacation, and even a different book for each day of the week.
Cons: Narrative confusion. The storylines and characters begin to merge into one massive narrative blob, and you lose track of where you are and what happened in each book. Is Pennywise taking the One Ring to Mordor with Jon Snow and Atticus Finch? Or is Ramona Quimby stuck at the Overlook Hotel with Mark Twain and Frank Sinatra while a volcano erupts outside?
Final Thoughts…
Like everything related to reading, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you prefer staying focused on one story and reading one book at a time, this approach is right for you. If you like having options based on your mood, multiple books are the way to go.
The key is to read, keep reading, and never stop reading!
Happy reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Which reading method do you prefer? Leave a comment and let me know!
