One hundred books !?

Teddy Roosevelt got me on this path.

Since reading the Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, way back in the 2000s, I've been obsessed with the idea of reading fast. There was a wayward quote that sparked something in me:

"(Teddy Roosevelt)...would read a book before breakfast every day, and depending on his schedule, another two or three in the evening."

I was intrigued. I thought I read a lot, but reading about a person who consumes a book in an hour, made me sit up and rethink what I can do. And ultimately I thought, if he can do it, I can do it too.

So back in 2010s, I tried a 3,000 book challenge - I wanted to read 3,000 books in a span of three years. My failed sojourn is still documented in my old blog. The reality is it was the wrong time - I didn't have the time, technology, or devotion to actually execute it. Back then, my goal was to read three books a day. I was reading everywhere - in the FX, when I woke up, before sleep, while eating, at work, while walking. And still, it wasn't enough. I gave up at around 40 - a far cry from the original goal.

It's a bit different these days.

For one - I've been trending between 40-60 books over the past few years. I have actual routines now that allow me to read faster and get more time. There's also much more variety in topics I'm interested in now - actual knowledge I want to pursue or stories I want to read. But more importantly - I actually have the technology now to read anywhere, even without carrying books with me.

These days, you won't see me without some sort of audio apparatus attached to my ear - either my trusty AirPods, my Beats, or my cmf Pro Buds. This is by design. I learned through the years that I am an auditory learner - I learn best when I listen rather than when I watch (Visual) or when I do (kinesthetic). I have been leveraging that significantly in my life. Podcasts took over my life for a great stretch of time, but these days, it's all audiobooks.

I still do read physical books. There's an attraction to physical books that I cannot deny - from the moment you enter a Kinokuniya to browse for one book and come out with at least five. To folding creases, inserting bookmarks, and adding the book to your shelf once it's done. There's a romance to it that I'm attracted to, and I'll still keep.

But back to the original topic. One hundred books?!

I see it more as a challenge. I set myself a lot of challenges yearly, and this one was something I thought was easy to smash. My interest in different stories and knowledge has always been insatiable, but it has only been fueled further by our march to AI and the instability of global politics. My appreciation of fiction has only grown - with a specific focus on Fantasy, SciFi, and LitRPG, all of which have piqued my interest significantly over the past few years.

So no, there's no grand plan. I just like reading and I thought it would be interesting to hit 100 books this year. I'll read fiction, non-fiction, or anything that interests me. To that end I subscribe only to the rule Teddy himself made - focus only on what interests you. And that's what I'm doing.