I was listening to NPR, as I often do, on my way to work and heard a show host talk about Barry Lopez’s advice to a gentleman whose daughter wanted to be a writer. The story can be found in the introduction to About This Life: Journeys on the Threshold of Memory, Barry Lopez. His first and foremost advice for her was to READ - “to read whatever interests her, and protect her if someone declares what she's reading to be trash.” He also added that she should read classics and gave some examples of titles. If you don’t have a copy of that book, this link will get you to a blog that quotes his advice.

Something struck me about his advice - that he would suggest protecting the daughter from anyone who might declare what she is reading is trash. There are those who have arrogant ideals of what “good” reading is, but his point was that only she can determine what she gets from any reading - only the reader knows what connection they are finding in a book. I like this advice because I have at times enjoyed what some would consider “fluff” reading, and I sometimes hesitate to tell people about what I’m reading for fear of judgment of my choice. But, really, that “fluff” can be transporting. It can be informative. It can be cathartic or comforting. Only the reader can say what any given book does for them.

The mere act of reading is good for a person - whatever the genre, whatever the connection, whatever the meaning. Reading is nutritional. It can help us understand ourselves and our place in the world. It can help us become.

Barry Lopez’s words of advice were excellent to hear. I encourage you to check them out at the link given above, and then follow that advice and share a love of reading with someone else. They may become the next great writer!