What do we learn from “essential reading”?
Plus May’s most anticipated releases and a game-changing app for book content.
Every now and then, social media surprises me.
Last month, the Art of Life Twitter account set off a fire storm with this thread of book recommendations, described as essential for twentysomethings.
On the whole, the list boasted selections from what I’ve come to think of as the life-hack genre—personal narratives, mostly from men, aimed at leveraging their success stories as a product to sell to readers. Their blurbs regurgitate buzzy phrases like: fulfill your potential . . . realize your destiny . . . embrace a more efficient routine . . . It’s the rise-and-grind mantra.
Unhappy with your current status? Time to hustle. And here are my ten steps to achieving your dream future.
None of this surprised me. Neither did the notable absence of fiction from the list, aside from two exceptions. What did surprise me were the lists that began circulating in response. Poetry lists. Novel lists. Memoir lists. Classics lists. Most of them seemingly fueled by a conviction that while the original list may help you build your brand, it will reduce you as a human.
Recently, I’ve been revisiting George Saunders’s latest, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, which is a written version of a class he teaches on Russian short stories. In his opening chapter, he describes what first drew him to Russian literature, characterizing these writings not as
something decorative but as a vital moral-ethical tool. They changed you when you read them, made the world seem to be telling a different, more interesting story, a story in which you might play a meaningful part, and in which you had responsibilities.
I’m not well versed in Russian literature at this stage of my life, but Saunders’s words here remind me of the chasm Susanna Clarke creates between the two protagonists of her novel Piranesi. One views the world as something he belongs to, a realm in which he plays only a small but meaningful role, whereas the Other (as he is so aptly named) cares only for how his surroundings can serve his ambitions for personal gain. And what differentiates them most is their experience of life.
Here’s how I summed it up in my review of the book last year:
Everyone desires to belong to something greater than themselves, but doing so requires stepping out of the spotlight. For many, that is a threatening thought because it might mean living in the background . . . it could mean the responsibility of bearing witness instead of being witnessed. . . . There will always be dishes to wash, meals to prepare, laundry to fold, meetings to attend, presentations to deliver, children to shuttle to school—and all of it, even the most mundane task, becomes a source of joy when we embrace the fact that we are not at the center of the story of life.
The rise-and-grind shelves have their place, but to treat them as essential reading is to understate a core reality of being human:
You are not a machine to be hacked.
When you come to see the world around you as a means to an end, you diminish your capacity for life. Again, Saunders writes, reading “makes [us] more expansive, generous people and makes [our] lives more interesting.” Of course, that all depends on what it is we’re reading.
The beauty of the written word is that it can teach you about your responsibility to the world—not simply what you can wring from it. It can make you curious, alert to reality—not simply hungry to consume it.
For better or worse, reading will teach you what is essential. Keep that in mind the next time you encounter an “essential reading” list.
April Reads
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb—Ray McMillan is fresh out of college and storming the global stage as a world-class violinist when his priceless Stradivarius—valued at over $10 million—is stolen. As he scrambles for answers, Slocumb deftly unspools the story of a young, immensely talented Black musician and the inescapable legacy of his family.
The Verifiers by Jane Pek—Technology connects us more than ever before, but it often comes at a cost. Just ask Claudia Lin, a new hire at a detective dating agency in New York City. When one of her clients ups and vanishes, she leans on her instincts and her love for mystery novels to uncover what really lies behind the big tech world of dating apps.
The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo—A few years ago, I read Un-su Kim’s The Plotters, a Korean novel about a John Wick-esque assassin guild, and have kept my eye on new Korean translations ever since. The Old Woman with the Knife follows a sixty-five-year-old woman assassin who’s forced to confront a threat on her life as the shadow grows long on her storied career. While this book doesn’t quite pack the punch of The Plotters, it’s still a moving—and bloody—read.
May’s Most Anticipated
Salty by Alissa Wilkinson—I have a short list of writers who I consider worth reading no matter what they write. Wilkinson is one of those writers. From her film criticism to her cultural analysis, she’s a wise observer with much to offer. With Salty, she assembles a dream dinner with remarkable twentieth-century women, like Hannah Arendt, Octavia Butler, and Maya Angelou, to examine how “food managed to root these women into their various callings.”
Elektra by Jennifer Saint—Greek mythology is back in the spotlight with Jennifer Saint’s retelling of the gruesome legacy of the House of Atreus. Her previous novel, Ariadne, was an absorbing read, and I expect much the same from Elektra.
We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu—When an Avenger releases a book, you know I have to read it. In his new memoir, Simu Liu, the MCU’s first Asian superhero lead, proves he’s much more than just a Hollywood star with this tell-all about his immigration with his parents from China to Canada, his struggles to adapt to cultural differences, and how he discovered the true meaning of home and family.
Trust by Hernan Diaz—In 1920s New York City, everyone knows Benjamin and Helen Rask and their seemingly endless fortunes. What they don’t know is how they amassed their wealth. With Trust, Diaz has crafted a “brilliant literary puzzle . . . confronting the deceptions that often live at the heart of personal relationships, the reality-warping force of capital, and the ease with which power can manipulate facts.”
Book of Night by Holly Black—With so many new fantasy titles hitting shelves these days, I’m reticent to pick up anything new until it’s had some time to breathe. But Holly Black’s adult debut caught my eye with its description of magicians who can manipulate shadows to spy on—and even kill—others.
Reading Roundup
People Are Sharing How Libraries Were The “Safe Place” They Went To When They Were In Danger And It'll Bring A Tear To Your Eye—This headline’s making my job easy.
Ezra Klein Interviews Emily St. John Mandel—The acclaimed author discusses her latest novel, the simulation hypothesis, and how we find meaning in life.
Raising readers—Fellow Substacker (just go with it) Jessica Wilen interviews Sarah Miller about how to encourage a culture of reading in your home.
New report shows link between adult audiobook habits and mental wellbeing—Yet another reason for you to make the jump to Libro.fm if you haven’t already!
Afterword
I’ve had my eye on Copper for a while now, with its self-described mission of “transforming the modern publishing industry by helping authors reach and deepen their relationships with readers.” After months of development, it’s finally going live this week on Thursday, May 5.
The platform hosts both authors and readers on a single space where the two can join live events, hold meaningful conversations, and build relationships around books. Users can also create their own profiles with unique shelves displaying a wide variety of book titles. I’ve had early access for a few weeks and love what I’m seeing so far. It has the potential to become my go-to app for book content, even more than Goodreads or StoryGraph.
Until next month, happy reading, friends.
I installed the Copper app this week, but haven't had a chance to look at it. I'm looking forward to digging in this weekend.
I didn't realize Alissa's book was coming out this month! Woohoo