Books

I've always been an avid reader. Books are a great comfort to me. A lot of historical fiction, some biography, travel books, people doing bike trips or ultrarunning, that kind of thing.

I recently had a couple of Reiki sessions and afterwards I bought a book on Reiki to learn more about it, to try and understand it. That to me is the power of books, it's not always about being transported to another world and to lose yourself in a story. It's more about learning and expanding your knowledge. 

When I think of my life, invariably there are books involved. Reading all the Secret Seven and Famous Five books as a child. And then later, as a 22 year old, sitting in a tent in California in 1992 reading The Idiot by Dostoevsky and also Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. Both books made a big impression on me and to this day I can remember that time in my life so clearly.

One thing I love is to see people who are a lot older than me, reading. It's shows they still have a curious mind. I hope that's me when I'm in my 80's.

I have a big respect for people who write books, it must be incredibly hard to do. To give up a big part of your life and pour everything into it. And then set the book free into the world to be judged, devoured, lauded or criticised.

I mainly buy second hand books, I'm not an e book reader. I love the feel of the pages, the smell, the history. To think who else has read this book? What did they think of it and how did it affect them?

Anyway, I'm off to read a book now.

Keith

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