The Pleasure of One at a Time
As an enthusiastic reader, I once lived happily with books scattered everywhere. I do mean everywhere. An almost permanent pile rode in the backseat of my car, waiting for a return to the library. A tower of books teetered next to my favorite spot on the sofa. One was usually forgotten in the kitchen, discarded while refilling my wine glass. Another next to the bathtub, waterlogged and slightly stained with pink bubble bath. If there weren’t at least twenty books overflowing from my living spaces - well, something felt wrong.
With my decision to focus on writing this summer, I also decided to curb the number of books I check out from the library because those piles (and piles) were distracting. Wonderfully distracting, mind you, but distracting nonetheless.
Surprisingly, I’ve found a lovely side effect of reading only one book at a time. When I had twenty books, I found myself anxiously skimming through the pages of whichever one I held, hurrying to finish it. I was like the paper version of the Nascar 500. Because, after all, I had nineteen others that needed to be read, too. With one single book, though, I relish each page. I’m in no rush. Now I find myself reading meaningful paragraphs over again several times, letting the words sink in and unwind into my head. I find myself closing the book occasionally, taking time to ponder and daydream. Because I choose only one book from the library, I choose it carefully, and am rarely disappointed with my choice. I go through fewer books, but I’m actually reading more.
When I uncluttered and minimized, I believed the empty space needed to be filled, at least partially, with my favorite things. But my favorite things, too, are best when deliberately chosen and thoughtfully pursued. I’ve found this to be true about more than books. Picking out one bottle of wine is more satisfying than picking out three. With only one bottle, I must read each label, think of my impending dinner, consider my mood. I love this process! Capturing one excellent photograph is better than a dozen half-hearted snapshots. With taking only one photograph, I must see the landscape. A bouquet of roses may be stunning, but a single rose seduces my gaze to the curve of each petal.
One flavor of Jelly Belly stuffed into my mouth is better than ten flavors, no matter how much I love sugar :) .
One is a powerful number.
Ahhh…you describe perfectly my former life, as well as the discovery I too made when I became more selective in how I focused my time. It is incredibly liberating to channel all of your focus into one thing at any given moment…and I discovered that my joy increased ten-fold, in all that I did. Thanks for capturing this so succinctly!
Laura Saba
June 20, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@ Laura – I don’t know that I’ve ever thought about focus as liberating, but – dog gonnit – you’re right, it is. With focus, you release your attachment and worry, and delve into the task/moment. And, you’re right again, focus IS joyful. You’re a smart lady, you know that?
SimplicityBySunny
June 21, 2011 at 2:44 pm
I’ve been struggling with my book collection for sooooooooo long. I keep paring it down, but I’ve still got at least 100 books. Almost all unread. Rather than getting enjoyment from them, they just cause me stress. I do the same thing you did – rush through them as fast as I can because I have so many more to read. I don’t really enjoy any of them, even though they are all titles I really WANT to read. Every time I look at my bookshelf it feels like a to do list. I’ve been toying with the idea lately of just keeping a set number of them, say 10 or 20, but I love the idea of getting rid of most all of them (will keep my Bible and a couple of others….) and checking a book at a time out from the library. What a freeing idea, I hope I can get myself to do this…….
Kim Caron-Lohman
June 20, 2011 at 10:46 pm
The important part seems to be how you feel about your books, not how many of them you own. If you whittled your collection down to 10 or 20, I bet you would still have negative emotions towards the remaining ones. And probably the culled ones as well.
I can relate to wanting to read too many books. I’ve come to a point where I’ve accepted the reality that I can never read everything I want to. It isn’t physically possible. I know because I’ve tried.
It turns out this is a good thing as it actually helps me determine which ones I REALLY want to read. If it’s not likely to score a perfect 10, I probably won’t ever get to it.
But most importantly, I enjoy each book I read, like our Sunny here, knowing it made it to the top of an elite list. Feeling like I’m consuming the crème de la crème seems far better than feeling guilty over an “un-done list.”
I think you already know the answer you are looking for. You said you, “Love the idea of getting rid of them all.” Why wouldn’t you pursue an idea you love?
Might I suggest you donate all your wonderful books to the local library and then check them out one by one as you read them? You can still read them anytime you want, but let them worry about the actual owning. If you didn’t want to dive right in, you could pretend your friends garage is the library until you realize donating them for real makes more sense.
Or maybe it never makes sense, but by then you’ll have enjoyed reading your books. Which is the whole point.
Bradon Wesche
June 21, 2011 at 1:48 am
@ Bradon – Yeah, I’ve tried reading everything that makes my bookworm heart flutter, but I’ve found it equally impossible. But hopefully I’ll retire young and give it a more serious try… I love your “crème de la crème” mentality. Books should be gourmet for the soul.
SimplicityBySunny
June 21, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@ Kim – I second Bradon’s thoughts.
I understand the “to do list” mentality. Even my Netflix queue felt like a “must get done” list and caused me stress, so I recently limited my selection here, too. Wonderful things (including but not limited to books, movies, and jelly beans) should never be stressful. There’s enough in the world to stress us out, we don’t need to voluntarily add to the pile.
As Bradon wrote, “I’ve come to a point where I’ve accepted the reality that I can never read everything I want to. It isn’t physically possible. I know because I’ve tried…I enjoy each book I read, like our Sunny here, knowing it made it to the top of an elite list. Feeling like I’m consuming the crème de la crème seems far better than feeling guilty over an ‘un-done list.’” Bradon’s a minimalist extraordinaire, I just know it
because this comment exemplifies, at least for me, what a minimal/simple life is about – quality versus quantity. I couldn’t answer you any better, or more elegantly, than he has.
I must ask, as Bradon has, that if you love the idea of getting rid of your books, why not do it? Try Bradon’s suggestion regarding the library or garage. I’ve done the library method myself, when I first minimized, and still come across my donated books two years later. From the looks of the broken bindings and the ragged pages, it seems my donations were a good choice. Many people are making good use of them.
Another suggestion I have is using PaperbackSwap. It’s an online book trading club that doesn’t cost anything to join. You mail books back and forth with people all over the country. Each book you mail to someone, you get one credit point. Each book that’s mailed to you “costs” one credit. For 100 books, that’s 100 credits!! You could send your books to people who will appreciate them, gaining book credits for yourself in process, while slowly whittling yourself down to just one “crème de la crème” (or whatever number feels right).
SimplicityBySunny
June 21, 2011 at 3:23 pm
…”I relish each page. I’m in no rush. Now I find myself reading meaningful paragraphs over again several times, letting the words sink in and unwind into my head.”
This has the same effect on me that I imagine the penguin book guy had on you. Your thoughts are sexy as hell.
Bradon Wesche
June 21, 2011 at 1:01 am
@ Bradon – Why, Bradon, you say all the right things to make me blush
.
SimplicityBySunny
June 21, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Sunnny oh Sunny,
Your blog continues to amaze me in our similarities. I too have reduced my leaning tower of Pisa stack of books with the force of a wrecking ball. I now have one small box of those I consider my forever inspirations. Every time I reread those, I discover a new epiphany. Go figure.
However, enter my suggestion. May I recommend a Kindle? This is minimalist functionality at it’s best! You talk about living and traveling light! I’m certain you would find it, or something similar, a worthy companion. I was reluctant at first to purchase one, but I am glad I finally did indeed!
So here’s a glass raised to you once again Sunny.. To your blog, your website to come, and those crisp Colorado nights with ONE good book and multiple glasses of wine! Cheers!
Kelly
Kel
June 21, 2011 at 9:13 am
i totally agree with kelly. i have a kindle and just love it! i’m able to keep treasured books on it, get freebies and indulge in my mystery and horror addictions to my heart’s content! and i get a kick out of imagining what my pile of kindle books would look like in reality.
dianon
June 21, 2011 at 9:55 am
@ dianon – I’ve yet to speak to a Kindle owner who didn’t love it. I’d say that’s the best marketing there is! I have to agree with Kimberly’s comment. To have a Kindle for an “invisible” stack of books would still cause the same distraction (for me) as a physical stack. My digital life is as minimal as the rest of my life. If it weren’t for my digital photographs, and my blog, I might not have a digital life at all!
But I do understand where you’re coming from. Isn’t it wonderful to exist in a technological world that allows us to own hundreds of books in 10.2 ounces? Yeah, I think so, too. Happy e-reading to you!
SimplicityBySunny
June 21, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@ Kelly – You’ve destroyed Pisa with a wrecking ball?! Clearly you don’t appreciate ancient Italian architecture, but I forgive you
.
Yes, you absolutely may recommend a Kindle! I’m currently saving for the latest & greatest iPad 5, which will be uploaded immediately with the Kindle app. I’m not sure I’d purchase the Kindle by itself, however. I’ve seen and tried out Kindles that my friends have, and I’m in awe of how amazing it is. Honestly, the print and the screen are remarkably similar to reading paper. But I tend to read pretty obscure books relating to sociology, psychology, architectural design, etc. (in addition to complete and ridiculous posh, of course – I could never be mistaken as a literary snob) that aren’t available on Kindle. If ALL books were available on it, I’d jump on the wagon, but to have another electronic gizmo for only one purpose, especially when my access to print books are free via the library and PaperbackSwap? I’m not so sure. As an app for my future iPad, though, that I’m very excited about.
Multiple glasses, eh? It’s so much simpler drinking straight from the bottle
Just kiddin’. And the Colorado nights are, indeed, crisp, even in June – ideal for being warmed by Merlot and a book (electronic or otherwise). Cheers, Kelly!
SimplicityBySunny
June 21, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I think the point behind one at a time is just that, savoring the one and fully being taken in by it. I don’t have an e-reader but you would still have a “virtual” pile of books all waiting, clamoring, me next, me next, to be read. Like my Ipod with a 1000 songs, I will never get to hear them all, they still take up space there. I’m thinking of passing my Ipod to someone more appreciative of it, being overwhelmed with choices.
Really love the blog Sunny, so glad to have you posting more again, I got all caught up on your history and then you were gone! Feels like home here.
kimberly
June 21, 2011 at 10:22 am
@ kimberly – I agree. Virtual or not, the stack is there. Hmm… about that iPod…
It is rather homey here, isn’t it? You can even visit in your PJs, if you like. Nothing says “home” more than PJs.
SimplicityBySunny
June 21, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Love this post. I also find myself reading very quickly at times because I know I have a ton of books waiting for me. I love it when I come across a book that makes me read slow and absorb the loveliness of the words – East of Eden and The Gargoyle, for example. Thanks for reminding me to slow it down.
Bree
June 22, 2011 at 8:25 am
@ Bree – Ah, Steinbeck! For me, Hemingway always makes me slow down. Mostly because you have to read between all of his lines! I spent a whole day dissecting “Hills Like White Elephants” once. One of the greatest literary adventures I’ve ever had. Happy reading to you! May your pages turn slowly…
SimplicityBySunny
June 22, 2011 at 4:05 pm