Do you remember DEAR (Drop Everything And Read)? In elementary school, there would be DEAR time, and we’d all stop the lesson and take out a book and have quiet time to read. Did you know that April is DEAR month? DEAR Day is April 12th, but the entire month is devoted to celebrating reading and books!
As a graduate student, you’re always reading: assignments, journal articles, books, etc. – but do you ever take time to read for fun? Are you ever reading something you enjoy that isn’t for your research or for school? If not, this month is a perfect time to get back into that habit. Yes, we know you’re busy with schoolwork, but taking 30 minutes daily – or several times a week, if you can’t spare the time every day – to read something you enjoy is not only a nice break, but it provides relaxation and pleasure. Reading can also help stimulate your mind, improve memory and vocabulary, strengthen your analytical thinking, improve your writing, build empathy, and help improve concentration.
Looking for a good book to read? Here are some suggestions.
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino
If you’ve read The New Yorker, you’ve probably read Tolentino’s razor-sharp writing. This essay collection delves into the social aspects of the internet, athleisure wear, scamming and millennials, and much, much more. Tolentino is an acerbic cultural critic who doesn’t mince words. Love it or hate it, this is an interesting, smart read that will leave you thinking about the material long after you’ve finished the book.
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell
We live in a world where we are measured by our productivity: we monetize our hobbies, turn everything into a side hustle…and we’re burnt out as a result. Do we even know how to relax anymore? Do we know how to do nothing? This is a really interesting, groundbreaking book that looks at the attention economy, the side hustle gig economy, and capitalism, and posits a new way of being.
This Pulitzer-prize winning novel is a satirical look at going abroad, but also a heartbreaking story about love lost and how to live your life anyway. It’s about confronting life and all it throws at you, but at its core, it is merely a story about one man and how he’s dealing with events in his life, the decisions he makes, and everything that follows.
If you haven’t read this yet, you’re in for a treat. This is not your grade school mythology story – forget what you’ve read about the Odyssey, this book is Circe’s story. In descriptive and powerful prose, Miller unfurls a story more magical than you could think about the gods on Olympus. Medusa, Daedalus, Minotaur, Zeus, and more all make appearances, and Circe finds her strength to choose between the gods or mortals. You won’t be able to put this one down.
When you’re done reading for DEAR, Dissertation Editor will be waiting for you! We offer a range of services to help you achieve your academic and professional goals. Our expert team of statisticians and editors have been where you are and can assist you with your project. Contact us today to learn more!
< Self-Care During COVID-19 How Do You Know if You Have the Right Dissertation/Thesis Topic? >