You Are What You READ

Don’t judge a book by its cover; judge it by who you want to be!

We read for many reasons: enjoyment, to escape our life or situations, to de-stress, for information, to learn and grow, for our school assignments, and for mentorship- however this one isn’t spoken about as much.

Mentorship is a very important reason to read.

Let's talk more about LITERATURE:

Literature is body of written works, especially those considered of superior or long-lasting artistic merit. Literally translated, the word literature means "acquaintance with letters". The name has traditionally been applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the intentions of their authors and the perceived aesthetic excellence of their execution.

Types of writing:

Non-Fiction: (Not Fake) for reals – writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history. Non-fiction books are a great place to learn who you can be, learn about other people/society, and how to interact with people. Types of nonfiction include biographies, history, how to, life improvement and more.

Interested in reading some non—fiction? Here is a list of suggested reading:

• How To Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

• How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

• The Great Courses

• Shop Class As Soul Craft by Matthew B. Crawford

• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

• 12 Rules For Life by Jordan B Peterson

• Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

• Mastery by Robert Greene

• Biographies (by Theodore Roosevelt, Elon Musk, The Wright Brothers, or anyone who has accomplished something you would like to do as well)

Fiction: Not for reals –  describes imaginary events and people. Fiction is who you can strive to be. Why read non-fiction? For entertainment, to boost your creativity and use your imagination! Here are some suggested authors:

• Jack London

• C.S. Lewis

• J.R.R. Tolkien

• Tom Clancy

• Clive Cussler

• Mark Twain

• Harper Lee

• Louis L'Amour

• Charlotte Bronte

• Jane Austin

• Jules Verne

• Alexander Dumas

Drama: YES, like a play! It is a play for theater, radio, or television– an exciting, emotional, or unexpected series of events or set of circumstances. There are many reasons someone might want to read drama. Maybe they want to ‘try’ a person out, becoming another person through acting, understand a person and what they do or why they do things. A great way to read more dramas is to join your local theatre group!

Poetry: Described as meter and rhyme. Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature. Also known as: emotion in a tiny box.

Folk tales: stories of old – from your grandpas uncles brother. Or more formally described as a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth and from generation to generation. Reading Folk tales help us learn about our past: how people lived, how they spoke, how they worked. It can be very educational and open our eyes to our personal history.

Speech: energetic presenter – written motivation. A formal address or discourse delivered to an audience. Many a speech has been delivered by amazing presidents, historians and world leaders. Speeches can motivate us to be better, do better, and work better.

No matter which type of literature you are drawn to, it is so important to READ! Paper books and audio books are easy to find at your local library, book stores, and online. Remember: YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ!