ONE BOOK A WEEK OR OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MANIC MADNESS

The startling story of one boy and a mammoth task along with 52 books

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George RR Martin

<This project was originally called Man vs Wilde, but apart from my own stupid giggles, it wouldn’t have made much sense>

There is a scene, in fact the very opening scene of the Tamil movie Iru Kodugal (Two Lines) which effectively tries to explain the context of the title. When you have a line, how do you shorten it without touching it?

<Think one minute>

Draw another line adjacent to it, but longer than the existing one.

Simple, not CAT level and all.

Ok, why did I make a reference now, because the whole point of enrolling in a book challenge is to make an existing problem of mine look smaller than the challenge I am about to attempt.

The existing problem of course is the MBA, which will work itself out. <Hopes>

Now let’s get back to the book challenge.

In the beginning of every year, people try and take these book challenges, I have been taking them too, only never even coming close to achieving even half of what I thought I would read the entire year.

Why?

Because 1) I don’t believe in numbers

2) I am quite lazy

3) There are a million other distractions

4) All of the above

All of the above is clearly the answer. Yes, I still think the number of books one reads over a year do not really matter unless of course you are reading something, the act is essential and not the returns.

But wait, I am 25 and the fact that I am inadequately educated and non-conforming to current systems have driven me to a position that my only source for goodness and redemption is through books and all through never having taken up a challenge in life is another driving factor.

You can consider this weekly blog to be something of a self-public shaming, I will of course put up the books I am reading and extent to which I have read them. Truthfully, I promise.

It will be battle-like, every week I will have to fight against boredom, distractions and procrastination to set some time for reading.

I hope you will join me on this quest (ah! A quest!), along with me is my trusted companion and friend, the Kindle.

I am not afraid to fail publicly, but then I will try not to.

<Inappropriate joke alert>

Sherlock Holmes: “A task is at hand, Watson!!!”

Watson: Which hand?

<Inappropriate joke ends>

That reminds me, one week is already gone this year.

You can tell me what you are reading too, or you can make fun of my choice of books, you can do whatever. Thanks

Update:

Masters of the Word: How Media Shaped History

2% complete

The house of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes novel

8% complete

See you next Thursday, 51 weeks to go.

Also, this is what one guy said it is possible go about this maddening task.