The Intentional Reader — Reading Plans

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The Intentional Reader — Reading Plans

I was introduced to reading plans by Odysseas on YouTube. Reading plans are curated lists of books centred around a theme or goal. They're important because they provide structure and direction to your reading habit.

I use reading plans to explore neglected topics, challenge myself with new ideas, and engage in deliberate learning of a specific area. This post records the reading plans I'm currently pursuing.

Instead of targeting a specific number of books yearly, I focus on completing reading plans. This approach equates to the same goal through intentional topic exploration, avoiding the "make number go up" BookTok mentality.

Format

Each reading plan consists of 8 books. Why 8? It's enough to dive deep into a topic without being overwhelming. It's a number that feels achievable yet substantial. Each book in the plan is carefully selected to provide a balanced and comprehensive view of the theme.

Lists

Classics

Currently reading, started July 2024.

1. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde — A philosophical novel about beauty, hedonism, and the corruption of the soul.
2. "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes — A humorous and profound exploration of reality and idealism.
3. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen — A witty examination of love, marriage, and social class in Georgian England.
4. "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky — A psychological thriller exploring guilt, morality, and redemption.
5. "The Odyssey" by Homer — An ancient Greek epic following Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War.
6. "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë — A passionate and haunting tale of love and revenge on the Yorkshire moors.
7. "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas — An intricate story of betrayal, imprisonment, and elaborate revenge.
8. "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley — A Gothic horror exploring the boundaries of science and the nature of humanity.

Modern Classics

1. "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse — A spiritual journey of self-discovery set in ancient India.
2. "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck — A portrayal of the Great Depression and the American migrant experience.
3. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee — An exploration of racial injustice and loss of innocence in the American South.
4. "1984" by George Orwell — A vision of a totalitarian future that remains chillingly relevant.
5. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez — A multi-generational saga blending reality and magic.
6. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger — A candid portrayal of teenage alienation and angst.
7. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison — A haunting tale of slavery and its aftermath in post-Civil War America.
8. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald — A critique of the American Dream set in the Roaring Twenties.

Upcoming Themes

• Behavioural economics
• Tao Te Ching
• The Cosmos
• Critical thinking
• Japan
• Stephen King
• Ancient civilizations
• Harry Potter

Links

• “How to Design a Reading Plan” by Odysseas

Credits

Cover image created by @viglomir.

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