Long Reads are Good Reads

 

 

Reading is, as I’ve written before in this space, an important activity for me, as it is simultaneously information gathering, brain exercise, and soul rejuvenation. I wish I had more time to read but am glad for the space I do carve out. 

This year I’ve really tried to lean into long books, again something I’ve written about in this space. As I am a voracious reader, when I am in a good read that is short I can tear through it in a week or less. Which is great, in fact a huge reason reading is such a high-return activity to invest in, to tap into the wisdom and talent of others. But oh, how satisfying it is to sit with a topic or a storyline for several weeks. 

In 2025 I’ve been blessed to enjoy, over many weeks at a time, the following titles, all of which are strong recommend and as you can see most of which are fiction. 

Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso (Alighieri)

Tale of Genji: The Authentic First Translation of the World’s Earliest Novel (Shikibu)

The Aeneid (Vergil)

Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers (Ferriss)

Pachinko (Lee)

Bleak House (Dickens)

City of God (Augustine)

Roots: The Saga of an American Family (Haley)

Infinite Jest (Wallace) 

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (Mandela)

These reads took a lot of my time but I found them to each be highly worth it, whether for cultural significance, insight into our human condition, or just sheer enjoyment. 

What would you recommend I dive into next?