I was recently asked about what books I read and what books from the publisher I work for are on my personal bookshelf. The first question was tough for me because what I read for my own enjoyment or education is quite a bit different from what my company publishes, and I caught myself feeling a little like a traitor when I began a mental list of my most recent reads.
Quickly disembarking from that self-booked guilt trip, I reaffirmed myself in what I know about being a good editor: it is imperative for me to read widely across genres, ideologies, and cultures so that I can stay on top of trends. My knowledge in this area is pivotal to publishing decisions. I have to own this part of my professional development; nobody's going to make me read. I read to improve my editorial skill and to maintain connection to what matters to people so that the books I buy meet the target audience's needs in a meaningful and speak to what matters to them. Then, how can I be an effective editor or coach to my authors if I am not well versed in excellent writing? Truthfully, I can't.
There's also no sense in my being ashamed of my elicit love of literature. I mean, I skipped every other class except my high school English class, my undergrad degree is in English literature, and I am pursuing grad and post grad degrees in the same field. I just need to own it: I am a lit nerd, period. What I am doing as an editor all stems from my obsession with well-crafted words and written ideas.
While I'm currently working in Christian publishing, I do not have only an interest in Christian theology and worldview. I did not go to school for religion or theology.
Underneath my reserved, logical, and rational shell, I am an artsy creative who loves words...and art and music and food and... It's the sensory things in life that fuel everything else.
My most recently read book list will show my literary loves, continuous effort toward professional development and self-discovery, cultural interests, as well as commitment to faith in Jesus. What of course is missing from my list is what I personally read of the books that I've published/edited. I can't list my favorites here. It just wouldn't be fair. I love all my authors too much to do that. They each have something amazing to contribute to the conversation, they each do it well, and they each do it in their own way that reaches people and transforms lives. That's what matters and that's what I will continue to work to help them do.
So here's what I've read in the last twelve months in addition to the twenty-five or so books that I've edited, conceptualized, or written (yes, some editors can write ;).
I have never made a list of what I've read, but man, I've covered a lot of ground these last several months. Thank God for Audible.
1. Black Wall Street by Hannibal Johnson
2. Quiet by Susan Cain
3. Checkmate by Stephen James
4. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
5. God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
6. The Little Black Book of Success by Rhonda McLean, Marsha Haygood, and Elaine Brown
7. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
8. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
9. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
10. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
11. StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
12. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (currently reading)
What are you reading now and why?