One of the things I’m most known for is probably my ridiculous reading habit. It has slowed down some, but I still try to read every second I can and now I share that love of words with my daughter.

I firmly believe that anyone who partakes in social media should have some kind of reading habit. It helps you shape the stories you tell and can move your brain into unexpected places. It will bring something to a brand and its marketing that you just can’t get any other way.

So I’m going to spend some time each week telling you about what I’m reading. Hopefully it inspires you to pick up a book or article you might have otherwise skipped.

Reading Social Media News

It only makes sense that I start here, right?

Content Marketing Institute shared some great ideas on how to cure perfectionism. The sad fact is that everything isn’t going to be perfect when you’re engaging in content marketing. That’s because the beast (aka your audience) is constantly demanding more and more and more. If you don’t put a stop to over-criticizing your work and looking for all the holes, you’ll likely suffer some real health consequences (both mental and physical). So if you find yourself in that perfectionist mindset, take a look at their ideas.

“Businesses must not say, ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it,’ when one experience no longer works. Success happens when the business can healthily disengage and dismantle experiences that aren’t working.” God, I love this quote. Being nimble in content marketing is so important. And that’s why I’m going to send you to Content Marketing Institute again to read some of the latest content marketing research.

Reading Books, Books and More Books

Is there such a thing as too many books? Heck no! So let’s get into what books I’m reading this week:

Past

I finished Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. I’m a part of the Fantastic Strangeling Book Club, which is how this book found its way to me. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. It just felt like one caper after another, very reminiscent of Young Adult books. I’m old. I’m tired. Let’s keep it a bit slower please. I want to live in more moments and not be thrown into the next one so quickly. I’d recommend it to someone younger. It would probably be great for a teenager who needs some magic in their life. Score: C+

Present

Speaking of moments I am living in, I am so glued into The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff. I wasn’t expecting much from it since it found its way to me from my local Barnes & Noble bookclub. Usually the book picks are okay, but almost never great. This is great. I’m about 200 pages in and it will make my top reads list of the year. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be recommending this to everyone I know.

Future

Next up on my reading list is How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America by Kiese Laymon. This is another bookclub book, because apparently I belong to too many bookclubs. In reality, a friend asked me to join her on this one, so I’m excited to see what this journey will look like. New book and new bookclub. Both can be exciting.

So that’s what I’m reading this week. What are you reading?