Deep Reading 2.0

About a week ago I invited people to join me in doing a "deep read" of some classic works in 2024. This follow-up post contains three things:

• a promise, that unless you actually subscribe to my blog, I won't clutter your inbox with any more emails

• a method, or how I'm going to approach this project

• an encouragement, or why I hope you join me in this effort in 2024

Let me take each of these one by one.

To subscribe or not to subscribe, this is the question

First, an easy one: if you want to keep getting emails from me that announce when I've created new content, subscribe. If you've already subscribed, thank you! If you do not subscribe, I promise you won't receive anything else from me. And, you can still subscribe, even if you don't want to do the deep reading project with me. I'm up to other things you might want to follow. :)

How I'm doing my deep reading

Many of these texts are difficult for one reason or another. I love a good story, a preference which generally has me avoiding postmodern novels. I like modern English which makes Old and Middle English an effort I'm unwilling to undertake most days. I like certain poets and have no earthly idea what some other poets are trying to do (or why I should bother trying to figure it out). When I read, I tend to choose according to such preferences, and this has narrowed my range over the years, such that I largely read for pleasure and if a work is too difficult, I abandoned it for something that is more to my liking. Let me say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with reading for pleasure, and I certainly will continue to do so this year, alongside this project.

But the pleasure principle only gets me so far and in selecting low-hanging fruit from the tree of knowledge, I've left a lot of fruit on the tree. If I drag out a ladder or figure out how to climb the tree or get a tool, it's more work, more difficult, but also, I get more fruit, and it's still a pleasure, only now a difficult pleasure. I'm looking to increase my yield from reading, the yield in this case being my growth as a human being, wisdom, an enlarged world, and deeper connection with humanity. This is going to take more work. It will be a pleasure, but a difficult one.

So, my ladder/tool/climbing gear:

1. Questions. Deep reading isn't the same as academic reading or reading for information or pleasure. Deep reading is active reading served best by a mind searching for answers to particular questions. These are the questions I'm bringing to every single one of the works I've chosen to read, and they are questions that will inform what I bring to the discussions: How does this text challenge me intellectually, morally, emotionally, artistically, and spiritually? How does this text READ ME? How can I live this text? What do I learn about myself, others, society, culture, etc., from this text? [And because I am a writer,] what do I learn about the craft of writing from studying this work?

2. Lectio Divina or a scriptural/contemplative approach. I'm not suggesting these works are scripture, but I think the approach is valuable. Lectio Divina is a monastic practice that I'm adapting for this project in that I'm going to read these works slowly and without distraction (re-reading if necessary), then contemplatively, pondering what I'm reading before moving on, and then prayerfully, in the sense of applying and expressing my aspirations and inspirations--a kind of corny way of asking in what ways this text addresses the questions I have and how I might live this text.

3. Writing and discussing. I don't really know what I think until I write or try to put it into words. On the page, I begin to think synoptically, making connections between different works and experiences. I begin to possess the text and the text takes hold of me. I'm forced to try to articulate the what and why of my thinking, challenge myself to investigate my thoughts, feelings, and actions, to wrestle with my contradictions, and to prepare the soil for new growth. The writing practice includes marking up the text as I'm reading. Not just underlining, but noting connections with other thoughts or experiences or asking questions. I used to despise marking books but now I have a dedicated paperback copy that I can abuse in this way and I think of it as paying the author a compliment: I care enough about what is written to really think and write about it too. A beat-up copy, for me, means that I took my time and really engaged with this author and, likely, really loved the whole experience.

These are my tools and the process I'm going to use for deep reading. They are tried and true, trustworthy tools.

Why I encourage you to join me

Some people have already responded with their yes or no and their why, but in case you are still on the fence, let me offer this encouragement:

First, the books I've selected are challenging. Doing things that are outside one's comfort zone, that are challenging, rewards such effort with confidence and self-affirmation: I am the kind of person who can do hard things. I may not find every moment enjoyable and it's not easy, but after completing the work (or whatever it is), I feel a deep sense of accomplishment. I'm actually a different person--the kind of person who can do hard things. This is the same self-talk I go through when I'm doing three-minute cold plunge ice baths. Before, I dread it. During, I hate it, every time; after, I feel strong and hearty, more alive and vigorous. So, why should you join me on this deep reading journey? Because it is hard and doing hard things will make you stronger.

Second, the stakes are really low. A deep read doesn't imply that you have to get through the entire book. If you only read one page deeply most days before we meet to discuss, you'll have several pages of material you've thought about and can talk about with the group. Most importantly, you've engaged in deep reading for yourself. Setting the goal of reading one page often results in reading two or ten pages or a whole chapter. The hurdle is often in the start, in the mind, i.e., "I'm too busy for this" or "I don't want to do this." But are you too busy for one page? You might be, but I'm simply pointing out that you can engage in a deep reading practice that is as little as one page or one poem. You don't have to worry about "keeping up" or "getting all the reading done." Yes, you can have that goal as well, but don't let it stop you from plunging into the experience and appreciating what can happen when you read with quality rather than quantity in mind.

Third, deep reading facilitates personal and relational growth. I believe much time these days is spent scrolling, bingeing, tuning-out, pleasure-seeking, and distracting ourselves to death. We are so exhausted by the demands of work and family, the news cycle, appeals for our involvement, and making ends meet that refilling our own well or attending to our own needs is just one more thing (and easily cast aside), OR, we engage in more frivolous, shallow stuff that won't demand anything of us. This is a sad situation. Life is rushing by, we grow old, and, tragically, come to the end only to discover we haven't really lived. Every single book I've selected endures as a classic because on offer is wisdom a plenty to help us live well. I think we all want our lives, our moments, to be meaningful, and deep reading will awaken us to this kind of living.

There you have it. If you'd like to join me on this, send me an email at tayo.basquiat@gmail.com and I'll send you the reading schedule and organize our Zoom discussion sessions. If this isn't for you, no worries and no judgments here. For my part, I'm very much looking forward to the journey with however many of you are willing. If you have others in your circle that you think might be interested, pass this along, will ya?

My best to you and yours in 2024.