The new year is almost upon us. Soon my social media timeline – perhaps yours as well, at least if you have particularly nerdy friends like I do – will be filled with New Year’s Resolutions centered entirely on reading.
An avid reader myself, I love seeing reading goals from my friends. So let me take this time to encourage you to make some – then email me a list of your 2026 reading goals!
For those who don’t know where to start, I suggest looking at Theodore Roosevelt’s autobiography for advice.
Roosevelt was an avid reader, to put it mildly. He allegedly read a book before breakfast and finished two during the rest of the day. He even had his own library at his home, Sagamore Hill.
“I could not name any principle upon which the books [at Sagamore Hill] have been gathered,” Roosevelt writes. “Books are almost as individual as friends.” He also warns against “arrogant pity” for any other person who does not enjoy the same book style – not that he’s willing to let any book preference go unchastised, though! As he later says, “Of course, any reader ought to cultivate his or her taste so that good books will appeal to it, and that trash won’t.”
So what is a good book by Roosevelt’s definition? It is not a book of utility like a law book, medical book, cookbook, or books necessary for one’s profession. Instead, he singles out books that are meant to be read, noting, “Personally, granted that these books are decent and healthy, the one test to which I demand that they all submit is that of being interesting.” In other words, a book that is uninteresting to the reader does not benefit the reader.
For modern minds, let me note that this statement of Roosevelt’s rules out books with pornographic or sexual content as they are indecent. For you, however, it may rule out science fiction or romance, if they are not of interest to you.
Roosevelt then recommends that a book should fit the reader’s needs at the time. Perhaps you need a book that provides a means of escape from the real world, so you pick up an entrancing novel. Maybe you need a book that lets you dive into the dark side of human nature, so you pick up a Russian classic novel. Whatever the choice, it must fit your needs at the time.
Roosevelt goes on to tell us what kind of books he recommends for “statesmen.” His answer? Poetry and novels, including short stories. A statesmen should also enjoy the Hebrew prophets and Greek dramas, Roosevelt explains, as well as interesting books on history, government, science and philosophy:
But, in the final event, the stateman, and the publicist, and the reformer, and the agitator for new things, and the upholder of what is good in old things, all need more than anything else to know human nature, to know the needs of the human soul; and they will find this nature and those needs set forth as nowhere else by the great imaginative writers, whether of prose or of poetry.
Roosevelt then lists his favorite authors in a way only a true book lover can. I recommend reading his entire section. He wraps up by saying, “Books are all very well in their way, and we love them at Sagamore Hill; but children are better than books.” His values certainly speak for themselves!
Roosevelt allegedly advocated for reading many books at once so as to broaden the mind. Thus, each of us might circulate through the Bible, a light novel, a classic novel, and a Christian classic from A.D. 200 all at the same time. During one sitting you may be reading J. K. Rowling, during another, Irenaeus. Before bed you may read “Middlemarch,” by George Eliot. Right now, I am reading the “Count of Monte Cristo,” by Alexandre Dumas, “The Winter Garden,” by Nicola Cormick, and John Locke’s “Second Treatise of Government.”
Roosevelt is also said to always have a book with or near him. I feel certain he would have utilized physical books, Kindle books, and audio books in order to read as much as possible. I highly recommend a similar approach; indeed, that is the only way I can get books in throughout the day. An audiobook works while I am moving about doing housework, a physical book works for while I relax, and a Kindle book works for when I am rocking a sleeping baby.
I hope Roosevelt’s advice has helped you formulate your plan for New Year’s reading resolutions as much as it has helped me!
Read vastly and read broadly.
Read many books.
Read good books of value and decency.
Read with interest and to fit your needs.
Read to exercise your mind.
Read it all and challenge yourself to read more.
Laura Clark is a wife, mother, and community activist. She currently serves as the interim president of Alabama Center for Law and Liberty, a conservative nonprofit law firm that fights for limited government, free markets, and strong families in the courts. Anything written by Laura for this publication does not constitute legal advice.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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