I'm linking up with The Broke and the Bookish for another Top Ten Tuesday.
This week's topic is what will unquestionably make me want to pick up a book. I wrote recently about what's on my to-read list and why, so there will be some overlap, but this will drill down more into why, for example, a book seems "interesting" or "fun" to me.
1. Everyone seems to be talking about it
I don't feel like I'm a big sufferer of FOMO, except when it comes to books. If I keep seeing a title pop up and people keep asking me, "Have you read this?" then I immediately feel like I need to pick it up.
2. Getting a recommendation from someone I trust
I pretty much feel obligated to read all personal recommendations, but I really want to read a book when someone who knows me and my reading style well says that they think I'll enjoy a particular book.
3. It involves books, reading, or wordplay
I loved The Phantom Tollbooth and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. A book that celebrates books and language is one that I want to be reading!
4. It's a lesson in something I probably should know about but don't
This is how a lot of books end up on my to-read list. I read a book description and say, "Hmm, I don't really know a lot about X..." and then The Story of Christianity or The New Jim Crow or The Gulag Archipelago ends up on my to-read list.
5. It's about sexual or gender minorities
For a long time I've felt most at home in the LGBTQ community (inasmuch as a straight cis chick can ever be part of that community), so I'm always excited to read books where queer and trans characters are foregrounded, especially if the books come recommended.
6. It's by an author I love
I've shared my always-want-to-read authors before, but that list keeps growing (like, I had a hold on The Upside of Unrequited from the moment I heard about it, and OMG it was just as good as Simon).
7. It's social science research
People are so interesting! I love well-presented research, but especially when it's about human behavior. That's why I put a hold on American Hookup as soon as I heard about it, and why I loved Being Mortal and The Righteous Mind and many others.
8. It's a step-by-step life manual
I don't read a ton of self-help books, but I love books that provide a clear process for making change in your life, whether it's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or The Happiness Project or I Will Teach You to Be Rich. I do well with checklists!
9. Realizing I should have read it by now
This is why there are dozens of classic books on my to-read list. This is different than book FOMO, which is about books that are currently popular, and more about books that keep getting referenced by other books. Like, I don't think I can pick up another Christian book until I get my hands on Crime and Punishment.
10. Seeing multiple people raving about a book
While #1 is more about mere exposure (I see the same title listed on tons of blog posts and articles), this is when I see multiple people I follow on Goodreads — who I know have tastes similar to mine — all giving a book 5 stars and writing about it in all caps. You can bet that book is going on my list!
Based on this list, what should I add to my to-read list?
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