Why Don’t Any Experts Recommend This Place?
And There’s Probably One In Your Town, Too
As someone who reads tons of articles, listens to lots of podcasts and generally likes to learn, I get book recommendations all the time.
Stuff like:
Read this new author, their fictional take on how we’re actually zombies is so uplifting!
Read this new writing guide, it’ll help you mindhack and simulcast a slipstream through your character development!
Read this new business book by this person on this podcast, it’ll help you optimize the way you strategize about how to monetize!
I could Amazon Prime it. I could download it from the Apple Store. I could listen to audiobooks on double speed with my Audible account (PS: I don’t have Audible account).
Or I can save all of my money and do this instead….(you won’t believe it…):
GO TO THE LIBRARY.
Whoa.
Sound obvious? Sound stupid…? Maybe you haven’t been to the library since college. Even then it was a ridiculous pain because you had to like…walk somewhere instead of finding the journal article online.
Thousands of books? Free? In one place?
The library has loads of free stuff to help you learn. And barely any of the business experts or productivity fakers mention it. Or recommend it. I don’t get it.
You just need a library card and it’s super simple to sign up. You just need a local address. And they give you a card and then you’re good to go. They probably even have a keychain card, like for the grocery store.
I live within 1/2 mile of my local library branch. They know me and my family by name. It’s a super small building, probably 1,500 square feet. They don’t have everything I need (or want) so…(this part is awesome)…I put in a request online and then a few days later, it’s waiting on me. Amazing. It even has my name on a little slip of paper. Makes me feel cool. Like I’m somebody important.
But…if you really wanted to, you could hang out there too. Take a break. Rest. Look at a magazine. Maybe even work in a quiet setting without having to buy a latte to use the bathrooms?
And to clarify a big misconception —
Most libraries in major cities have recent stuff. You may have to wait on it (YOU MEAN THE LIBRARY DOESN’T USE AMAZON PRIME???) because it could be really popular or they have to order it from somewhere else. You’re still good. Slow down. The business advice or the great novel isn’t going to change in two or four weeks. If it’s not worth it to you in one month, then it probably wasn’t that great of a book.
But they also have ebook lending and audiobook lending too (BAM MIND BLOWN). So yeah, you may be able to actually get the *hot* new book right away, for free.
I know that 1/2 of you aren’t using the library. But 70% of people that do say it would have a major impact on their lives if it closed down.
I know it would on mine. I’m such an addict to my library that it’s crippling. I have tons of books at home, but I go on rampages and put a bunch of stuff on hold and then I have too much good stuff to read. It was so bad that last year I went on a fast.
Yeah, I was using the library so much I had to stop. But maybe it’s time for you to start.
