I’m very interested in what you would recommend. Are you an avid reader? I don’t mean blogs, facebook and twitter… you know… books? 

I’m reading a book right now from Frank Luntz called What Americans Really Want…Really: The Truth About Our Hopes, Dreams, and Fears (affiliate link) and as much as that’s a mouthful of a title, it’s so far been a head full of wisdom. According to Mr. Luntz only 39% of Americans read books in their free time. That was a bit shocking to me as a pretty low number but perhaps I’m delusional.

That got me thinking. Why is it that the 39% read, and the rest of America would rather vote for the next American Idol? What reasons do avid readers read books for? I know for me I like to read for many different reasons but I’d say the top three in no particular order are:

1) To keep fresh and new ideas in mind so I stay on my toes in business
2) To give my eyes a bit of a break from “screen time”
3) To let my mind wonder otherworldly realms and forget about this one for a bit

Do you think there there particular common habits for avid readers? For example… I typically read two to three books at once. Ok that sounds odd. I don’t have two books open at the same time reading a page from one book, and the going to the next book for a page, then back again. Although if I could do that it would be wicked kewl! What I mean is during a given week or so that it would take me to read a book I most likely have another that I’m reading as well.

I read in the morning for about an hour or so… until I’m done with my coffee (3 cups, heavy cream, no sugar), I read in my office usually around 2:30ish, and I read at night right before I nod off to sleep. In each location I usually have a different book unless I’m really engrossed in one for a particular reason and I get the urge to devour it from cover to cover.

Right now I’m reading:

1) What Americans Really Want…Really by Frank Luntz
2) Trust Agents by Chris Brogan & Julien Smith
3) Dissolution by Richard Lee Byers & R.A Salvatore

I prefer Hard Cover books if available because unless it’s for the sole purpose of the expansion of my imagination like the Dissolution book… I take notes like nobody’s business. I read with those colored post it flags, a blue highlighter, and a Pilot V5 extra fine pin. I could never re-sell my books as I’m sure anyone else would think they were destroyed with all the writing in the margins (and probably a few coffee stains) but I love my books and re-read them often.

I’d love to hear why or how you read if you do… but I’d also like to get some recommendations. If you were to name your top 5 favorite books of all time, what would they be in ranking order from 1 to 5 with 1 being the highest recommendation?