In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:
I am curious about how/when people read books that are not directly relevant to their research projects, especially for those who are at “teaching schools”.
There are always books that I want to read simply because I am interested in them, not because they are related to my ongoing research projects. For example, books by contemporary scholars always interest me as they represent some cutting-edge philosophical explorations. Also, there are those influential books in the history of philosophy (esp. in non-western traditions) that I would like to read.
However, I do not know when to read them. My teaching load is 3:3, and my research time is already limited. I use my research time to focus on my writing and on works I plan to engage with in my writing. And I do not even have enough time for finishing up the drafts. And the books I want to read seem not those to read before bed. So, when do people read those books that you are interested in but are not directly related to your research?
Good question! I have the same teaching load, and I read quite a few books "for pleasure"–though, interestingly, I often discover unexpected connections to philosophical questions that later informs my research. In brief, I read stuff like this before bed at night. Often, it's only for a half hour or 45 minutes or so–but I find it's a nice way to wind down to end the day. When I come across interesting stuff, I may pull out a highlighter and put a post-it note to flag a page for later, but that's not very taxing.
What about you? How/when do you read stuff not directly related to research?
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