There’s no dispute that these are scary times: If it’s not the Coronavirus, it’s the economic fallout from the Coronavirus, or even whether you’ll be able to purchase toilet paper during your next Costco run. Compounding the anxiety, at least for me, is the fact that I can’t actually do anything about any of them, so I fall back on what I’ve always used to distract myself: books, pens, and paper. I don’t discuss reading much on this blog, even though it’s been important part of my life for much longer than pens, and I imagine there’s substantial overlap between avid readers and stationery aficionados. Personally, I’m going to be relying pretty heavily on my backlog of books - and after that, my Kindle - to get me through the next four to six weeks. I thought I’d share some recommendations for books I’ve enjoyed, all of which have some sort of tie to the main themes underlying this blog.

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Digital Minimalism, by Cal Newport. What better time than now to practice “digital minimalism” and reap the mental health benefits of not being online 24-7? Especially now that many of us are telecommuting or have alternative work arrangements, it’s more important than ever to carve out digital down time and set appropriate boundaries.
The Revenge of Analog, by David Sax. I’ve recommended this book before, but what better time to rediscover things like board games, vinyl records, stationery, and, well, books, than during a period of time when you can’t go to work and you can’t leave your house?
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, by Mason Currey. My own job has gradually transitioned to a remote working arrangement, so the past couple of weeks haven’t been as much of a shock to the system as it’s possibly been for others. One thing that I’ve found extremely helpful is reading about how others have developed working routines (“rituals”) to keep them on task when they’re alone and have large amounts of unstructured time.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. I first read this book when it was released in 2012 and I’m re-reading this week. I’m actually enjoying it just as much, if not more, the second time around, as the themes of the book have only grown more relevant as our society continues to embrace the “extrovert ideal.” It’s also struck me that introverts may be particularly well-equipped to handle the prolonged shutdown most of us are facing,
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living, by Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman. Let’s mix in some philosophy here. I’ve had this book on my shelf for a year or so after purchasing it on a recommendation, but didn’t actually start reading it regularly until Mary Collis published this piece over at her blog, “From the Pen Cup.” I’m not sure that I’m a full-on adherent of Stoicism, at least not yet, but there’s definitely a lot to take away from this book, especially in turbulent times.
Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami. I’ve become a huge fan of Murakami recently, and if you’re a fan of dense books that you can read multiple times and take away something new every time, this one’s a great one. Bonus: Murakami’s novels are peppered with references to pens, pencils, books, and libraries, all of which subtly play key roles in the story. For a shorter, less dense read, you could also start with Sputnik Sweetheart.

Happy reading, and take care of yourselves. I’m also looking for reading recommendations, as I’m starting to go a bit stir crazy being shut inside with a 6-year old, so feel free to add to this list in the comments!

You've probably heard me talk before about David Sax's wildly popular new book, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, which explores the modern resurgence in "analog" technologies and what the author believes to be the reasons for it. While I'm hesitant to tell anyone that they should read any book, I'm pretty confident that anyone who's a regular reader of a blog like this one would find Revenge of Analog worth their while.

Sax divides the book into two sections: "The Revenge of Analog Things," and "The Revenge of Analog Ideas." The first talks about the recent resurgence of products previously considered "obsolete": vinyl records, paper, film, and board games. The second takes a broader look at the role of analog in society, specifically with regard to print media, retail space, our work and school lives, and even summer camp. The book confirms what many readers of this blog probably already know: the "purely digital life" can feel pretty empty, even pointless, and making an effort to reemphasize analog can breathe some life back into it.

The reason our increasingly digital world can be so profoundly unsatisfying is because it can't replace what analog offers: a tactile experience that engages with all our senses, not just "ones and zeros" stored on a hard drive and viewed through a screen. How many of you remember forming a strong emotional attachment to your physical music collection (whether vinyl records, CDs, or tapes)? Now how many of you feel the same about your Apple Music or Spotify library, or even all those songs you have scanned into iTunes? The same goes for pens. I have pens that I carried through middle and high school, some of which were given to me by friends and family (including a couple people who are no longer with us). Those things were a part of my life for many years, and I can still use them today and recapture some of those memories, unlike the dozen or so now-obsolete computers that I used during that same period.

“Surrounded by digital, we now crave experiences that are more tactile and human-centric. We want to interact with goods and services with all our senses, and many of us are willing to pay a premium to do so, even if it is more cumbersome and costly than its digital equivalent.”

— The Revenge of Analog

If you're still on the fence about the book, or if you've already read it and want to dive a little deeper, I highly recommend listening to Harry Marks' interview with David Sax on his podcast Covered. During the interview, Sax made a point that resonated with me: much of the analog resurgence is about people giving themselves permission to dive back in. For years, many people - myself included - actually felt guilty about continuing to rely heavily on analog products when the world supposedly was becoming all digital (Why are all those records and CD's still taking up so much room? Why are you killing so many trees still writing on paper, in a notebook?) Once "the establishment" began acknowledging the actual benefits of analog, more and more people realized that they weren't alone out there in feeling that, at least for certain things, analog works better than the "newer" digital alternative. In the news, the narrative has now shifted from predominantly analog companies (i.e., Borders and Kodak) shutting down or severely curtailing their operations, to the current reality of thriving independent book and stationery stores. As Sax put it, "[p]eople don't want to invest in a dying idea, even if they love it, but they will readily pour money into something that seems to be growing, especially if it is against the general trend."

I don't think the current analog resurgence is a "fad" or "hipster fetishism," as many (especially in the tech community) would have their prospective customers believe. Its benefits are real. Most of us understand with respect to working and writing with pen, pencil, and paper, but this book encourages you to take it further and go out and buy an instant film camera, or rediscover records by picking up an inexpensive turntable. Personally, I've retired my Apple Watch and have gone completely analog with my wrist-wear. I've also got Fuji Instax pictures tacked to my workspaces at home and in the office.

And at the end of the day, digital vs. analog shouldn't be an "all-or-nothing" proposition. There's room for both. Those of you who subscribe to my Digital Divide newsletter have heard me discuss how embracing digital simply works better for certain things. Somewhat ironically, the internet has actually contributed to keeping analog alive and fueling its growing resurgence, by giving analog enthusiasts a venue in which to form thriving online communities, and retailers of analog goods a new way to connect with consumers, many of whom have no brick-and-mortar options in the town where they live.

Revenge of Analog has sold incredibly well - so well, in fact, that it initially sold out upon release. If you live near a brick and mortar bookseller, whether it's independent or a Barnes & Noble, you may still be able to find it there, and I highly recommend that you pick up a copy. [Update: Now that it’s been a few years, The Revenge of Analog is readily available, including at used bookstores.]

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.