It’s been 15 years, and I’m nearing another benchmark on this blog—1200 reviews since 2010. While editing old content lately, I’ve been amused by many titles that have resurfaced. It got me thinking: Why have I read so many books from such a wide, eclectic range?
It really comes down to three things:
desire, necessity, and obligation.
These three motivations drive nearly everything in life: I choose Doritos (desire) over carrots (obligation), and why I start my mornings with prayer (need) instead of scrolling X (desire).
Motivations are natural, not wrong in themselves, but they do require discipline to handle them rightly. Discipline leads to prioritization, moderation, and balance. Lack of discipline leads to chaos, overindulgence, and obsession.
Although my reading habits might seem haphazard from the outside, I do have a system. It’s a healthy mix of “Reading List” and “Come What May.” It’s systematic with the option for kicks.
Desire
Most books begin in this first category. I obviously choose to read books because I want to read them.
On my “Reading List,” however, these are not a majority. In fact, that list has a pretty strict 2:2:1 ration of desire, necessity, and obligation, which is why I love the “Come What May” option.
So many of my favorite books have come at me completely out of the blue. Some through thrift stores or garage sales, and some because they end up on our Siblings’ Book Club list. A few examples from this year include:
- The Company by K.J. Parker (2008)
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (2007)
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021)
- God Spoke Tibetan by Allen Mayberly (2001)
- The Lost City of Z by David Grann (2005)
Necessity
The second group covers many of the spiritual and non-fiction works on my list. I read these books because I need to read them.
This need often stems from a spiritual issue I’m facing, a study I’m starting, a project I’m exploring, or a place I’m traveling. This is where I’d categorize my “Geographical Reads” that you’ll often see on my blog. These reviews tend to get more personal, too, because of what first drew me to them. From this past year, such titles include:
- A Hunger for God by John Piper (1996)
- The Doors of the Sea by David Bentley Hart (2005)
- Battle for the American Mind by Pete Hegseth (2022)
- Great Stories of the Great Lakes by Dwight Boyer (1966)
- Tucker by Chadwick Moore (2023)
Obligation
The final group covers books that have been recommended to me, books that are part of an outside reading list, or those that are part of a series I feel like finishing.
What’s more common than these obligations, however, are the books that end up on this list but started out as desire or necessity. I tell you, there some bad books out there—nigh unfinishable—and yet sometimes I pull through right to the end. I feel obligated for one reason or another. From this year’s reading list, a few such titles are:
- 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson (2007)
- Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov (1988)
- The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams (1980)
- Forests in the Seed by William J. Dubois and Stan Parks, et al. (2024)
- Journal of a Trapper by Osborne Russell (1921)
To figure out why I felt like any of these books were an obligation to read, I guess you’ll just have to read the review.
Conclusion
I’m a pretty honest guy when it comes to sharing my thoughts on the books I read. I feel like I read far more as a consumer than a critic—though The Critic certainly comes out when tempted.
I love reading. I love learning. And I love sharing with you all through this blog the things I learn as I read.
If you’re not yet a follower, subscribe to see what else comes down the pike. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts:
How do you choose the books you read?
©2025 E.T.