Book #27
Meet Me in the Margins
By Melissa Ferguson
A Seemingly Light Read- With Hidden Depths
Books like this can seem uncomplicated; simplistic escapism in book form. It is probably a much healthier form of escapism compared to some other forms, though. I tend to relax as I listen to the inner thoughts of someone else, perhaps especially if that person is fictional. It is nice to hear someone else’s voice in my head; it quiets my own for a few hours.
However, these sorts of books also tend to come with flashes of insight that catch you off guard- like when something happens in a children’s cartoon that makes you question your whole life. You get lulled into thinking the story is mentally undemanding. And then BAM.
Questioning What (or Who) is Causing My Burnout
At the conclusion of this book, the narrator is monologuing about the importance of rest and balance in life. I am beginning to realize that this is something I need to work on. It is ironic, during my year of burnout that I have chosen to read 52 books and blog incessantly about them… perhaps this sort of extreme mentality explains my burnout in the first place? Best not to open that can of worms *coughs nervously and shifts eyes around the room.
Metrics Can Lead to Success or Burnout
One character in the book relies heavily on external metrics to gauge how successful she is being. But acing tests doesn’t always lead to a happy career or checking your daily step count multiple times throughout the day could be a sign of anxiety, not health.
The abundant feedback that we can get from the world can backfire. With counting steps, for example, it may be compulsive if the number is checked multiple times a day. It is a sort of hit of a “productivity drug”.
(… Even as I was typing that last paragraph out, a notification popped up on my laptop from a friend telling me that they have already reached their daily step goal. It is 11 am. Not only do I know my own step count, but a close friend’s as well. Should I ask them about their heart rate or BMI next?)
Why not check your steps once a week? If you over or under did it then you can adjust going forward. It doesn’t have to be a day by day or hour by hour thing. It can be slower and more contemplative, instead of a compulsive need for instant feedback.
The Sum is Greater Than the Parts
The benefit is in the balance; in optimizing the whole system, not just a part.
Besides, do measuring these things make you feel more alive and original? Or tired and uninspired?
The need for information can either be positive or destructive. A person with an eating disorder will count every calorie, but does that make them healthier than someone who doesn’t?
Pedal to the Metal Productivity… At All Times
And then there is the question of the compulsive need to be doing the most you can possibly be doing. Would my Reading Challenge be any less valuable if I chose to read fewer books, for example?
In general, reading books is a very good thing. But I fear I might have chosen an unsustainable amount of reading for me. The pace has felt frenzied at times. If I read less, there would be more space for rest and reflection as I allow my thoughts to breathe. A nose to the grindstone approach is fine at times, but only if it is balanced with times of rest.
Only you know what is right for you.
Still, I think reading 52 books this year will work out just fine for me. It will ultimately be productive and inspiring. However, I have already decided that I will not be doing a 52-book reading challenge next year and blogging about it.
I love blogging and I love books. So those will continue to be a part of my life. However going forward, I will probably be less attached to the number and more attached to the content.
I want each book’s contents to have a soft landing spot in my brain; to be given the time to be mulled over and to germinate new ideas. There is value in consuming things slowly and carefully. Not everything needs to be measured to be meaningful.
Messy Bun Book Lover
(Originally posted on July 21, 2025)
Read Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson → https://amzn.to/3IQnOpL
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