On being well-read
I've always loved reading, but secretly I wish I could be more well-read, without actually having to read more. It sounds lazy, but my to-read pile grows faster than I can keep up. For every book I finish, there are four new ones waiting for me. From new recommendations, to new releases, to my latest interest, I'm constantly overwhelmed with how I can ever catch up.
I always have a book in my hand, and I feel like I'm not making real progress. I jump between fantasy and history, between memoirs and science, trying to read it all. I got halfway through The Lord of the Rings before I started The Body Keeps the Score, and then I picked up Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right, and now I'm avoiding them all while I read graphic novels with my kid. Reading (unfortunately) doesn't give me the magical ability to absorb the contents of a book faster than I can read.
When it comes to being well-read, maybe it's more than simply reading all the books on the latest "Top 50" list. Maybe it's about following your interests and reading what you can, not in a way to "win" but to enjoy the act of reading. Maybe I already am well-read and should compare myself to others less.