![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feb3c3dc4-209b-4d8d-886f-5350d1aea16c_650x938.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faa10f79c-338b-4074-bca6-af8bcc34a44e_632x1024.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdc287250-1418-40c0-9c6d-73d9759c3094_702x1026.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F64d6d774-3835-49d2-8607-ab5bd33d27e5_666x1000.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7fec0036-0971-417a-90ec-54f7b26b235f_644x942.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd16fd2cb-7be6-4ef9-8cde-5c8c7bf9ec74_690x1028.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd534c775-274c-42ac-ad9a-aa9a6ae6257c_692x1022.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faed48ce6-652c-401d-80c1-4b29b7939d1b_698x1026.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe74080c7-6e19-4b97-b29a-9d513c68e592_706x1028.png)
Of all the aphorisms in the English language, the one I use as a general litmus test is: Never trust someone whose television is bigger than their bookshelf.
The act of reading—specifically sitting down with a physical book or Kindle—tells me a person has the ability to focus, slow down, and live life with intention and curiosity. Whether they read fict…
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Happiness Is A Skill by Brooke Siem to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.