Books, like relationships, can be categorized as either flings or steady. Flings are awesome as you read them, but its impact is fleeting. The latter require effort, but they grow on you over time.

Current flings
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked
Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble

Relationship worthy
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Irony.

My mother in law and sister in law spent a lot of time and energy to make sure that I receive Bluemercury and J.Crew gift-cards on time for my birthday.  Yes, I frequently shop there but they are a necessity more than a desire.

Ironically, I would’ve been happier with a less valued gift-card at Stand Book Store and/or Amazon Kindle store.

It’s less about the price of the gift, but more about shared values. Or them knowing and acknowledging my reading habits.  To their defense, we haven’t formed a close bond due to differences in value, so their gift-card choice shouldn’t have been a surprise.

To add to the irony, they are better than my own family who forgets my birthday almost every year, so a gift is totally out of the question.

Photo by Sandrachile . on Unsplash