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Reading good, non-legal writing is something many judges recommend for litigators. I stand firmly behind it. I make it a priority to read 30+ min per day before bed. It not only decreases stress, improves my writing, increases knowledge base, but, magically, my brain comes up with better solutions to problems. I really think every litigator should read. The most recent book I read that gave me a huge dose of ALL of the above was The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. The chapters can be 1 paragraph long at times, but what a masterpiece.
Thanks, would appreciate any other recommendations you have.
I also read a little bit before bed (usually fiction for pleasure) as a way to unwind.
But I also listen to lots of non-fiction audio books while doing chores and exercising which helps keep my vocabulary and syntax from getting stale for writing briefs IMO
After reading cases most of the day, I find I don’t have the patience for long form fiction. I do like well written short stories and journalism, which definitely have helped me develop my “ear” for my own writing. I get the New Yorker, the New Republic, and Wired.
This. I don’t have the appetite for books after reading cases and parsing legal arguments, but I love reading world and financial news to unwind
It’s a cliche but minimalist writers like Hemingway can be helpful to read if you like direct and simple legal writing. A Moveable Feast was useful to read for this reason. It was also beautiful in parts, and devastating (since Hemingway was kind of a jerk).
Any practice of expression and idea conveyance would actually be helpful to improving writing—whether it’s reading other people’s writing, learning a language, learning an instrument like piano, or even making art. The common thread is how do you get your message across using signs and symbols. Just do something you love to do.
I’ll share other book recommendations if I think of them. In terms of music, the minimalist piano piece by Satie called Gnossienne No. 1 reminds me of elegant legal writing. It starts with a theme (like a strong preliminary statement) and develops the theme with variations. Similar to Hemingway, it dispenses with flourishes and is deceptively simple. It is powerful because it is so minimal.
I used to love reading for pleasure. Law school beat it out of me 🥲
I listen to fiction on audiobooks. Helps me unwind and fall asleep before I bed. I don’t have the patience or concentration to read fiction unless I’m on vacation with a book on the beach or something. I like reading long-form non-fiction articles from The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The Economist in the morning before I start work or during my lunch break. I usually try to make a mental note when the author uses an effective rhetorical technique or sentence structure.
Reading for pleasure is a necessity for me. I don’t do it to improve as a writer (though I don’t doubt it has had that effect). For me, it’s about escaping into a different world and using parts of my brain that I don’t at work. I read almost exclusively fiction. I can’t turn off my lawyer brain when I read nonfiction.
I started reading again for fun last year. I recommend fiction books. Interesting enough to keep your attention and gives you a nice world to escape into
I read for pleasure. I studied literature so that may be why.
Would appreciate any recommendations you have!
Short stories are a great way to get started or get back into reading fiction for fun. I was a lit major but I’ve been spotty on reading for fun (except in the summers when by a pool or beach). My favorite short story writers are Hemingway, Flannery O’Connor, and James Joyce. You could probably find their complete collections (or Dubliners for Joyce) for not too much money online or your local book store
I don’t feel like I have the time or ability to settle down to read a book after all day of reading, so I listen to audiobooks. It obviously doesn’t do the exact same thing as reading, but I can get more books in on my drive and still benefit from the stories/perspectives/learning new ways to story tell.
I love how varied all the responses have been! And a lot of them resonate with me because sometimes I have the mental energy for a nonfiction policy book (recently finished “The Mystery of Capital”, which is dated, but good), but other times what I want is fiction—everything from emotional books (“The Celebrants” or “The Cellist of Sarajevo”) to breezy fast-paced works (Jeffrey Archer’s “Kane and Abel” and it’s sequel, or “Just One Look”).
Physical or audio book—I believe anything counts as reading! (My local library has a huge selection of audio books, which is great.) happy reading!
It will. I’m working on a motion now and then reading a fantasy novel naked on the couch curled up in my comforter like a burrito with enya playing in the background. Iykyk
Hell yes. Reading for fun is a must.