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The Read Well Podcast

Eddy Hood

Welcome to The Read Well Podcast, a weekly show dedicated to building a strong reading habit, improving research strategies, and learning intellectual ideas from the books you love. Your passion may be the wisdom of Plato, how to cook a curry, or the complex ideas hidden in Dostoevsky’s fiction. Whatever you’re researching today, this show is about helping you master the topic. You’ll find practical advice on how to take effective book notes, develop your annotation skills, and benefit from tools like a Zettelkasten or a second brain. So grab your favorite book, and let's get started.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 22 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S3 · E128
    June 22 · 19 min

    Learn to Saunter Through Your Books | EP128

    In this episode, I explore Henry David Thoreau's essay Walking and what it can teach us about becoming better readers. Thoreau believed that walking could be transformed into something deeper than exercise—a practice of attention, presence, and discovery. I argue that reading can undergo the same transformation. I'll share four different reading speeds, explain why most readers spend too much time moving too fast, and discuss how to turn reading from information consumption into something closer to contemplation. I'll also share a book recommendation and a few updates from the community. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E127
    June 8 · 16 min

    Nobody Is Coming to Educate You | EP127

    For years, I thought education was something that happened in classrooms, universities, and formal programs. Then I realized that some of the most meaningful learning in my life happened when I took responsibility for my own education. In this episode, I explore how self-education changed the way I think and live, why I recently enrolled in a free Harvard philosophy course, and what happened when I stopped waiting for someone else to decide what was worth learning. I also recommend Fences by August Wilson—a powerful play about fathers, responsibility, regret, and the complicated relationships that shape our lives. If you've ever felt the urge to learn more, think more deeply, or build a richer intellectual life, this episode is for you. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E126
    June 1 · 25 min

    📚 What I’m Reading This Year (Book Club Season 4) | EP 126

    I share the reading list for Season 4, explain why Homer’s The Odyssey remains one of the most rewarding books a reader can pick up, and explore an idea from René Descartes that has changed the way I read. If you’ve ever wanted to become a more thoughtful reader—but felt overwhelmed by philosophy, history, or the classics—this episode is for you. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E125
    March 17 · 19 min

    The Reader’s Discipline: Choosing to Pay Attention | EP125

    Most people think becoming a better reader is about speed, memory, or reading more books. I’ve come to believe it starts somewhere much simpler: attention. In this episode, I talk about the decision every serious reader has to make each time they open a book. I share a few insights from the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau on careful reading, and I explain the practical habits I use to stay attentive when working through difficult texts. If you’ve ever found yourself reading a page only to realize your mind drifted somewhere else, this episode is for you. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E124
    February 9 · 24 min

    Read Like Socrates: How to Choose Books That Actually Make You Better | EP 124

    I used to think reading more books was the goal. Then I encountered a moment in Plato’s Protagoras where Socrates warns that what you learn will either help or harm you—and you can’t take it back. That changed how I choose what to read. In this episode, I explain how I pick great books, how I avoid wasting time on shallow ideas, and how readers in real life—busy people with jobs and families—can build a reading life that actually makes them wiser. I also share one book recommendation that has deeply shaped my thinking. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E123
    February 2 · 17 min

    How I Rebuild a Reading Habit After Falling Off | EP 123

    When my reading habit falls apart, I don’t try to brute-force it back into existence. I take a slower, kinder approach—and it works. In this episode, I explain why life disrupts reading, the two reader mindsets I see most often, and the exact process I use to start reading again without pressure. This is a practical guide for thoughtful readers who want depth, not guilt. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E122
    January 6 · 54 min

    Timothy Schaffert on The Titanic Survivors Book Club | EP 122

    In this episode, I sit down with novelist Timothy Schaffert to talk about The Titanic Survivors Book Club and the quiet, sustaining role books play in a life. We discuss how readers can slow down, pay better attention, and get more from challenging texts—especially when reading starts to feel like work. Timothy also shares what he believes separates good fiction from fiction that stays with you for years. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E121
    Dec 9, 2025 · 17 min

    My 2026 Reading Goals + 11 Books I Loved Reading in 2025 | EP121

    I've spent years setting reading goals that looked impressive on paper but left me feeling overwhelmed. This year, I’m taking a healthier path. I explain why focusing on total books read can quietly harm the reading life, especially for those of us who love challenging nonfiction. Then I offer the goals I’m using for 2026 and the eleven books from 2025 that helped me rethink everything. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E120
    Dec 1, 2025 · 16 min

    My #1 Trick I for Remembering Books | EP120

    I’ve tried every trick in the book to remember what I read—and the one that works isn’t about highlighting or taking notes. It’s about applying ideas. I’ll show how I take concepts off the page and into real life so that books don’t just get read—they get remembered. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E119
    Nov 24, 2025 · 49 min

    Design the Perfect Reading Space | EP 119

    In this episode, I sit down with author Thatcher Wine to talk about something most of us overlook: the space where we read. Thatcher shares practical ideas for creating a room that invites focus, comfort, and deeper engagement with books. We also walk through his books For the Love of Books and The Twelve Monotasks, and explore how slowing down and reading with purpose can change the way we approach challenging texts. If you're trying to build a stronger reading habit, this conversation will give you tools you can use today. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E118
    Nov 17, 2025 · 13 min

    Reading Deeply Takes Practice | EP118

    Reading deeply takes practice. The more you wrestle with complex ideas, the more your mind learns how to sit still with them. In this episode, I talk about what that practice looks like, how it’s shaped my life, and why walking away from the bookstore I hoped to buy reminded me that growth always costs something. I’ll also share a book that offered a little lightness when I needed it most. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E117
    Nov 10, 2025 · 11 min

    How to Retain and Process What You Read 📚 | EP 117

    I’ve found that reading a book isn’t enough—you have to wrestle with it. In this episode, I’ll show you how Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages method can help you process what you read so the ideas actually stay with you. I’ll walk through how to use this practice after a reading session and share a book recommendation from Tayari Jones that’s worth reflecting on. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E116
    Nov 3, 2025 · 17 min

    Our Motto: Read Slowly - Take Notes - Apply the Ideas | EP 116

    In this episode, I talk about a simple motto that changed the way I read: Read slowly, take notes, apply the ideas. Most of us rush through books hoping the next one will fix what the last one didn’t. But real learning happens when we slow down and wrestle with one book at a time. I’ll share how I use pauses between books to reflect, and why action—not speed—is what makes a reader grow. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E115
    Oct 27, 2025 · 16 min

    Nietzsche and the Art of Living Dangerously | EP 115

    Nietzsche once said, “Live dangerously.” But what did he mean by that? In this episode, I explore the heart of that idea—why safety can dull the human spirit, and how risk is tied to becoming who you are. I’ll share my own struggle with this concept and recommend a book that might help you take the next step toward a more honest, courageous life. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E114
    Oct 20, 2025 · 41 min

    Too Many Books to Read, Too Little Time | EP 114

    I’m behind in my reading. Does that ever happen to you? Let’s chat about why it happens, how it messes with the brain, and how to get back on track without all the reader’s guilt and drama. In this episode, I share: Why we get behind as readers How it weighs on us mentally Tips for getting back on track A book recommendation I also take a moment in the middle to talk about some of the coffee that I sell at my bookstore. I love this stuff, as it fuels my reading day. This Episode’s Sponsor: Edgewater Bookstore Coffee The Deep Read (dark roast great for espresso) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/the-deep-read Anthology (Medium roast great for french press and pour-over) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/anthology Prose (Light roast from Ethiopia) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/prose Plot Twist (Light roast that changes monthly) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/plot-twist Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E113
    Oct 6, 2025 · 29 min

    Learn to Journal Like Ralph Waldo Emerson | EP 113

    In this episode, I close out my series on Emerson’s journals by looking at what his essay Self-Reliance can teach us about keeping a thoughtful record of our lives. I also share a book recommendation—Agnes Callard’s Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life—and give a quick update on my bookstore and the growing Edgewater community. 👋📚 Join our book club at https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/ Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E112
    Sep 22, 2025 · 22 min

    Was John Locke's Method of Journaling a Good Idea? | EP 112

    In this episode I explain how John Locke created a system for indexing journals that looks clever at first but quickly becomes a burden. I also share why Ralph Waldo Emerson abandoned the method and point you to his essay Self-Reliance. The larger point is simple: if a journaling system is too complicated, you won’t use it. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E111
    Sep 8, 2025 · 14 min

    Stay in Constant Contact with Your Journals | EP 111

    Ralph Waldo Emerson didn’t just write in his journals—he returned to them again and again. In this episode, I’ll share how that practice helped him refine his thinking and why it can help us too. I’ll also recommend a short book on ethics that makes philosophy clear and useful, and give you a quick update on the progress of Edgewater Bookstore. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E110
    Sep 2, 2025 · 10 min

    A Journal is a Savings Bank of Ideas | EP 110

    In this episode, I begin a six-part series on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s journaling habits. Emerson didn’t see his journals as a place to record daily events—he saw them as a savings bank for ideas. I’ll explain what that means and why changing how you view your journal is the first step toward making it a tool for thinking. I’ll also share a book recommendation that can help you choose the right kind of notebook for this practice. 🔥Want to help open the bookstore? Here's the link for our Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edgewaterbookstore/join-me-in-making-edgewater-bookstore-a-real-location Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

  • S3 · E109
    Aug 25, 2025 · 9 min

    Why Bookstores Matter in a Digital World | EP 109

    What makes a bookstore more than four walls and shelves of paper? In this episode, I read a short essay about how bookstores can help us rediscover ourselves. I’ll also share a powerful book recommendation—The Best Poems of the English Language, edited by Harold Bloom—and tell you about my Kickstarter campaign to launch Edgewater Bookstore. If you’ve ever wandered the aisles of a local bookstore and felt like you were finding a lost part of yourself, this episode is for you. 🦸🏻‍♀️ Be a bookstore hero. I'm trying to open a bookstore in Utah and would very much appreciate a small donation - even $5 - to help our Kickstarter succeed: 👋DONATE HERE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edgewaterbookstore/join-me-in-making-edgewater-bookstore-a-real-location Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Try my Book Club for FREE Here): https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

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