Ever Wanted to Read 400 Books in One Year? Try This!
Your weekly roundup from the editors of Moms Don’t Have Time to Write
Safe to say you’re probably going to be staying indoors this weekend, due to the formidable winter storm bearing down on us. The good news is we have the perfect supplement: another edition of One Last Thing, the newsletter from Moms Don’t Have Time to Write, taking a look at the stories, columns, and advice from the week that was.
First up, Zibby shares how she managed to read over 400 books last year using her sure-to-be-patented Zibby Method. After putting out 449 episodes of Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books in 2021, so many wondered how our fearless leader did it. Her secret? “Reading speed is not a fixed skill. Like running, everyone has a baseline speed, but the more you train, the faster you get, nudging that treadmill up a smidge each time you hop on.”
Check out the 26-step process to read like Zibby!
In this week’s grief column, Leslie Hooton proposes additional steps to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief. After losing her mother and her marriage back to back, with still more grieving to follow, Leslie found herself processing everything differently. She came to realize “we have to accept ourselves wherever we are in our individual journeys of grief. Dr. Kübler-Ross gave us a framework. We have to realize it is not an ironclad paradigm at all, but a shifting paradox.”
Ashley Alt returns this week to talk about the latest developments in research on postpartum mental health, an area of science that has long been under-analyzed despite its prevalence. After revealing the startling fact that “feelings of sadness and loneliness develop into something more serious for one in eight mothers in the U.S.,” Ashley shows us how to establish support systems for new mothers.
On the intimate side of life, our resident sex educator, Tracey Cox tackles your pressing questions about how to receive unrequited love from a friend, whether or not women should take Viagra to help low sex drive, and what to do if you still haven’t lost your virginity in your early 20s.
After being separated for two years, Caroline Callahan Janson finally got to hug her best friend again. As she reflects on their reunion, she notes how essential it is for us as humans to have interpersonal interactions. The trip left Caroline with a new resolve: “Until I decide otherwise, I will avoid solely making plans and communicating via text. Too much gets lost in translation. Physical contact is too important.”
For our Friday Feature, Natalie Jenner shares her bookstore experience as a part of Zibby Books’ #22in22 initiative. Natalie achieved every book lover's dream when she opened her very own independent bookstore. But the fantasy was short-lived: after her husband received a serious diagnosis, Natalie shuttered her shop. However, the experience wasn’t for naught as Natalie found a way to take what her customers loved most and infuse it into her own books. Now a successful author, Natalie writes: “my bookshop will forever be a source of invaluable insight and inspiration as I — suddenly a new author in middle age — continue with my own next chapter.”
And finally, for those of you who need a touch of encouragement this weekend, read Megan Harlan’s advice in our Wake Up and Write column. Megan shares: “The best advice I wish I had a long time ago is to write the pieces as if you’re never going to show them to anyone. Write just because you want to write.”
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Warmly,
The Editors
