JOHANNA READS

M: Daily reading practice

J: First thing in the morning: emails, fb, messages on my phone. During the day: things one the internet related to my practice; articles that I find interesting; readings for seminar; finding readings for my practice is hard time-wise; I find it difficult to find good sources.

I also read my own writing, and multiple books at the same time: non-fiction, theory books, about life balance, buddhism, spirituality or flow. I try not to work at home, then the things I read are mostly for leasure. Although actually most of the books feed into my practice again; what interests me in my practice is also what occupies me in life.

I also love biographies.

M: Why?

J: It’s inspiring and tranquilizes me. I get really inspired of human quality of people. I like to find the human, tangible qualities of big personalities in biographies; it brings them closer as humans, and not as figures. It creates relationship between me and characters.

M: relationship with characters?

J: I engage a lot with characters. Fiction gives you possibility of entering into a parallel reality. In everyday life we tend to repeat ourselves. Other people do things differently, and reading fiction gives you access to this different approaches to life: to think about it in a different way, even small things. Fiction can be used as a tool to reshape and redefine the way you do your own things.

M: Do you enjoy reading out loud?

J: No. The only thing I read out loud is my own writing.

M: Is reading a social activity?

J: Yes. My mum used to read a lot. Sitting and reading in common space was a very common habit in our family. (Reading together but not out loud). Being silent together can be a nice moment. It has a bonding quality.

M: Do you keep things for yourself or share?

J: I keep thing for myself.

M: What is the difference between reading things on screen and on paper?

J: Less concentrated; “short”; long passages also allow short thoughts. This is probably distructions. But also reading allows for thinking (alongside with reading)

M: In childhood

J: I wasn’t reading so much. I started when I was 15. I was interested in other stuff. How would you pick a book?

How do you pick books?

During lectures; mentioned by people; recommendations by amazon; exchange with people; I’d like to have access to online library: “social antrophology”, “plants” and then you have books linked to the subjects.

M: Do you think a reading practise is a must?

J: No. I don’t think it’s necessary. They can do their thing also without reading. Some people don’t want to engage, they are interested on their thing, it doesn’t have to be a text. Living somewhere can be as worth wile; based on expertise, living-experience. There are also loads of things that are not written down; you can learn them by doing them; reading is one of the formats of interaction between people.