I did something that I haven’t done much of lately. At least not enough.

I picked up an actual book with actual pages and stuff. And actually read it. Well, some of it.

I confess that I could spend less time Netflixing and Britboxing (where I stream all the classic Doctor Who episodes) and more time reading.

I believe that as we as a culture are overtaken by the passive art of television and movies and less entranced by the art of reading that requires active engagement, we will continue to slide toward illiteracy and sheep mentality. We will believe whatever the politicians and the media tell us without question and lose the ability to think for ourselves. That’s always a dangerous place to be in.

The book in question is one I picked up at McKay’s a couple of years ago called A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean. If the title sounds familiar, there was a movie based on the book that starred Brad Pitt from the early 90’s.

But I’m not waiting for the movie this time. I’m reading the book. I feel my IQ points climbing already just by picking up the book.

Hopefully, I can get back to the place where my idea of a good evening is a large cup of tea and an even larger book. These work well on overcast, rainy days when the satellite is out.

My assignment for you — should you choose to accept it — this week is to read something that involves opening the spine and turning the pages, like they did in the olden days. You might find that you like it.

Also maybe turn off the TV and the other streaming devices for a day. But let’s not get that crazy just yet. Start with the book first.