Dear Reader, 

My last venture off the beaten path of thematic Letters from the Editor into the world of coffee seemed to go okay. It was even enjoyable. Thence, I shall continue my journey into the wilderness and discuss another topic wholly unrelated to this issue’s content: reading. 

You should not be ashamed of how few non-homework books you read in college. 

My reading list is quite extensive. From Moby Dick to The Silmarillion, from Reflection on the French Revolution to The Rise and Fall of the Modern Self, the list of must reads is endless and growing faster than I can read. This predicament is especially true at Hillsdale where amazing recommendations pour in from professors, classmates, and close friends.  

Yet, despite each new intriguing title, I lack the motivation to start any of them. Books brought from home or borrowed from the library remain on my nightstand unread and collecting dust. Rather, screens consume my free time, filling my mind with meaningless shorts or insignificant TV characters. My free time feels wasteful and unproductive. Or is it? 

Hillsdale’s academics monopolizes our intellectual energy. Homework assignments require extensive problem solving, text comprehension, and argument analysis. Consistently spending so much mental energy is exhausting. To avoid burnout, our brains need a break.

Such relaxation comes in many forms. Some veg out to mindless TV shows. Some recharge by hanging out with friends. Others resort to lite reading. The important thing is that you rest, not necessarily how you do it. Yes, some ways are better ways than others. Perhaps spending four hours scrolling on Instagram is not the most beneficial way to rest. But neither is forcing your exhausted mind to read a novel just so you can check it off your list. 

Instead of feeling guilty for not maintaining your book list or spending time on your phone, do something with your free time that allows you to regroup and be ready for the next mental task Hillsdale will require of you.

May Issue 47 of The Hillsdale Forum be one of those avenues of rest during this busy season, 

Anna Leman, Editor-in-Chief