Anne Lamott Quotes about Reading

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Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul.

Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul.

Anne Lamott

Reading, Writing, Soul

Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.237, Anchor

For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.

Anne Lamott

Motivational, Book, Reading

Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.15, Anchor

There's a lovely Hasidic story of a rabbi who always told his people that if they studied the Torah, it would put Scripture on their hearts. One of them asked, "Why on our hearts, and not in them?" The rabbi answered, "Only God can put Scripture inside. But reading sacred text can put it on your heart, and then when your hearts break, the holy words will fall inside.

Anne Lamott

Fall, Reading, Heart

Anne Lamott (2006). “Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith”, p.73, Penguin

Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can't stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship

Anne Lamott

Reading, Writing, Heart

Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.237, Anchor

We write to expose the unexposed. Most human beings are dedicated to keeping that one door shut. But the writer's job is to see what's behind it, to see the bleak unspeakable stuff, and to turn the unspeakable into words - not just into any words but if we can, into rhythm and blues. You can't do this without discovering your own true voice, and you can't find your true voice and peer behind the door and report honestly and clearly to us if your parents are reading over your shoulder.

Anne Lamott

Jobs, Reading, Writing

Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.198, Anchor

My father was a writer, so I grew up writing and reading and I was really encouraged by him. I had some sort of gift and when it came time to try to find a publisher I had a little bit of an "in" because I had his agent I could turn to, to at least read my initial offerings when I was about 20. But the only problem was that they were just awful, they were just terrible stories and my agent, who ended up being my agent, was very, very sweet about it, but it took about four years until I actually had something worth trying to sell.

Anne Lamott

Sweet, Father, Reading

Big Think Interview, bigthink.com.

There are a lot of us, some published, some not, who think the literary life is the loveliest one possible, this life of reading and writing and corresponding. We think this life is nearly ideal.

Anne Lamott

Reading, Writing, Thinking

Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.232, Anchor

I devoured books like a person taking vitamins, afraid that otherwise I would remain this gelatinous narcissist, with no possibility of ever becoming thoughtful, of ever being taken seriously.

Anne Lamott

Taken, Reading, Book

Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.21, Anchor

E-books are great for instant gratification - you see a review somewhere of a book that interests you, and you can start reading it five minutes later.

Anne Lamott

Book, Reading, Minutes

I love readings and my readers, but the din of voices of the audience gives me stage fright, and the din of voices inside whisper that I am a fraud, and that the jig is up. Surely someone will rise up from the audience and say out loud that not only am I not funny and helpful, but I'm annoying, and a phony.

Anne Lamott

Funny, Reading, Voice