I absolutely knew I would because she was like, yeah, this made me feel terrible for a week.

And I was like, well, obviously I have to read that.

Hey readers, I'm Ann Bogall and this is What Should I Read Next.

Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader.

What Should I Read Next? We don't get bossy on the show. What we will do here is give you

the information you need to choose your next read. Every week we'll talk all things books

and reading and do a little literary matchmaking with one guest.

Today's guest, Jake Sleuthman, is an arborist living in Brooklyn, New York, where a regular

commute on the subway means daily reading time. But when Jake's routine totally changed,

he realized he needed a new way to keep the pages turning.

Today, Jake and I discuss his big reading goal, the pressure to read,

serious literature, and how to alternate the heavy and the light for a balanced reading life.

I've got a mix of weighty literature and frothy palette cleanser books to recommend for Jake

today. So let's get to it. But readers, let me tell you, this episode originally aired in April 2021

is episode 277. Early July feels like a great time of year for books that feel like a vacation

for your brain. So I'm excited to share this conversation with those of you who missed it the

first time around or who want to revisit what was really an excellent conversation. Plus,

a few things have changed since I spoke with Jake. We talk about a bunch of titles and authors,

but one thing you'll hear me mention during our chat is my profound wish that Abraham Varghese

would write another book. Readers, my wishes have been granted, and I know a bunch of you are

savoring every single one of the 700 plus pages of his newest title and some reading guide pick,

The Covenant of Water. If I was talking with Jake again today, I would be sure to put that title

...