Do you write in your books?

Do you write in your books? I don’t mean books you read for pleasure. I mean books that you read to learn or study. I was just thinkin’ about how much I learn because I write in my books.

My husband thinks it’s absurd that I write in books. And he finds it hard to believe that the OCD in me can even allow it. (Of course, I could not handle someone else writing in my book. I have my limits.) Anyway, this wasn’t always the case. Growing up, it was simply unheard of to write in books. To do so was messing it up beyond repair.

You can see from the photo (just one page from my copy of Kylene Beers’ When Kids Can’t Read) that my attitude has changed. Now, I can’t imagine reading a book to learn without adding my notes, my thoughts, my understanding, and my questions. It is true that we remember more of what we read when we record our thinking as we learn. If we also write down our questions, they stick with us as we continue to ponder and search for answers.

I’ll admit that I really struggled to start underlining and writing in the margins of my Bible. But now, I love that I can go back, read my notes, reflect on my thoughts and wonderings, and re-read what really stood out to me.

My husband still shakes his head when he notices I’m writing in a new book (or he is making fun of my OCD). I, however, simply love my collection of informative books on my bookshelf that are all the more loved because I wrote in them.

What about you? Do you write in your books? Have a good example to share? I’d love to hear from you. Just shoot me an email.