It's Just Abbey

Let me level with you. You need to read more. Wait wait! Don’t leave, hear me out.

I don’t care if you read 3 books a week or half a book a year, you need to read more. The Kindle and the iPad are helping me in this campaign because they are making books accessible to the person on the go who also really likes gadgets. Reading is something everyone should be partaking in! And not just books. Newspapers, blogs, magazines, erotic novels, whatever you can get your hands on that has print on it. READ DAMN IT! And if you don’t want to read, email me your address (itsjustabbey@gmail.com) and I will come and kick your ass until reading is the only activity you are physically able to do. It is a little tactic I like to call Extreme Motivation.

Anyway, here is the deal. I cannot make the whole world read because let’s face it, who listens to me? No one that’s who. Why would you take my advice? I am a crazy person. But you know who I trust? Anyone who writes for Wired magazine. I trust them with all my daily needs from tech to obscure science. Sure, they tried to cram an iPad down my throat for three solid months but I’m not mad at them. Nope. Everyone has their phases.

Today I discovered the greatest idea they have ever hatched. The idea is called One Book, One Twitter hosted by the wonderful people at Crowdsourcing. Basically, after the two week voting period about what book everyone should read, we get the chosen book and read it. Together. Like a big happy family. Or a giant demented Twitter feed, whatever works for you. We talk about how awesome/crap it is, laugh together, cry together, get confused together all on Twitter. Brilliant. Simply brilliant. Why so brilliant? Because all you need is a book and a Twitter account. Two very easy things to procure!

Just take a second to think about how great this idea is. Really think about it. I want in on this so here I am being in on it because let’s be honest, this is so much better than any of my ideas. Running down the street with a bell with a sandwich board that reads, “READ OR DIE” is not as effective as I imagined it. Kinda turns people off of the idea apparently.

Look. Go to this site -----> http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/04/one-book-one-twitter-let-the-voting-begin/

Vote for a book. You have two weeks to do so. Not that it matters. I have a sneaking suspicion that we will all be reading American Gods in a few weeks. The author, Neil Gaiman, has a twitter account and rallying his troops. I'VE GOT YOUR BACK MR. ORWELL!

I am pulling for 1984 because EVERYONE should read 1984.

Let me rephrase that. Everyone should read 1984 three times in their life. Once in high school when you begrudgingly flip through it, again as in idealistic 20 something, and then finally, right after the weight of the world has finally been heaved onto your shoulders. It is different every time and you learn something new each time you read it. I think it is especially important today for a thousand different reasons that I don’t have time to list. Hell, read the book to be a rebel. It is one of the many classic books that have been banned from many places. Once you read the book you will understand how ironic that act really is.

What am I trying to say in this blog? Read 1984 because it’s awesome. No wait, I mean, read anything (just make sure 1984 is on the reading list. Because it’s awesome.)

But mostly this blog is about getting involved in One Book, One Twitter. If even 5% of the #OMGjustinbieber yahoos would read one of the books on the list, the world would be a better place.

Oh! I know. Let me add some key words and phrases to this blog to reel in some of the hormone fueled tweens/teens through the genius of Google Search.

“Justin Bieber is my boyfriend.”
“Robert Pattinson is a sexy biatch.”
“Megan Fox naked.”
“Two chicks making out. But the chicks are hot, not uggos.”

There. That should land the lowest common denominator, don’t you think? Fantastic. Hey! If you found my blog because you Googled one of the above phrases, read a book or I’ll kick your ass! Yeah! That’ll teach those hooligans!

Go. Vote for a book. Join me in this huge book club of sorts. Make the world a better place. Help make One Book, One Twitter the new best thing since sliced bread!

Besides, reading makes you more smarter. Totes.