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Off the Shelf: Photographer Rebecca Bose gives us a snapshot of her eclectic reading tastes

A new list of book choices and book recommendations
220119_off-the-shelf-rebecca-bose
Photographer and entrepreneur Rebecca Bose gives us a sneak-peak of her library in this edition of Off the Shelf. (Supplied)

By Hugh Kruzel

It has been some months since the last article in this series. 

These commentaries explore what people are reading. Guests come from all walks of life. Their backgrounds in work and living are not always linked to free-time literary pursuits. In fact, choices may reflect other passions or deep personal quests for understanding. On the other hand, they may just be leisurely romps, plunges in humour and high jinks, observing the obscure paths in crime, or spring sunshine love stories. 

Rebecca Bose is a photographer and entrepreneur. She specializes in candid, documentary photography wedding photography, birth photography, and day-in-the-life family keepsakes.  

Here are her responses to questions on reading, book choices, and book recommendations.  

What do you love about reading?

I love reading for a couple of reasons, one to escape and two to learn.

You can always escape into another world once you get into a good book. Which is a great way to recharge and refresh your mind. Reading can challenge you to think about things differently as well, present you with ideas that you may never have considered. 

You can fully immerse yourself in a characters life and thought processes. I find it a great way to expand your mind and critical thinking. I personally believe that people aren't reading enough at all these days … well anything in depth anyways. We're all staring at screens reading clickbait headlines and never delving deeply into any topic at all, yet we're forming opinions based on tidbits of bias, salacious articles intended to sell advertising and to create divides among people so they can push their own agendas. 

In my opinion, the world would be in a better state if more people would take the time to open a book and read.

What books have influenced you the most (in career, as an entrepreneur, as a person)? 

This is a tough one. Every book has had an influence on me even if I hated it. I tend to read mostly non-fiction, mostly because I love to learn new things. It also helps step up my trivia game, too.

To Sail Beyond the Sunset by Robert A. Heinlein, was the book that set off my love of reading. I picked it up when I was 14 and from there joined a science fiction book club. Now I tend to read more books about business, entrepreneurship and creativity.  

Two books that I've recently read that have really influenced how I work is Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert and Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy.

Big Magic was great in a big picture kind of way, it helps you think about creativity in a more tangible fashion, and then Eat That Frog help you get down to business and gives you tools to actually get things done. 

The two books — at totally opposite ends of the spectrum — work very well together. I have incorporated so many of those tools into my day-to-day life that it amazes even me. I think I've listened to Eat That Frog at least four times this past year. It is a great motivator to get your act together, and get stuff done.

Is there one book in your field (or author) influenced you most?

Yes, if a magazine counts. As a child, I devoured National Geographic magazines. I loved seeing how different people lived. It was a sneak peek into the world that I could only experience through photographs. 

I was always drawn to the darker images and stories for some reason; you know the ones bringing light to the atrocities that humans inflict on one another. I fell in love with the idea of documenting life, not just the pretty parts that everyone likes to smile at, but also real life and all the crap that comes along with it.

What are you reading right now?  

I am currently reading 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality by Bob Joseph.  

This book is a heartbreaking look at the systemic racism that Canada has inflicted upon our Indigenous people. This should be mandatory reading for every Canadian.

The next thing I'm going to read is This I Know: Marketing Lessons from Under the Influence by [Sudbury’s own] Terry O'Reilly. I'm really looking forward to this one. I love his radio show, so I'm sure I'll really enjoy this book.

What 3 books would you pull off the shelf (at your home) for a student, friend, or even me and insist we/I read?

1. Ego is the Enemy
On a more entertaining note:

2. Not Wanted On the Voyage byTimothy Findley. This book is just a great story period. 

3. Up Till Now: The Autobiography by William Shatner.  I learned so much from his life story about failure and success and everything in between.

You have a child. What are you reading to/with him?

He's eight now, so I don't really read to him anymore, mainly because Pokémon and Minecraft don't interest me and that's what he's totally into right now. He loves to read those encyclopedias of characters. He reads to himself for about a half an hour every night when he goes to bed. I know I should probably still read to him, but we both enjoy listening to audiobooks on car rides. 

That said, I have bought him a few books that I have strongly encouraged him to read and he has loved them. Steve Jobs: Insanely Great a graphic novel by Jessie Hartland and Who was Leonardo da Vinci by Roberta Edwards.

Off the Shelf explores the reading habits of Sudburians. Hugh Kruzel is a freelance writer in Greater Sudbury. 
 


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