I’m not good at listening/not an auditory learner, so I struggle with audiobooks in general. I have to stick with easy-to-digest audiobooks. I wouldn’t stand a chance with non-fiction, unless it was with a topic I was already knowledgeable about.

Woof. I personally wouldn’t start with those two. If you’re new to the world of politics, I suggest What You Should Know About Politics…But Don’t: a Nonpartisan Guide to the Issues by Jessamyn Conrad. Great overview of the major issues in America (elections, the economy, the environment, the military, healthcare, civil liberties, education) and then discusses the perspectives of the political parties on the issues and what policies America has passed on these issues during prior presidencies.

What kind of politics are you interested in learning about? And what country?

I currently use Goodreads. The little reading goal tracker keeps me motivated to make reading a priority. I like that there is a social aspect to the app too. Like, you can write a review or your thoughts on the book, and sometimes other users will comment giving you the opportunity to engage in discussion. Although, I’m really just a lurker right now.

The Storygraph is a good alternative to Goodreads though. It lets you track things like pacing, mood, and genre, and puts that data into pie charts. It’s also not affiliated with Amazon, which is a sell for some folks.

I’ve tried building an excel spreadsheet to track more elements that Storygraph doesn’t. But, I always fail to maintain that.

And then finally, I usually write my thoughts about a book in my journal.

My library picks usually go like this:

1. A book from my TBR list. (I usually search the online catalog for this book before even walking in)
2. A non-fiction book about whatever topic I’m obsessing over that week (I might just head to the topic’s bookstack and pick one at random or I might have a list of books in mind before heading in)
3. An impulse book (like, maybe the book cover caught my eye) OR a book from a shelf I don’t usually go to just to expand my horizons (like poetry, or something)
4. A graphic novel

Regarding my TBR list: I used to use Goodreads, but then I was just adding all the books. So, now I have a paper notebook where I record the book, who recommended it (or where I learned about the book), and a sentence on why I want to read it. (I would add books to my Goodreads list and then a year later I’d be like, “what is this? Why would I even add this?”)