I am going to start reading books. My wife reads something like a book a week. I think that getting into the habit of reading a book for 30 minutes a day will help me feel smarter and better about myself. I often feel inferior intellectually and think "that person is so much more intelligent or articulate than me". There are, however, days when I feel, "hey, you're pretty sharp, dude".

I know that reading is one of the best and most fun ways to develop one's cognitive abilities. I'm going to read fun stuff, like suspense thrillers or stories about baseball or politics. Lot's a great books at the library, so don't need to spend a lot of money.

When I was in the 5th grade I remember I was one of the most prolific readers in my class. I loved finishing reading a book because I would get to put a star on the board next to my name. Maybe PC will be my new board.

First on the list is Nora Roberts "A Year in Merde. It's a satire about living in France. As good a book as any to start.

Reading more will also mean less TV and web surfing. Can a 52-year old change such ingrained habits? We'll see...