About this quote

If you can't afford a trip or your schedule won't let you go, picking up the right book can change how your day feels. Reading pulls in small facts and vivid details that stick with you long after you close the cover. Try a short routine: twenty minutes of reading about a place that interests you, then jot down one thing you'd like to see in person. Do that for a week and you'll have real ideas for a future trip or just a calmer, fuller afternoon.

When to use it

• Late-night study break in the library: I close my history book and tell my friend, "That's the thing about books..." when we joke about traveling to those cities someday.
• Morning subway commute: I tap my coworker's shoulder to recommend a novel and say, "That's the thing about books..." because it makes the ride feel shorter.
• Hospital recovery with a family member: I read travel essays aloud and remind my mom, "That's the thing about books..." to lift her spirits without leaving the room.
• Treadmill run at the gym: I listen to an audiobook about Patagonia and tell my training partner, "That's the thing about books..." when I feel like I'm running somewhere new.