5SR - January 19, 2023

Today’s #5SmartReads contributor is Shibani! A resident of Cleveland, Ohio, Shibani is an avid reader. She read 237 books last year and you can find her favorites on Instagram. This year, she intends to continue reading (10 books already) and learning Italian while waiting for warmer weather! Recently, Shibani has been sharing her personal 5 star book vibes in her reels, so check those out too!

A glacier baby is born: Mating glaciers to replace water lost to climate change (NPR)

It's no secret that climate change is having a tremendous global impact, and one of the most impacted placed is the Asian subcontinent. Between floods and droughts, this part of the world is trying to come up with create ways to take control of their own future. Let's learn more about the birds and the bees and making glacier babies.

2024 is the biggest global election year in history (Vox)

It’s a big election year, and not just if you live in the United States. If you do live in the US, please register to vote and then show up to vote. If you’re already registered, please go to your county Board of Elections website and check your status - if you’ve moved, changed your name legally due to marriage or divorce, you will need to update your registration. Let’s make this a tremendous voting year!

9 ways to get healthier in 2024 without trying very hard (NPR)

If you've already fallen off your New Year's Resolutions, do not fret. You can start over at any time, even right now.

If you were overly ambitious, try smaller, more achievable resolutions like these.

How Libraries Became Refugees for People With Mental Illness (Slate)

If you’ve been following me on instagram for any length of time then you know I read a LOT. And most of my books come from public libraries.

But if you think that’s all that public libraries do, you couldn’t be more wrong - here’s what you may not know. As always, support your public libraries - vote on ballot initiatives that keep them funded and say NO! to book bans!

The Age Gappers (The Cut)

I’m a big romance reader, and while not my personal favorite, age-gap romance is a very popular trope. Usually the older party is also fabulously wealthy, which doesn’t hurt.

And while we are perfectly happy to accept them in fiction, we are generally more skeptical when these relationships occur in real life.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, might you consider referring it to those who may as well? Referrals unlock perks such as merch, books, and mentoring sessions with our team!

Thank you for being a part of this smart community - it means the world to us.