"Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom."

Everyone reads, we do it all of the time. Unfortunately for the vast majority of us that means scrolling up and down on our phones, an act that's bound to make us more anxious. If only we could spend more time with our heads buried in a good book - then again there's always a danger people will think we're a skinny little swot who should stop reading and go out and do something.

Key Shakeaways

1 Shakespeare was a voracious reader but sometimes he has a bit of a downer on it - in other words, read what others have to say, but you don't always have to agree with what you read, and you can make your own mind up.

2 Try and make it a daily habit, even if it's only ten minutes or so to begin with

3 This is more me than Shakespeare for obvious reasons but STEP AWAY FROM YOUR PHONE. Immerse yourself in the paper version of the book, not only does it stop you being distracted it also makes you better at concentrating.

Shakespeare plays referred to in this episode:

Julius Caesar, Richard III, The Tempest, Hamlet.

Other books that also get a look-in:

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to The Galaxy, Aristotle's Politics. Warning: occasional reference to Mein Kampf.

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"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak / knits up the o-er-wrought heart and bids it break."

Do you sometimes find yourself feeling sad without realising why? You're not alone, like many people there's a chance you're dealing with melancholy. In today's episode I'll be looking at the reasons we sometimes feel this way, why we indulge the feeling and how to make a few small adjustments to make it so much easier to live with.

Key Shakeaways

1 First thing to do is acknowledge the sadness. Don't pretend nothing's wrong

2 Don't overthink it

3 Do something! Anything. Get a hobby. That's what I decided to do two years ago and here I am at Episode 26 of theShakespeare Mindset. I had no idea when I picked up that giant fusty old book from my schooldays that had always seemed impenentrable that it would take me on an amazing trip through Shakespeare to a realisation that 425 years ago he had so much to say about how to live our lives with intent, humour and free from anxiety.

Shakespeare plays and sonnets referred to in this episode:

The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Hamlet. Sonnets 30, 66, 71

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"I can no other answer make, but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks."

There's nothing wrong with gratitude, as far as I'm concerned, but I'm starting to get a bit fed up with privileged middle class people like me walking around expressing gratitude for the universe as though that's going to make everything okay. If I'm sounding a bit grumpy I suppose it's because I always had a bit of a bad attitude towards gratitude. When I was a kid it was presented to me as something I resented. If I didn't thank grandma profusely enough for her latest useless birthday present my mum would tell me off for not showing enough gratitude. (And by the way, when you're trying to type your shownotes at speed one of the hardest words to consistently spell correctly is gratitude.)

But how much is enough? Shakespeare understood the dangers of making gratitude dependent on certain flattering behavious. King Lear has three daughters and he famously punishes the third one for not showing him enough gratitude. Oops chose the wrong one there mate.

Imagine thinking just because you're the king that people should be forced to show you gratitude.

Timon of Athens is the most generous king you'll ever meet, he expects nothing in return - until things start to go a little bit wrong, and debts are called in. Suddenly all those people he thought were his friends, simply because they liked hanging around him when he had money, are nowhere to be seen. Now he rails against their ingratitude. He's like my mum, only a lot angrier, also my mum never got banished from the kingdom, at least so far as i know.

At this point I think okay, I get it now. Timon's journey from riches to rags incorporates anger and denial along the way. But as the journey continues he comes to terms with the loss, and realises all that wealth was meaningless. When things go wrong, showing gratitude for the things that matter in life can be empowering.

Then again, if you listen to this show all the way to the end, and leave a nice review wherever you listen, I will be eternally grateful to you. Thank you for reading up to now. (Okay Dave this is getting obsequious, leave the poor reader alone.)

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