Photo © r. nial bradshaw, via flickr and Creative Commons; rnialbradshaw@yahoo.com

Today, the email from a commemorative-days website announces, is Read a Book Day.

Our protagonist lights mental fireworks. “Hooray! A day devoted to conspicuous reading pleasure.”

Then she notices the email’s next line. Today is also Fight Procrastination Day.

Her heart clenches. Our protagonist’s preferred avoidance of unpleasant tasks includes burying herself in a good book.

Her frontal lobe tries to reconcile the mixed messaging and replan her day. Should she read? Or should she stop procrastinating and write a newspaper column?

She sighs. Perhaps today was designed for those who usually seek to avoid reading books.

Tomorrow, the email continues, is Buy a Book Day. More »