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What does “judging a book by its cover” mean to you? We tend to judge the things that we have had experiences with before, but other times we are judging things without having an experience ourselves. We are placing a value on something without trying it. For years I would say that I was allergic to avocado to avoid it, a slice of avocado toast is still not high on the list but if I find it wrapped into a tasty sushi roll that will work out for me. What other experiences have I missed due to the first reactions of “Nah, not my thing.”   

Do not judge a book by its format. The diverse ways to read a book evoke different images: thinking about turning the pages, listening to an audiobook, reading on a screen, or having someone read aloud. There is nothing different about the story, but it is a varying experience. ust because we are in new formats does not change the things that are at the heart of all that we do. We are forging connections in a new way that we need to be open to, but the important part remains-we are forging connections.  

Do not judge a book by its title. What else are we judging simply due to a label that has been put upon it? A political party? A religious group? A declaration of gender or sexuality? What is the label that gives you pause? Getting stuck on the title can keep you from learning the author, from hearing the story they can share and building a connection and a relationship with the person beyond the label. If you are only having experiences with people who have your same labels, your same affiliations you will miss some great people. Affiliations change, people change, are you willing to accept a person for the change that they are wanting you to see? Are you judging a book by its cover or are you reading the story? We learn a lot through listening, and we learn even more by listening to people who are not in the same position as ourselves. Entering this political season many people have made up their minds without listening, without reading, without stepping back and honoring our sacred rights to change our minds about one another.

Without focusing on what is important and instead getting caught up on the title or an earlier work under that same publisher. There are so many ways to judge “a book”: by its cover, by its title, by its format, by its prequel, but what happens when you stop judging something and take the story in for all that it is? What will it mean for you to stop judging a book and start experiencing a story?