Calvin Walker
PS: I Totally Judge Books By Their Cover
There are a ton of perks that come with living in New York City. Dollar slices. Attaboy. The Angelika. My favorite is The Strand Bookstore on East 12th and Broadway. When you go, it is rightfully a bit overwhelming but exhilarating at the same time. Do you remember the last time you went on a really good first date? Yeah? Do you remember how during the entire date, you let you eyes quickly and repeatedly scan the other person’s face and body? And how the minute the date is over and you’re parting ways, you look down at your feet and smile to yourself because you know you just experienced something awesome and the possibilities are endless? That’s what it’s like when you’re in the Strand and that, sir, is one big fucking perk.
If I ever have free time, there’s a good chance that I will automatically head into this bookstore. If not, I’ll at least think about it. Printing out a bank statement of my debit card transactions would no doubt show far too many from this place but it really isn’t my fault. I love the fact that you can buy used books that look brand new for less than the cover price and so the need to purchase is strong when I walk through that set of double doors. With a growing collection of both paperbacks and hardcovers picked up over the last six months, I have plenty of reading material to last me until 2016. That being said, I thought I’d share some of the books I plan on plowing through during the upcoming summer season!
Can we call this the CBC: Calvin’s Book Club? Sorry, Oprah. You’re slacking.
SCOTT STOSSEL – MY AGE OF ANXIETY: FEAR, HOPE, DREAD, AND THE SEARCH FOR PEACE OF MIND 
Let’s face it: we are some anxious motherfuckers. I remember not feeling well and thinking I’d just go to the doctor to see if my symptoms seemed familiar. Within 49 seconds of me speaking, the medical practitioner told me I needed to chill the eff out and gave me a Xanax prescription. The fact that she so quickly suggested that I needed a pill to help me relax only made me feel even more unsettled. But I had the prescription filled and it was glorious.
Around the same time, I stumbled across Scott Stossel’s My Age of Anxiety and thought “Oh, why the hell not?” Into my tote back it went and onto my summer reading list it was placed. I can imagine what you’re thinking: should you be reading a book about someone else’s anxiety if you’re dealing with it yourself? Yes! This guy has it way worse than me. I was just dealing with heightened stress (ie: I started a new job and moved into a crappy apartment with atrocious roommates at the same time) that I have been able to decently manage but this guy? Oh, he could barely stand up at his own wedding due to the anxiety! I’m genuinely curious to see what methods he’s deployed to alleviate his anxiety, how it may or may not have worked and to see where he stands at the end of the book.
