One of the greatest benefits of books comes from the brief episodes when your mind starts to wander while reading. These moments of contemplation allow you to explore your own thoughts and reshape your inner perceptions and values.

The physical environment where you read directly influences this experience — a peaceful setting can invite more meaningful mind wandering, while busier environments might spark your imagination to explore directions it wouldn't have discovered in the isolation of your home.

Though the content of your book carries 90% of weight of your experience, the atmosphere around you can transform a good reading session into a transcendent one.

It's nearly been a year since I moved to Los Angeles, and what began as disappointment in LA's sparse offering of public reading spaces has evolved into a deep appreciation for the city's hidden sanctuaries. This post highlights some of the favorite places I've stumbled upon (both on my own and from friends' recommendations) so you can enjoy them too.

Locations