I’m at the gym this morning when an overly rotund man climbed aboard a Life Cycle, presumably to avoid experiencing the crash cart at his local emergency room.I am silently applauding his efforts when suddenly he whips out a paperback and starts to peddle s-l-o-w-l-y while rubbing his bulging mid-section. I stop applauding mid-clap and quickly avert my eyes.

First of all, why do people come to the gym to read instead of exercise? I’m willing to bet the La-Z-Boy barcolounger he’s been riding for the past few years moves faster than he was peddling . Second, why do people peddle so slowly when they read? It’s not like they’re going to crash. Sorry. I digress.

Despite what you think, I’m not being judgmental because the man was overweight – so he likes him some Krispy Kreme. Who doesn’t. I think my issue is that the book was The Summons. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why he would choose John Grisham when there are so many great books out there that don’t employ the same formulaic, obvious, unimaginative plot lines.

So, I began speculating as to why this person would choose this book. Perhaps he just learned to read and the fifth-grade- level writing was just the challenge he needed. Or maybe he just came out of three-year sugar coma after a major donut bender. Whatever the reason, I had to resist the urge to rip the book out of his dry, meaty paws. With authors such as Cody McFadyen, Chelsea Cain, Richard Hawke and Tim Maleeny there’s no reason to read that mindless drivel. OK maybe The Firm was acceptable and since I’m being honest, so was The Pelican Brief; but that was then. It’s like comparing black and white television to high-def. Sure TV was great back in the day and watching a guy in a Godzilla suit beat the hell out of a giant moth was entertaining… because it's all we had. Since then, we have created the technology that makes entertainment an experience...the same way we have authors who write really good stuff.

So please, I’m begging you. Stop waiting with the rest of the sheep for the Almighty Oprah to proclaim her next pick and put down the James Patterson Mad-Lib. Open your mind to new possibilities and new authors. I promise you won’t regret it.

By the way, next time you go to the gym, try actually working out because that book you’re holding makes your ass look big.