Back in 1992, Richard Saul Wurman’s Follow The Yellow Brick Roadhit the best seller charts. I bought it and never read it. I can’t.

Why? I don’t know. Since that day about 20 years ago, I’ve bought and read dozens of books, but only one other book by Richard Saul Wurman. I didn’t read that one, either.

I suspect that the problem is not the author. It must be something else. Incentive and motivation come to mind, though not ncessarily in the same order.

That was then, this is now. I bought the hardcover version, so that should be sufficient incentive, as I obviously placed some value on the book.

The book is from an author whose work I read previously, and found enjoyable, even helpful trying to cope with mediaholic syndrome.

The book’s introduction is from John Sculley, then head of Apple Computer, and the guy who had founder Steve Jobs fired back in 1985.

Since I bought Follow The Yellow Brick Road I’ve purchased and read books by John Sculley and about Steve Jobs, so the mental capacity to read a book is still here.

That’s pure speculation on my part, but I’m comfortable sitting on that limb. For now.

Wurman’s book is about learning; learning to learn, give, take, and use instructions (hence, the Yellow Brick Road that Dorothy was required to follow to reach Emerald City).

I’d instruct myself to read the book by next Monday but I haven’t read the book so I don’t know how to instruct myself.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road has gone with me on countless trips over the past 14 years. Cruises. Vacations to Vegas, Florida, Hawaii, and Canada.

A couple of times I actually started reading and managed to chew through three or four pages before being distracted by food, view, beach, activity, and the occasional illness (none necessarily occured in that order).

The book has a great forward, which I’ve read. There’s also great quotes on the inside front cover and on the inside back cover.

John Naisbitt, author of Megatrends 2000 said, “Wurman profoundly understands that most communication is made up of instructions, and with intelligence, humor, and passion… educates both sender and receiver.”

That sounds exactly like a book I should read. One on developing clear instructions, and understanding unclear instructions.

This is the book I cannot read. Follow The Yellow Brick Road is now on my desk. I promise to keep it there or keep it with me until I finish reading it.

That assumes I start reading it. I’m still working on that.

Am I the first of a new generation to suffer from “Senior Citizen Terrible Fear Of Reading” syndrome? Maybe I could go on TV with Dr. Phil.