A pipe is the foundation of contemplation, the source of pleasure, the companion of the wise, and the man who smokes thinks like a philosopher and acts like a Samaritan. - Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

Charlie Brown and Snoopy, Charlotte and Wilbur, Jo and Laurie, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson — one aspect threads a commonality between them all: they're all iconic pairs. One of the best pairings for a pipe or cigar smoker is reading a good book (or multiple good books) while smoking. In many ways, reading is a widely popular pastime and hobby in its own right. Whether you're the type of person to read one book until it's finished, or spread the wealth among three or more novels at a time, reading is an enjoyable activity that delivers comfort, and promotes thoughtful learning, valuable creativity, and meditative contemplation. Similarly, pipe or cigar smoking can offer relaxation, wonderful flavors to ponder, and an opportunity to be still in that moment. I've asked some familiar and new faces from our team at Laudisi to clue us in on what they're currently reading and smoking, and to elaborate on any correlation to their pairings.

I was inspired by their responses and found that what they had to share opened up the capsule of their personalities, offering a better understanding of their unique perspectives. Unintentionally or purposefully, depending on the person, what one reads can influence what one chooses to smoke. Or, on the opposite end, reading and smoking can be two separate experiences that happen to coincide. This deeper dive provides a fresh view on how reading and smoking can be closely aligned for some, while these two hobbies can be fun on their own for others.

Sykes Wilford

I'm currently reading Isaacson's new biography of Elon Musk. This selection is quite a departure from the sorts of things I typically read, which is mostly history, with some pretty junky fiction thrown in there (because everyone needs airplane reading). My history reading tends to be thematic — one book leads to another as I explore a period. I majored in history, emphasizing Ancient and Medieval, and did graduate work in history, focusing on the late Colonial period of American history.

I've been smoking some C&D Golden Days of Yore from the first run in 2015, which is amazing now, and my mainstays: G. L. Pease Cairo and C&D Sunday Picnic. I've also been smoking more cigars lately and the weather has been beautiful, so I've spent some late evenings outside with the book and a cigar. I've been smoking a few of Caldwell's Girls Guns Gold Lanceros, La Barba Ricochet Cru Shade Cafe, and Ashton VSG Très Mystiques lately.

These are what I'm smoking most of the time regardless of what I'm reading, but I sort of think that C&D Sunday Picnic goes with anything. I honestly don't think I've ever paired tobacco with a book I'm reading at the time. Compared to some of my friends and colleagues, I'm a lamentably unthoughtful pipe smoker, woefully lacking in careful pairings and rituals. I'm also a sort of unmethodical reader: I bounce without plan, don't keep lists, and rarely keep any notes. So, I smoke a pipe multiple times a day and I read a lot, but these are things I do for fun, which for me means that I get to eschew the sort of planning and regimentation that governs so much of the rest of my life.

Most of my recent daily rotations for pipes I'm smoking are Savinelli 105s (in a wide variety of series, but mostly Punto Oro and Giubileo d'Oro) and Peterson Juniors. I have a couple hundred pipes ranging from Petersons and Savinellis to pipes by Nanna Ivarsson and Kei Gotoh, but when I'm reading or working, I like small, clenchable Billiards. There's no real shape/maker to subject/author pairing I do, but I like to smoke and I like to read, and a small, lightweight, straight pipe is definitely the most practical option for me while reading. On cigars, I tend to lean toward mild- to medium-bodied cigars when I'm reading or working. I also tend to lean toward smaller ring-gauge cigars.

Phillip Kisling

I'm currently reading The Ultimate Cigar Book: 4th Edition (2015) by Richard Carleton Hacker which is about cigars and is part of the research I'm doing for an article because I know very little about cigars compared to pipes. While reading this, I'm just smoking on Espinosa Wasabi Coronas; Wasabi is the only cigar I've had on hand. I am also reading Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer (2021), also for research purposes.

I've also been reading The Last Haunt (2023) by Max Booth III because I'm not over Halloween, apparently. It's a fictional "biopic" about this extreme haunt that goes off the rails. It's told through interviews with survivors, neighbors, and other first-hand accounts. It's based on the real McKamey Manor and all its controversy. While reading this, I've cracked into my supply of Warped Scarecrow from a few years ago because it matches the vibes, smoking out of Savinelli Bing's Favorite Extra Rusticated because it just sits comfortably while I read.

Chuck Stanion

I'm currently re-reading Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions (1973) for probably the 10th time. Great satire. Since I know the book so well, it's easy to read others simultaneously. While choosing books to read, I enjoy history and literary fiction. Satire is a mode that can invade any genre, and history is both illuminating and depressing. This book helped me further understand satire and narrative wall-breaking while being incredibly entertaining.

I'm reading Breakfast of Champions in bed before sleep and don't smoke. I'm also re-reading Mark Twain's Letters From the Earth (1962) for a double-dose of satire. This collection hilariously describes the differences between authentic human behavior and religious expectations and contradictions. I have been feeling nostalgic, and this book was among the first that made me truly appreciate Twain. It is best read with a tobacco personally formulated, and I'm smoking McClelland 5100 combined with 5% Perique.

The one new book (to me) I'm now reading is The Chronicles of Newgate (1884) by Arthur Griffiths about the history of England's most notorious jail, its executions, tortures, and most infamous criminals. It's interesting in its portrayal of the criminals held there and the horrifying justice system in which they find themselves embroiled. For this read, something traditional and British has seemed most appropriate, and I find that Samuel Gawith's Full Virginia Flake works well. Sadly, I'm running low on Full Virginia Flake and may have to switch to a different book.

Overall, my go-to tobaccos are few. It's always going to be a Virginia or Va/Per, but when reading history, I like well-established blends, and when reading satire I like some spiciness and lean into the Perique. As for what pipe I smoke, it's whatever pipe is up next in the rotation. I don't seem to think about the pipe as much as the tobacco for reading accompaniment, except I prefer larger bowls so the reading isn't interrupted by refilling — The problem with reading and smoking is that the tobacco evaporates so quickly; it seems like the pipe is empty and requires refilling surprisingly often, which is why I continue to think about giant pipes, like the big Ardors. There may be one in my future.

Truett Smith

I'm currently reading Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022) by Brandon Sanderson. It's part of a high-fantasy series with some SteamPunk elements. Certain people have the ability to metabolize specific metals — each different metal giving them a unique and special ability for a limited time. I've been a fan of Sanderson's work for a while and am working my way through his Mistborn series. I love his world building and his approach to magic systems. I'm working my way through a tin of Sunday Picnic by Cornell & Diehl.

For a while now, I've taken the approach of opening a tin and smoking only that tobacco until the tin is empty, rather than having multiple tins open at the same time. To be honest, this just happens to be the tin I last opened, not an intentional pairing. That said, I have considered how Sanderson's magic system in the Mistborn series could be centered on pipe smoking instead of metals: different tobacco varietals could grant smokers various special abilities and, even, the cut of the tobacco could alter each ability in a certain way. That's been fun to think about.

Personally, I don't often pair tobacco with particular books. For me, the weather and the specific pipe I want to smoke informs my tobacco choice. As the weather has started to grow colder, I've been craving some more Burley-forward blends, so once I've finished this tin of Sunday Picnic, I'm probably going to open a tin of Peterson Irish Flake or Solani Aged Burley Flake. I prefer small, lightweight pipes in general, so pretty much all of my pipes are well-suited for reading since they can be comfortably clenched.

Ben Price

I am currently reading When Pride Still Mattered: A Life Of Vince Lombardi (1999) by Pulitzer award-winning author, David Maraniss. It's a biography about one of the greatest football coaches of all time, Vince Lombardi, and is primarily focused on how he incorporated his life into his coaching style. His leadership style is very unique and effective.

I find myself smoking my all-time favorite blend whilst reading this biography. For me, that is the tastiest of all the tasty Aromatics, Cornell and Diehl's own Autumn Evening blend. This blend is mild, smooth, and delightful. It tastes like chocolate chip pancakes with a little maple syrup drizzled on top! It's a familiar smoke, so it doesn't distract me from my reading while also providing a level of comfort.

Typically, I like to smoke a Poker-style pipe while reading. The shape enables me to set it down on any flat surface without worrying about it falling over. It also fits the hand easily and has a decent-sized chamber.

Shane Ireland

I'm reading A Wild Sheep Chase (1982) by Haruki Murakami. I'm working through Murakami's entire bibliography, which is mostly a blend of science fiction and magical realism. I strictly read poetry and fiction. Nothing is more tedious than voluntarily doing homework on the real world when I could be escaping it. I chose this book to read now based on a recommendation from a friend whose reading taste is similar to my own.

When I'm reading, I really prefer tobaccos or cigars that are medium -to -full-flavored, but not terribly complex. Things I know well are best, like Rattray's Old Gowrie or a Toscano Originale with an espresso on the side. A pipe or a cigar should be a companion while reading — satisfying, but able to fade into the background and not to distract from the world I'm immersing myself in.

Sometimes it's fun to smoke something you can imagine a character in a particular book smoking. Sherlock Holmes would almost certainly choose to puff on Gawith & Hoggarth Dark Birdseye if he had access to it, whereas I can imagine Bokonon being busy, busy, busy with a bowlful of C&D Bayou Morning Flake (ironically his ideal all-day smoke).

My cigar of choice while reading would be a Toscano, typically the Originale or one of the Master Aged series. I like the low maintenance and robust flavors, which don't demand one's attention in order to enjoy them. For pipes, I pretty much grab anything, but depending on how much time I have, I might opt for a deeper chamber to carry me through several chapters in a sitting.

Much like pairings with coffee, tea, or adult beverages, I suggest not overthinking these things — just grab whatever sounds good or whatever you typically find comforting. The most important thing is to make some time for yourself to enjoy the timeless combination of a good book and a good smoke.

Eryn Patrick

I've been a huge fan of graphic novels for a long time. One of my favorite graphic novel authors is Bryan Lee O'Malley. I read this series years and years ago, but I'm trying to collect all of the books in the Scott Pilgrim series he wrote and re-read them. Otherwise, I would love to read the rest of the books he's written once I'm refreshed on Scott Pilgrim. That series spans a few different genres — action, fantasy, romantic comedy, and drama would all work.

The main character, Scott, meets a girl and we discover that she has a whole army of exes who created a league to defeat any guy she dates. It's like a video game all throughout, with fights that happen, which is one of my favorite parts. It might sound silly, but it's super funny. Netflix actually just released a series based on the books and movie by Bryan Lee O'Malley and it's sparked my interest in it again! There was also a movie released based on the series, but this show is a completely new take on it, so I'm very excited to see where that goes.

If I had to choose one tobacco to smoke while reading any book, it would be Steamworks, no doubt! Steamworks is an easy smoke and it stays lit very well so I don't have to fidget with my pipe a lot. It's also super delicious, so why not? I don't really pair particular tobaccos with any specific reads; I just choose based on my cravings at that moment.

More often than not, you can catch me smoking my favorite Askwith pipe. I think it's unique, just like the Scott Pilgrim series, and it's also just the perfect pipe. The bowl isn't too large and it's the perfect weight, so I can clench it while doing anything.

John McElheny

I'm presently reading both The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith and Thomas Ligotti's Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe. Both are collected short stories by their respective authors, though Ligotti's collection is almost purely horror, albeit with elements of Weird Fiction, while Smith's works infuse a variety of genres with the style of the Weird Fiction movement. I've been aware of Ligotti's work for some time, but it wasn't until recently that I found his work in print at a bookstore, so I had to grab it while I could.

Horror has been a constant companion for most of my life and it's a genre that I always return to, so it was purely a natural choice. As far as Smith is concerned, I've been aware of him for even longer, though his collected works are mostly out of print, so I've been working my way slowly through them in digital format.

While I've been reading these collections, I've mostly been smoking Hearty English blends — English blends are my favorites, so it's mostly happenstance, but I find that the smoky, complex aroma of Latakia does well to complement the shadowed keeps, blustery peaks, ancient curses, and psychological torment around which many of these stories revolve. If I decide to pair a pipe to a book, it is naught but whim which guides my hand.

While smoking and reading, I typically use classic sandblasted pipes that are easy to clench. The sandblasts make the pipes interesting to both look at and touch, but they need to be good in the jaw so I can hold the book with both hands and smoke at once. I find myself favoring three specific pipes: a sleek Tomato from Ryan Alden, a large but comfortable Bulldog from Ashton, and a compact Billiard from Musico, all sandblasted.

If you decide to smoke while reading, it's important that your book, pipe, and tobacco do their respective jobs well: if any one component is sub-par or doesn't hit the mark, your experiences in the other areas will suffer greatly.

I am reading The Dark Tower by Stephen King, the seventh and final book in the series. At its heart, it's a western, but similar to much of King's work, it blends horror, thriller, and fantasy elements. The novel is about a group of gunslingers that adventure across dimensions to try to save reality and reach their ultimate destination: the Dark Tower. I picked up the first book in high school. Now, about 10 years later, I'm finally finishing the series.

I smoke about one to two bowls a day, so I am still enjoying Sun Bear: Tupelo from this year. I typically reach for Virginias or English blends when I read. Much like the book, the more you explore the details, the more complex it becomes. I typically pick books and tobaccos much the same way: whatever fits my tastes at the moment.

I like my meerschaum Poker because it's a Sitter, so I can put it down without too much distraction. I guess it's similar to King in the sense that I know my meerschaum is not the most ornate pipe I own, but I always know it will deliver an enjoyable experience.

Andrew Wike

Among other books, currently I am reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. The book is a compilation of advice, observations, and anecdotes about creativity written by one of the most prolific music producers of our time, boasting a discography ranging from Run-DMC's Raising Hell to Slayer's Reign in Blood, from Tom Petty's Wildflowers to Adele's 21. Curiously, Rubin isn't a performer himself, nor is he a master of any instrument; instead, he is an expert in coaching artists and helping them unleash their creativity.

This book focuses on creativity as a practice, one that requires consistent effort, mindfulness, and child-like play. I suppose, categorically, it's a self-help book, but there are parts of it that read like poetry. I chose to read this book because, in general, creativity is an area of personal study for me. I find it fascinating how we, as humans, are able to weave story and narrative around events, people, and locations, and across infinite mediums. Stories and art don't exist in nature — they are uniquely human and exist only because of our interpretations. I find people who are able to consistently tap into or extract this creative expression among the wisest and most interesting of us.

While smoking, lately I've found myself reaching for G.L. Pease's géométrie. There's something about Oriental leaf that seems to invite contemplation. It's an incredibly complex varietal, able to fade into the background when needed, but its nuance unfurls when given greater attention. Plus there's something about Greg's Zeitgeist series — each blend meant to represent a specific cultural milieu, a vignette into a particular time and place — that pairs well with a book about art and creativity.

I don't always smoke when I read, but when I do, I tend to reach for tobaccos that I feel will enhance the experience; I seek out flavors and aromas that will help create a setting for a conversation between me and the author, or place me more fully in the imagined world. For example, while reading Enemy of All Mankind by Steven Johnson — a book about Henry Every, the 17th century's most notorious pirate — I found that Samuel Gawith's Navy Flake, with its whisper of smoky Latakia and subtle casing of rum, was the perfect companion as I followed Every's journey.

When reading, I typically choose to smoke pipes based on utility, typically preferring bent pipes as they're often easier to clench, leaving my hands free to turn pages and annotate in the margins. Overall, I love to create and curate experiences across all areas of my life. It's the ritual, more than the end result, that brings me joy. When selecting a book to read, and a tobacco to accompany it, whether consciously or not, I'm crafting an experience that transcends them both.

Let us know in the comments what you're reading and smoking at the moment in this cozy winter season. I'll leave the questions that prompted the above responses below if you would also like to try this exercise and see any connections that might have gone undiscovered between your reading and smoking selections. Or, if you just like reading and/or smoking in general and want to join in, that works too. We'd love to see what you've been digging into.