How I read books- A quick comprehensive guide to becoming a reader
Had you told my 20 year old self that I'd like reading, I would have scoffed. I've read a few fictions especially Dan Brown's in early days but at this point, just like how I am not reminding myself to breath every moment, I just do, that's what reading is to me. How did I go from uninterested, whatever, meh, 'time-pass' reader, to becoming a voracious ardent, growth oriented reader?
Here's the list of steps that could help you overcome whatever is stopping you from becoming a reader:
Without a strong why, a task that requires your attention can't get prioritized especially when there's such dopamine yielding distractions around. Unless you read for the joy of getting lost in words, you can't get any useful reading done if you don't know what you want to get out of that read. If you're investing your time to read or listen to something, you might as well take something valuable out of that. After all, you're getting some valuable insights from another person who has gone through or created for readers like you to takeaway or get lost in, you might as well indulge yourself into that pleasure. When I choose a book, I know EXACTLY WHY I am reading that book, and what I want to takeaway. It's usually either someone's experiences I can learn from (Like, What I talk about when I talk about Running, by Haruki Murakami) or just the insights from the research they have invested themselves into for several years (Like, Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond). Know WHY before you invest your time.
2. Find your reliable recommendation sources:
Okay, now that you know why you want to read about something, how could you know WHAT to read? You can just google, and find books of that genre, but finding a book that satisfies your 'why' may not be as straight forward as that. Sometimes you'd need a book from a not-so famous author to get you exactly what you're looking for. Not all memoirs are out there to inspire you, maybe what author tries to convey from his/her book, you're already there and you want perspective from the other side to get you to balance your personality. So, as easy as it sounds, finding the right book to read can be a task you should invest some quality time in. Find people with similar interests through social media to get you started, and from that point on, you can find the recommendation for similar books through goodreads and other reviewers. I use Pinterest and thus far, those readers/bloggers haven't failed me. I prefer non-fiction AT ANY GIVEN TIME than any fictional work. You should also be open to STOP reading if something isn't exactly what you are looking for. Probably I should take this pill I prescribe since my mind wants to finish what I start and sometimes, that's not what is required. So, as I always say, STOP OBEYING EVERYTHING THAT YOUR MIND SAYS!! Anyways, the point is, be open to give up on books that don't engage, entertain or yield desired results.
3. Find accessibility:
Several readers enjoy the print books, to get the pleasure and leisure of reading a book, many even have preferences between a hard and soft cover, even though most often the preference stems from the monetary point of view. A few like e-books, like kindle or digital copies for the ease of it. A few others like audiobooks for the narration and versatility. As you dabble into reading, if you're new to it, you'd find you'd like one over the other. This liking could come from just the feel the reading gives you to the convenience and the comfort that suit your needs. Given the modern times, the accessibility to various options like these must be seen as a great boon. If your financial room for this investment is big enough, you can buy a new book every time. But if you're like me. who invested $0 to read books, here's my recommendation. Find your nearest local library, with the list of recommendations you got from step 2, search and begin your read. I've read more than 30 books last year and all of them are from my local libraries. They are gold mine. Here's my recommendation for those unable to buy books: Find it in used book store or online shopping, sometimes reddit groups give away too. But first, go to your local library, get the card, get your online access, search for the books of your interest from your comfort. Go all in!
4. Have a note taking mechanism:
As you become a consistent reader, you'd find your preferences shaping up. Print books only, no folds or creases, fancy bookmark investments, Organized at home library, Spotless books- This could be you posting rules against your library shelf, or you have no inventory, relying totally on borrowing books for life. There's no right or wrong way as to how you shape your reading aesthetics. What's not right is, unless you're reading for pleasure, in which case you'd still takeaway getting lost in the words of the author, you should takeaway what you got from reading that piece. Imagine reading a book even though you're not enthused about it, and you took nothing from it? What a waste of life! Always, I emphasize, always, have. a note taking system for anything that you read. Note taking is the simplest step you can take that makes a world of difference in anything that you do. As simple as shooting yourself a text message as you come across a point worth noting and recalling, and referring back to, to as complex as colour coded index cards to organize your takeaways, the options are endless. I use my whatsapp group I created for myself to make immediate notes when I am outside of my home, and then a few index cards that lay on my busy spots around the house hwere I am prone to be around as I come across a notable idea from the book. The point is, have a note taking mechanism that works for you to jot down your summaries or takeaways!
5. Choose books and modes for Contingencies:
This is one important step that most readers miss. There can be a mindset where you do not like moving to a different book until you finish the existing one, and doing that while you live your full time job and home, could delay you from finding that amount of time for yourself where you jsink into the couch, with the candle lit ambiance and rain outside. This can be dreamy, and indulging oneself in this, if you can everyday is wonderful! But, if you're someone who can't find time even to walk the dogs, it's necessary you prioritize getting your reading done over aesthetics of it. This brings me to another important point- Your preferences can be MALLEABLE. Read that again! When you say I read only paperback, you're restricting yourself from reading much more through other medium. I always prefer audiobooks over any other kinds. I also have one or two e-books on my phone ready to go. Not to mention, I have 4 books on the currently reading list, since I choose books based on the kind. of activity I am involved in. For instance,
Mundane chores like folding clothes, cleaning, cooking, etc, when I don't need my attention and focus, I choose audiobooks that are self-help/action oriented (Like, Eat for Life, by Joel Fuhrman, Getting Things Done by David Allen, etc.,). I note takeaways on the index card I have in that area or on my phone.
However, in situations where I can't be taking notes, say at gym for instance but can focus completely, I choose informative audiobooks where its purely for growing the intellectual reserve and has no real implementation in your life (Like Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond, Inner Engineering by Sadhguru etc.,).
There are situations where I can't give my fullest focus, but need something running in the background which can be picked up subconsciously during any unconscious gap in the activity that I am doing. So, I choose audiobooks that are neither informative nor productive, but a story-like narration with some takeaways through instances (Like When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Better by Atul Gawande etc.,). These are usually Memoirs. or excerpts from life incidents which doesn't require word by word attention to get a takeaway.
There's 4th kind, when my headphones don't work, die on me, or just can't keep your ears occupied, like waiting at the Doctor's office for your name to. be called. We've all been there when we confidently head to gym with the headset that dies last night! When you can't have audiobooks access, I choose to keep an e-book on my phone. I read them during such instances, and that keeps me occupied and keeps my reading going irrespective of the situations I am stuck at.
Choose a number and the books that work for you!
6. Record, Repeat, Reflect, Recommend:
Record: This is often overlooked. We've already discussed recording mechanism in detail, take notes, writing on paper based kind, or on a more sophisticated app where you can upload photos and videos, recording what you took away from that book is the essence of reading a book. If this is missed, it's like throwing away the cane juice after all the hardwork you've done to crush and squeeze the sugarcane.
Repeat: You read a book once, you liked it very much and you think you could have more takeaways? Read again. You read a book 2 years back and want to refresh your memory? Read that book again! You are reading a book and you couldn't get through every key points it touched, read it once again, back to back. Do not be afraid or feel guilty to repeat your reads, sometimes, it's much more essential than reading a new book!
Reflect: Given your pretty notes and re-reads, it is only fair if you implement the takeaways in your life. So, towards the end of every book, along with your notes/summaries, write your 'I will implement' list, which jots down what aspect of your life you want to change or retain or modify. Reflecting on your books is an essential step that goes far beyond teh reading stages.
Recommend: You've read a great book and recommending a fellow reader with that book brings you an even greater pleasure than you retaining that valuable information for yourself. Spread the word of good words from great writers and you can be a part of sowing the seeds of transformation in people's lives!
Thank you for reaching the end, I see it's a long post, it took almost 1.5 hours for me to write this post, but I know this can change lives! Implement at least one step from this write up and you can SEE the results, which will make you comeback for more!
Sru🔥
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