How I read my books
A thread...
A thread...
For the past 4 years, I have managed to read 40-45 books in a year.
After a lot of trial and error, I think I have arrived at a way of reading books that works for me.
It all starts with a routine.
After a lot of trial and error, I think I have arrived at a way of reading books that works for me.
It all starts with a routine.
1.
I read every morning, for 30-45 mins.
This is after 90 mins of waking up, once I am done with my meditation, my singing and my "sipping water like wine" routine (a story for another day)
I have read everyday for the longest time I know.
Almost at the same time everyday.
I read every morning, for 30-45 mins.
This is after 90 mins of waking up, once I am done with my meditation, my singing and my "sipping water like wine" routine (a story for another day)
I have read everyday for the longest time I know.
Almost at the same time everyday.
So today, it is a habit.
My brain dispenses the least amount of energy required, to read.
It has been trained how to.
It happens automatically, without much thought.
Like brushing one's teeth.
My brain dispenses the least amount of energy required, to read.
It has been trained how to.
It happens automatically, without much thought.
Like brushing one's teeth.
2.
I read all my books on my Kindle.
And I highlight obsessively, while reading.
While highlighting, I remove the context from the conclusion, so that later, I can apply the conclusion to any context as against being boxed by its original context.
I read all my books on my Kindle.
And I highlight obsessively, while reading.
While highlighting, I remove the context from the conclusion, so that later, I can apply the conclusion to any context as against being boxed by its original context.
For ex:
"What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan."
This sentence in Rework (link at end of thread) is in the context of a business idea.
With the context removed, it applies to virtually anything we do in life.
"What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan."
This sentence in Rework (link at end of thread) is in the context of a business idea.
With the context removed, it applies to virtually anything we do in life.
3.
While reading, I skim a lot.
I do not read every line, nor try and memorize every character (if reading an auto/biography)
Since I read only non-fiction, I can afford to do so. It also helps me speed up my reading.
While reading, I skim a lot.
I do not read every line, nor try and memorize every character (if reading an auto/biography)
Since I read only non-fiction, I can afford to do so. It also helps me speed up my reading.
I end up reading for 3.5-5hrs per week and that, along with skimming, is enough for me to finish most books in a week.
Some books take time and deserve that time as well, so I put no pressure on myself to complete a book.
Some books take time and deserve that time as well, so I put no pressure on myself to complete a book.
4.
Which also means, I do not finish most books I start.
This was a big shift from before, when I used to feel guilty leaving a book unfinished.
Some 5 years back, I heard @naval and his approach towards books, so changed mine too.
Which also means, I do not finish most books I start.
This was a big shift from before, when I used to feel guilty leaving a book unfinished.
Some 5 years back, I heard @naval and his approach towards books, so changed mine too.
A book has to earn your attention and interest
Not the other way around.
Not the other way around.
5.
Once done, I export the highlights of the book into a PDF.
And after 2-3 weeks, revisit the PDF.
By this time, I have forgotten most of what I had read, at least in my conscious memory.
So this PDF helps immensely in bringing back the concepts.
Once done, I export the highlights of the book into a PDF.
And after 2-3 weeks, revisit the PDF.
By this time, I have forgotten most of what I had read, at least in my conscious memory.
So this PDF helps immensely in bringing back the concepts.
This is also the time, when I try and find patterns and connections with these concepts. Because (remember?), the context was removed from the highlights.
So now whatever is being read, is being read in isolation, in a pure form, with no bias, no attachment and no background.
So now whatever is being read, is being read in isolation, in a pure form, with no bias, no attachment and no background.
I sit down, read a sentence and then "force" myself to imagine - where can I apply this in my life?
It is my favorite game to play.
Think for a moment how powerful this is, if done with discipline and regular frequency.
You begin to see different topics converge.
It is my favorite game to play.
Think for a moment how powerful this is, if done with discipline and regular frequency.
You begin to see different topics converge.
Books are powerful not because of the stories they narrate.
It is because how they help us see other stories in a different way.
It is because how they help us see other stories in a different way.
6.
If I am left impressed with how powerful the book's concepts were or how excited I am to apply them to my life, I decide to buy the book in the paper format.
These paper books find space in our library and become re-reads.
If I am left impressed with how powerful the book's concepts were or how excited I am to apply them to my life, I decide to buy the book in the paper format.
These paper books find space in our library and become re-reads.
I play with these re-read books, as we used to play book cricket.
I pick up a random book, open up a random page and just stand in front of the library for 5-10 mins reading the rest of the chapter.
No agenda, no expectation, no pressure.
Directionless reading.
I pick up a random book, open up a random page and just stand in front of the library for 5-10 mins reading the rest of the chapter.
No agenda, no expectation, no pressure.
Directionless reading.
Most of my aha moments in life have come from these book-cricket reading sessions.
I remember playing book-cricket with "Hard Things about Hard things" for 30 straight days in 2017, during a rough patch running nearbuy.
Every day the book spoke to me, like a mentor!
I remember playing book-cricket with "Hard Things about Hard things" for 30 straight days in 2017, during a rough patch running nearbuy.
Every day the book spoke to me, like a mentor!
7.
I do not read multiple books at the same time. I know of a lot of people who do, but I haven't found it work for me.
I would much rather stop reading a book after 2 days, because I am not enjoying it, than pick up a book simultaneously as an excuse.
I do not read multiple books at the same time. I know of a lot of people who do, but I haven't found it work for me.
I would much rather stop reading a book after 2 days, because I am not enjoying it, than pick up a book simultaneously as an excuse.
8.
While I read in any posture, the "concept application" process (Step 5) is done formally.
On a table, with a pen and paper.
It isn't recreation.
It is like work.
It is work.
While I read in any posture, the "concept application" process (Step 5) is done formally.
On a table, with a pen and paper.
It isn't recreation.
It is like work.
It is work.
9.
I do not listen to books. That is not for me.
The art of highlighting and then applying those to my life is sacred.
And audio books do not allow for that.
At least I havent found a way to do so.
I do not listen to books. That is not for me.
The art of highlighting and then applying those to my life is sacred.
And audio books do not allow for that.
At least I havent found a way to do so.
10.
No topic is off limits for me. I love exploring. I love recommendations.
I follow very different people on twitter only for this purpose.
For the same reason, I avoid asking people in the same community. We seem to be reading the same books at the same time!
No topic is off limits for me. I love exploring. I love recommendations.
I follow very different people on twitter only for this purpose.
For the same reason, I avoid asking people in the same community. We seem to be reading the same books at the same time!
In summary:
1. I read everyday as a discipline, at the exact same time
2. I read on the Kindle and highlight obsessively
3. I skim a lot
4. I don't finish all the books I start
5. Export highlights into PDF and after 2-3 weeks, ask myself "where can I apply this in my life?"
1. I read everyday as a discipline, at the exact same time
2. I read on the Kindle and highlight obsessively
3. I skim a lot
4. I don't finish all the books I start
5. Export highlights into PDF and after 2-3 weeks, ask myself "where can I apply this in my life?"
6. Order physical copies of the best books. Open them to a random page and read for 5-10 mins
7. I do not read multiple books at the same time
8. Lie down while reading. Sit up straight while going through the highlights
9. No audio books
10. Read different topics
7. I do not read multiple books at the same time
8. Lie down while reading. Sit up straight while going through the highlights
9. No audio books
10. Read different topics
As a kid we could afford only Chacha Chaudhary, Billoo, Pinki and I used to LOVE them.
I used to look forward to summer vacations, because we could buy a comic from the station platform.
I stopped reading these comics.
But I couldn't stop reading.
I used to look forward to summer vacations, because we could buy a comic from the station platform.
I stopped reading these comics.
But I couldn't stop reading.
Read what you love until you love to read
@naval
@naval
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