1) Choose your books with a balance of serendipity and planning
Serendipity: If you come across a book that speaks to you, buy it.
Planning: Have a wishlist of books you want to read.
Serendipity: If you come across a book that speaks to you, buy it.
Planning: Have a wishlist of books you want to read.
2) How does Blas read 5-10 books a month while handling a full-time job, an 18-month old baby, and sleeping 8 hours a day?
He sets aside an hour every morning just for reading and rarely misses it.
“That consistency day in day out is for me what’s made the biggest difference."
He sets aside an hour every morning just for reading and rarely misses it.
“That consistency day in day out is for me what’s made the biggest difference."
3) If your phone is more attractive than the book you're reading, find another book
It's okay to quit a book you aren't enjoying and start a new one.
Yes, there are some sunk-costs to quitting, but there's no point in forcing yourself to finish a book you aren't enjoying.
It's okay to quit a book you aren't enjoying and start a new one.
Yes, there are some sunk-costs to quitting, but there's no point in forcing yourself to finish a book you aren't enjoying.
4) Every book medium has its pros and cons
Print books are the easiest to take notes in.
Ebooks are the easiest to carry with you.
Audiobooks are the easiest to read while commuting.
Print books are the easiest to take notes in.
Ebooks are the easiest to carry with you.
Audiobooks are the easiest to read while commuting.
5) Your note-taking system doesn't have to be complex
Blas highlights text he finds interesting and jots down notes in the margin.
Once he finishes a book, he’ll type up his notes into Evernote and then paste them onto his website.
Blas highlights text he finds interesting and jots down notes in the margin.
Once he finishes a book, he’ll type up his notes into Evernote and then paste them onto his website.
6) Why write book summaries?
It's a way to:
• Reflect on the important lessons
• Remember more of what you've read
• And have an easy reference guide if you ever want to revisit the key lessons in the future.
It's a way to:
• Reflect on the important lessons
• Remember more of what you've read
• And have an easy reference guide if you ever want to revisit the key lessons in the future.
7) Stop jumping from one book to the next all the time
Blas advises readers to sometimes take a break from jumping from one book to the next and instead take some time to reflect on what they've already read and learned.
Blas advises readers to sometimes take a break from jumping from one book to the next and instead take some time to reflect on what they've already read and learned.
8) How to get the most out of your summaries
At the end of the year, Blas uses the whole month of December to review everything he’s read that year to remind himself of the most valuable lessons he’s learned and make connections across the books he’s read.
At the end of the year, Blas uses the whole month of December to review everything he’s read that year to remind himself of the most valuable lessons he’s learned and make connections across the books he’s read.
9) Every now and then, instead of reading a new book, reread a book that changed your life
Just as no man steps in the same river twice, no man reads the same book twice.
When you reread one of your favorite books, you may come across new lessons you missed the first time.
Just as no man steps in the same river twice, no man reads the same book twice.
When you reread one of your favorite books, you may come across new lessons you missed the first time.
10) Reread your favorite books with audiobooks
If there's a book Blas considers worth rereading, oftentimes he'll get the audiobook version and listen to it.
It's a fun way to reread a book and get a new angle on it.
If there's a book Blas considers worth rereading, oftentimes he'll get the audiobook version and listen to it.
It's a fun way to reread a book and get a new angle on it.
11) Giving book recommendations isn't as easy as it seems
What books are a good fit for you will depend on what books you’ve already read, what phase of life you’re in, what problems you’re currently facing, and much more.
What books are a good fit for you will depend on what books you’ve already read, what phase of life you’re in, what problems you’re currently facing, and much more.
12) Closing advice for readers
Follow your curiosity.
Blas ends with a @naval quote to help guide people on their reading journey:
• “Read what you love until you love to read.”
Follow your curiosity.
Blas ends with a @naval quote to help guide people on their reading journey:
• “Read what you love until you love to read.”
If you'd like to listen to or watch my full podcast with Blas, you can check it out here:
(timestamps included so you can skip to the parts you're interested in)
alexandbooks.com/archive/blas-m…
(timestamps included so you can skip to the parts you're interested in)
alexandbooks.com/archive/blas-m…
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