How To Get Better At Reading Books

“We all are at a point when every 2nd person’s hobby is reading or travelling. More people are reading books, blogs, articles, etc. than they ever did before, but are we really understanding everything that goes in our mind? We are passively consuming content without really stopping to ponder upon what we are taking in.

Finding a good book

Getting your hands on a great book is crucial to save your time. Find a book and skim through it— the preface, the contents, the synopsis (back cover). By reading some notable paragraphs you will figure out if the book is worth taking home. The key is to pick challenging and value giving books, not intimidating and uninteresting ones.

Quitting Bad Books

Another important yet hard thing to do is — Quitting Bad Books. Quitting books in between spikes a sense of guilt in us. We feel bad for the time and money invested, not caring about the time we will be investing further. Things you shouldn’t do: Not quitting books to avoid guilt associated with your own sense of worth

Map your mind

Any creative field you go to tells you to keep a small notebook with you. Why? So that you never run out of ideas, and you never miss something noteworthy. You see something inspiring, note it down. After every reading session, write 2–3 things that you learnt and connect them. (You can use different colored pens for each session). When you are done with the book, the mind map would be your go-to resource for revising the pointers.

Revisit good old books

Re-reading old books (good ones) is important for your mental system to absorb it completely. When you read the scribbles and highlights combined with the mind map, it registers the information completely within you. It opens cognitive access to the parts of brain that were active during the book read and helps you draw in all the relevant information needed.

Time-block your reading activity

Scheduling your reading works wonders. For those who are consistent, consider the job half done, but for those who aren’t, focus on quality reading.”

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✨Takeaway: Sometimes the first book you pick up isn't the right one for you. In this instance, giving up on the book is acceptable. You don't have to feel guilty for this. The secret is to select thought-provoking and worthwhile literature rather than intimidating and uninteresting ones. Making a mental map also makes it easier to remember important passages from the book.

✨Reflection: What’s your favorite genre of books?

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