Why is Reading Books Not Helping You?
Here’s what you should do
We often hear about how successful people are voracious readers. They read anywhere between 50 and 100 books a year. Reading sure helps broaden your mindset.
But what if I told you that most of the time, reading a large quantity of books doesn’t actually help you?
The magic trick is in how you read rather than how much you read.
Most successful people are what we call “active readers.” They read not to compete with other people but to gain knowledge. When they read a book, they try to absorb as much knowledge as possible. They become one of the characters of the book while reading. They try to apply that knowledge to their lives.
A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.
— George R.R. Martin, American novelist
But most amateur readers just imitate successful people without understanding the logic behind reading a book. They try to read as many books as possible, as if it were some kind of magic trick to success. They fail to realise that reading a book is more about discovering its depths than it is about slogging through its pages.
Most amateur readers just read words and sentences without giving them much thought. They try to complete the book as soon as possible to get that inner sense of satisfaction that they have completed reading the book. They are reading more books so that they can brag about it. But in the process, they fail to absorb the knowledge in the book. They fail to learn.
Reading becomes chore for such people rather than a hobby. They end up despising it rather than enjoying it.
But here’s what amateur readers should do, which will help them get the most out of every book they read:
Start With a Lightweight Book
By lightweight, I mean a book with 100–200 pages. Obviously, as an amateur writer, you do not want to discourage yourself with a huge book with thousands of pages. As an amateur reader, I made that mistake by buying Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, which had more than a thousand pages and took me more than a year to complete reading.
Look for a More Modern Era Book
This is the most important tip. Modern books, i.e., books published after the 1970s or 1980s, are easy to read with easy vocabulary and sentence formation. They have plain and simple word play and sentences, unlike older eras of books. Don’t even dare touch Victorian-era books because the English language was different back then, which can leave today’s amateur readers all fuzzy and confused. Again, this will make you lose interest in reading.
Begin with the Genre You are Interested in
You can take suggestions from avid readers, but everyone has different tastes when reading a book. For e.g. I like reading history, but most people despise it. So don’t just blindly follow people’s suggestions; instead, try to explore your favourite genres. Try reading books from the genre you are really interested in. This will keep you motivated. You will look forward to reading every day.
Don’t Be in a Hurry to Complete a Book
Remember, you are not in a race. You are not competing for an award. So don’t be in a hurry to complete a book. Take your time. Read a book like you watch your favourite movie. Concentrate on each word and sentence. Don’t skim, but try to dive deep into every corner of the story and try to explore as much as you can. This will help you get the real essence of the book.
Conclusion
Try reading a few books actively rather than passively reading thousands of volumes. Read not to compete but to comprehend.
Books will help you connect with a new world full of mysteries. Knowledge inside them is like a hidden treasure that will make you rich mentally. So what are you waiting for? Go grab a book and start exploring a completely new world.
