This is an homage to Scott Adams “The day you became a better writer”.
I went from being a bad reader to a good reader after reading every day for the past 7 years. I couldn’t believe how simple it was. I’ll share the main tricks of the trade so you don’t have to wing it for 7 years like me.
Reading is about keeping an open mind and challenging your deeply held beliefs. The purpose is to absorb one main idea from each piece you read (tweet, blog post, article, book, etc.). I prefer books so that’s where we’ll focus. Each book has one thing the author wants to implant in your head. A good book with just 100 pages is more valuable than a long-winded book with 1,000 pages. The author that keeps things simple wins. Don’t automatically equate longer with better.
Challenging your deeply held beliefs means seeking discomfort. Read what you disagree with. It may just change your mind! Don’t automatically think your beliefs are correct just because they feel right. Every belief that feels like common sense was once ridiculed as being preposterous.
Strong opinions, loosely held.
Reading to learn is a lot like reading to be entertained. It requires you to engage with the words on the page. Remember that reading is active process. Always have a pen handy. Treat the book like your personal journal. Underline impactful lines. Jot down your thoughts in the margins. Disagree with the bad parts. Make it a conversation with the author.
Read to learn in the morning. Read to be entertained at night.
A good book will grab your attention immediately. It will feel like the author is speaking directly to you. It will drag you in with the gravitational force of a black hole. You will not want to put it down.
If it doesn’t, throw it away (or shelf it). There are too many good books waiting to be read to spend a single moment reading something that doesn’t fascinate you. Don’t worry if it’s been a bestseller. The most impactful books I’ve ever read were never on a bestseller list. The only thing required for a book to be good is that it appeals to YOU.
Learn what subjects intrigue you. Then dive in. No matter how obscure. Don’t try to be a well-rounded reader. When you find an author whose writing resonates with you, buy all their books (and read them). They will start to feel like a close friend.
That’s it. You just learned 90% of the rules of good reading. You’re welcome.
PS - I am always on the hunt for the best books that have never been on a bestseller list. Comment below with your top choice.
PPS - Video might get all the hype, but smart people read, and smart and good-looking ones read the most.
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max. Truly inspirational.