When it comes to reading, my goal isn’t productivity per se. Instead, I allow my curiosity to guide me, often entering a state of reflection.
Over time, this approach has led me to read more, enabling me to compound my knowledge and insights as I connect the dots from all the books I’ve read.
Yeah, I know… some of you will say, “it’s not quantity that matters! It’s quality!”
You are right, quality matters.
The problem is, how do you find quality if all you read is a handful of books per year? Suppose you read just five books a year, what are the chances that they will all be impactful?
Like investing, finding great businesses to own involves constantly flipping rocks over. Many of them will be rejected, but if you can find one or two great ideas a year, that’s all you need.
It’s the same with reading, not all books are great. However, what matters is how you approach reading, which leads me to my most important advice:
You don’t have to finish every book
Not every book deserves your time.
If a book drains you, and makes you crave for that 2x playing speed button that we so often abuse on YouTube, toss it aside.
Maybe you aren’t ready for the book yet, or perhaps the book is simply awful.
No matter what, I see many people become demoralized and abandon their reading habit when they can’t finish a book.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, it’s not your fault.
Now move on to something else, something you won’t be able to put down because of how good it is. A page-turner.
Ask yourself: what’s one thing you can apply today?
This advice is for the reading junkies, especially for those who are addicted to personal development books.
They get a high out of reading these feel good books, they feel really good and pumped about themselves after reading these.
But often, it doesn’t translate into anything meaningful in their life. The book’s only function is to act like a feel good drug, giving them the dopamine hit of having completed yet another self-help book.
Yes, dopamine from reading is better than cheap dopamine from scrolling Tik Tok but still, there’s so much untapped potential there.
Think about what’s the one thing that you can apply to improve your life today, and actually apply it to change your life for the better.
As you start accumulating and applying these tools over time, it can become a powerful force.
Join a reading community
Or find a partner who will hold you accountable.
It is often easier to maintain good habits when you have support. A shared commitment can significantly enhance your progress, whether you join a reading community or find an accountability partner.
This is the goal of the Steady Compounding Book Club, where we share insights from our readings and discuss them monthly via Zoom.
Bonus: How I read and take notes
I use a blend of listening to audiobooks, and reading ebooks on my Kindle.
Audiobooks are usually my first filter, and I always carry around a pocket notebook to scribble notes in.
The reason I like audiobooks is that they allow me to listen while I’m walking or exercising, and when the author reads them, it creates a more personal reading experience, and I can tell what’s important from the way he sounds.
I usually buy a book or ebook after listening to an audiobook that has proven to be packed with valuable insights and is of high quality. I read it slowly, line by line, letting it marinate in my mind.
I use Notion for capturing notes, and the best tip is to think about how you intend to retrieve information and work backwards from there.
Personally, I love using tags and here’s how I do it:
If you have any questions or if you would like to share any tips regarding your reading system, please let me know by commenting down below!
I would love to hear from you.
Speak soon,
Thomas
P.S. If you’re committed to enriching your life through reading, the Steady Compounding Book Club awaits you. Join us to explore transformative ideas and connect with fellow enthusiasts in our monthly discussions.
Join the Steady Compounding Book Club Now: https://steadycompounding.com/register/bookclub/