How to Get the Most Out of Your Reading

This article outlines how to get the most out of your reading. It covers when to quit, the different levels of reading, choosing great books, improving reading comprehension and recall, and effective note-taking.

Quit Books

Good books almost read themselves. Bad books are a grind. When you pick up a good book, you feel it instantly. They are well-written, packed with ideas and insights, and well-organized. On the other hand, bad books feel like walking through mud with a wheelbarrow full of bricks. It's important to realize that you can quit bad books without guilt. Skim a lot of books, read a few, and immediately re-read the best ones twice.

Levels of Reading

There are four approaches to reading: reading to entertain, reading to inform, reading to understand, and reading to master. Most of our time should be spent between levels 2 and 3, which involve a superficial read to get the gist of things and a thorough reading where you chew on and digest the information.

Speed Reading

Reading speed is not as important as what you absorb and apply. Skim broadly to find something worth reading, then dive in slowly and deeply.

Choose Great Books

Selecting great books is crucial. New books may seem appealing, but most of them are full of fluff and won't stand the test of time. Time filters out what works from what doesn't. Focus on reading books that have proven to be valuable over time.

Taking Notes

Using the blank sheet method is the single biggest change you can make to get more out of the books you read. Before starting a new book, take out a blank sheet of paper and write down what you know about the subject. As you read, add new knowledge to the foundation and review the page before starting the next reading session. Review the binder of blank sheets periodically to establish deep fluency and connect ideas.

Additionally, taking conventional notes by summarizing main ideas, making connections, and writing unanswered questions can help improve comprehension and recall. Writing about what you read is the key to turning the experience of reading into knowledge you can use.

Reading More

Developing a reading habit is essential for continuous learning. Start with a simple 25-page a day habit. Remember that reading alone is not enough; you must also reflect and apply what you've learned.

Note: This article is a rewrite by American economist Thomas Sowell.

The original article: https://fs.blog/reading/