As a child Aryan was always teased for his reading habits, spending large chunks of his day engrossed in books. He was made fun of and called a bookworm . Though he tried to turn a blind-eye to this mockery, he would get upset at times and would complain to his Mom. But he was not discouraged, he continued reading, got smarter by the day and became a great scholar when he grew up. Sounds relatable? We all have a bookworm in us, but unlike Aryan, we lose the habit of reading at some point in our childhood. While we do read our study books, but not the non-fiction books which are so essential for learning. In today’s ultra competitive world, the importance of reading cannot be stressed enough. Be it a school kid, a college grad, a youth who has just entered the corporate world or are well-established in your career, no matter what stage of life you are in, reading is what keeps you informed, active-minded and prepared for almost every situation of life. While the importance of reading a book is known to all, very few actually are aware of the right way of doing so. This article sheds light on the same. Though the references are more of non-fiction books, the suggested ideas can be applied to almost every realm of reading.
“Because while everyone can read a book, not everyone can read it right.”
Let’s dive right into some of the ways you can develop your reading habits:
1. Finding your Right Book: The primary concern of a novice reader is how to select the right book for reading. There is a vast sea of extremely good books from extremely amazing writers out there, and to choose a drop from this sea is in itself a tough task. While almost every book you read will provide some value to you, not all of them will exactly suit you and your needs. Your process of book selection should be based on what you expect to gain from your reading. For instance, if you are someone wanting to add some discipline in your life ‘Power of Habits’ might be a good pick for you, whereas if you are willing to take your first dive into the world of personal finances ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ could be the one that suits your needs. What can also help is going through the back cover of the book or even looking at the index to gain a little more insight into the books before fixating your eyes on one. A fellow mate recently suggested an app called Blinkist to further ease the selection process. It provides you with summaries and highlights of various books and if something interests you, Voila! You’ve completed the most important step and are set to start your reading spree.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me”- C.S. Lewis
“Take a good book to bed with you- Books do not snore.”
“Why waste a good book by reading it at a wrong time.”
Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” – Anna Quindlen
- Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life – The book talks about various ways that help the readers find the purpose of their life and how to make the best of their living.
- How to Win Friends and Influence People – One of the classic books there is that teaches you the techniques and methods to handle people, make them like you and to win people to your ways of thinking.
- The Power of Now – This book will help you realise and understand the essence of being a human and discusses various tricks of the mind to push oneself to greater limits.