You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them. Ray Bradbury
Reading for pleasure on a daily basis is a fantastic habit to get into. Most people reading this will read to some extent, but what about if you want to readmore? Here’s some advice:
Develop a daily routine – go to bed half an hour earlier or, perhaps even better, get up half an hour earlier! Having a regular time every day will form a habit which is easier to maintain that sheer willpower.
Set yourself a target – some people find aiming to read a book a week a motivational target, others to read a certain number in a year. Find what motivates you and write it down. Break it down into manageable chunks. Stick to it.
Get recommendations – there’s nothing worse than setting aside time and then not enjoying a book. Get recommendations from people you know, trust and respect. There are online communities such as Shelfari and goodreads which may help.
Read a good chunk to begin with – I find that starting a new book by reading the first 50 pages in one sitting usually makes me read it more quickly overall. Your mileage may vary, but it’s a good idea to spend some time ‘getting into’ a book.
Listen to audiobooks – if you really haven’t got time to read at the moment, try audiobooks on your commute.
Join a library – libraries loan out books for a certain period of time, meaning (although you can renew them) you’ll have to finish the books in a given time period.
Keep a list – write down the books you read, along with the date you start and finish them. Write a quick review as well – it will help you if you come across the same author again. This is a good first step before joining an online community.
Read the book of the film – I prefer reading the book before watching the film, but doing it the other way around may work if you haven’t read a book for a long period of time. You will find how reading is a much richer experience, in many ways, than watching a film.
Carry a book around with you – snatching bits of time to read a chapter whilst waiting for a train or waiting for a client is a great opportunity to read more. It saves checking your email (again!)
…and remember books are a shortcut to a wider education!
Education is Man’s going forward from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty. Kenneth Johnson
(image CC BY-NC Carlos Porto)