3 Tips For Better Reading

One of the most popular blog posts I ever wrote was The 9 Secrets To Successful Reading.

As good as that post is, it’s a little long and who can remember 9 steps anyway?

In this post, I want to share with you 3 simple tips for getting the most from a book so you can get the greatest benefit for yourself and others.

First, a quick distinction between active and passive reading.

One time I was listening to a Jim Rohn audio and he said,

“Most people are just trying to get through the day.  Here’s what I want to challenge you to do.  Don’t just get through the day, get from the day.’

I think that’s great advice and can apply equally as well to reading.

Many people read just to get through the book.

This is passive reading.

Others read to get from the book.

This is active reading.

Big difference.

So here are 3 quick tips so you can be more of an active reader.

Tip #1 –  When you read, sit upright at a desk with a light and a pen or pencil in hand. 

If you’re serious about your reading in this way, your reading will be serious about giving you the greatest return.

Tip #2 – Take Notes or – At least Highlight or Underline the passages that speak to you.

When I read, I love to underline the words that jump from the pages, slap me in the face and say ‘HEY YOU, This is GOOD stuff.  Pay attention to me and remember me.’

You know what I’m talking about right?

Those little gems that seem like they were written just for you.

If you underline or highlight those passages, you’re more likely to remember them and even extra likely, if you come back to skim the book later and you see those special words standing out for your review.

Tip #3 Utilize Basic Speed Reading Techniques at the right time and in the right way

‘Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.’ -Francis Bacon

Not all material is worthy of your serious time, thought, and attention.

Some of what your read may be unnecessary fluff, or things you already know well.

It’s for material such as this that some simple speedreading can come in handy.

In addition to be sitting upright at a desk when you read there’s one more very simple technique that can dramatically increase the speed at which you consume information.

As you read, if you’ll place your index finger beneath the words and scan the sentence with your eyes following along, you’ll notice that your finger can pull your eyes along faster than they would move by themselves.

This will give you your first bump in speed.

The next bump will come when you realize that the mind can process information much faster than the mouth can verbalize that information.

The mind has a habit of internally verbalizing everything you read.

With some practice, you’ll come to find that this is not necessary.

Dropping the internal verbalization of the words you read – and allowing the mind to pick up the informatmion as the finger scans, can give you another big increase in speed.

I picked these little speedreading gems up from The Evelyne Wood Seven Day Speed Reading and Learning Program.

They work wonders.

Hope these tips help as you continue your journey to freedom, enlightenment and beyond.  🙂