How I Caught The Reading Virus
(Or, How to Read Lots of Books and Get Ahead)
A common refrain whenever I tell people I read at least a book per week is:
“How do you have time to read? I certainly don’t!”.
But in my mind, I know they do. I know they have the time to read a lot more books than they currently are. I know they have time to invite knowledge, power, inspiration and escape into their lives. I know they have the desire to transform their thinking and forge new pathways to better lives.
They just don’t know how.
I Think I Can Help. (Actually, I Know I Can Help)
Not because I’m a genius or anything but because long ago, I recognized that books are one of the greatest sources of value on the planet. Since then, I’ve lived my life accordingly, reading voraciously… just like some of the great visionaries of our time: Bill Gates, Cornel West, Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Arianna Huffington and Warren Buffet.
I don’t speed read and I don’t skim. And I read, on average, a few books per week, a habit I’ve had since childhood. I’m not Bill Gates (I am a full-time freelancer and there aren’t many spare hours in my week), but I like to think I’m like him in one way: I am an autodidact, a self-learner. Books are like honey nectar to me. Reading is my love language.
I Blame My Dad...
A bookish university administrator, he’d read book after book in his study. He’d hunker down in his favorite red lounge chair, fill the air with jazz and blues in the background, and savor the joys of reading into the wee hours of the morning.
As a child, I learned from watching my Dad that books give you the ability to reach a higher ground in your life. Regardless if you’re a business leader, a stay-at-home parent, a lawyer, or a master chef, a foundation in books and reading will give you a better understanding of the world and the people who move around within it.
With my Dad’s legacy forever present, I’ve read hundreds of books. I’ve had careers as a healthcare administrator, consultant, speaker, and journalist. And just like me, many successful people cite their love of reading as a key element in how they got to where they are today.
“If you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune”
That’s one of my favorite quotes, and it pretty much sums up how reading plays a big part in successful people’s lives. Jim Rohn, a great thought leader, and business philosopher said it, and I’ve always kept that sentiment close to my heart, just like a mantra.
It’s important to note that he uses the word “work”. Reading is a commitment. As John Irving once said, “Good habits are worth being fanatical about”.
So as you can see, I learned this from my Dad and was then encouraged by the words of people like Jim Rohn. Page by page, we are exposed to new ideas that can transform us. Oprah Winfrey saw books as an escape from a childhood of poverty and abuse. She worked her way from a Mississippi farm to a career in radio to TV and to the communications empire she reigns over today. But “success expansion” isn’t the only reason to read books. She also encourages us to read because it opens us up and gives us access to worlds beyond our own beginnings.
Let me break it down for you...
Great Books, Great Minds: The 7 “Why’s Of Personal Expansion, One Page At A Time.”
I have personally experienced seven reasons to make time for reading and commit myself to absorb all the knowledge and insight I can. Here they are.
1. Success Expansion
Oprah’s story is a perfect illustration of how reading can launch you on a path to success. According to Fast Company, the average CEO reads more than a book per week. And everyone knows that Warren Buffett, one of the most successful people on the planet, advises everyone to read “500 pages… every day That's how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”
2. Wealth Expansion
Success isn’t always defined in terms of money but if you poll the wealthiest people on earth, one thing they all have in common is reading book after book. From self-improvement books to autobiographies — they seem to inhale knowledge and exhale money.
3. Brain Expansion
Today’s digital world is designed to shove short, easily-digestible snippets in front of busy readers who rarely have time for anything but shallow skimming. But to get the real benefits, the life-altering, bootstrapping kind of benefits we’re talking about, we all need to aim higher than that. Folks, make time to do a deep-dive into good books. We don’t have to settle for merely skimming the headlines. And we shouldn’t, either. Science confirms that reading has a positive influence on your brain: blood flows to it, improving the brain’s functioning and connectivity; moreover, it has been proven that this functioning improves for days! So, read books — and your brain will function better.
4. Life Expansion
Reading provides the best foundation for becoming a better human being. That entails having emotional intelligence, understanding the scope of human history and our place in that timeline, and respecting the abundance of cultures we come into contact throughout our lives. It’s also the foundation for future life expansion — reading is the basis for future learning. It helps us interact with one another because it helps us become more self-aware.
This is because, believe it or not, reading helps our ability to ask good questions. When we ask questions, we learn new perspectives from the answers we get.
I’ll tell you how it worked for me. When I first realized the extent of my personal finance troubles several years ago, my first reaction was to go to the library and grab a giant pile of personal finance books. Some of those books were utterly forgettable. Others offered really good practical advice.
Since then, reading about personal finance and self-improvement has been a constant activity in my life, both because it’s a passion of mine and because doing so expands my perspective.
5. Stress Reduction
Reading is magical: it can expand your mind and it can also serve to control the chaos that leads to stress. Oprah said it best: reading is an escape. Use it as a diversion to help you deal, when you need a temporary distraction… a break from the world.
Reading a great book is a luxurious escape, an indulgence that you should offer yourself every day. It’s good for your soul and great for stress management if you make time to step away from your problems for a few moments and enjoy the beauty of good writing, in whatever form that may be.
6. Life Pivots
We’ve all had some big life changes to grapple with… one mine came in 1993 when my mother died. That year, I also transitioned from a career in health care. Books offered perspectives that were pivotal in getting through these changes: they taught me to focus first on myself.
7. Expanded Diversion
Finally, we all need diversions from the banality of life. Like an enchanting movie that takes you to another place, books can transport us, elevating us above some of the less inspiring moments in life.
For example, I was recently at the grocery store amid the Coronavirus crisis. There was a long line and I was happy to stand in that line because I had a book with me. Always carrying a book means you can read while sipping coffee at a cafe — it’s portable. Here in Denver, we have some of the finest parks anywhere, another opportunity to read. As a result, I’m never in a hurry because I know I can grab a few moments to read whenever I’m forced to wait in line or whenever I have some time to kill.
Carry a book with you wherever you go!
5 Simple Steps for Finding the Time to Read
Now that you’ve read the “Why’s Of Personal Expansion, One Page At A Time” and you’re fired up to get reading every day, let’s capitalize on that energy and go over some practical tips for getting started.
As promised, here’s my advice for always being able to find time to read.
Read what you love. I used to read the classics, thinking I’d get something out of them. I read Proust, for example. Mostly, what I experienced was boredom and I didn’t learn much, either. I also realized that I was spending less time reading because I wasn’t looking forward to it. Don’t read what you think you’re supposed to read. Read books that bring your mind alive.
Publically commit yourself to read. Use social media to announce your plans to read more books. Start an email list with friends who’d appreciate hearing your book reviews. Join Goodreads and connect with me there. For anything that gives you confidence and adds a little social pressure to strengthen your drive to read more.
Save time & effort with lists. The global proliferation of published books has led to a massive repository of knowledge for the everyday person to tap into. With so many eye-opening cover titles and captivating themes, how does one sort through this avalanche of intellectual capital nuggets of wisdom to capture deep insights for expanding our lives and endeavors? Lists. Check out Goodreads, Maria Popova’s site Brainpickingsblog, or any curated list that suits your interests and follow their recommendations.
Fill up all your random moments with reading. You don’t have to sit down and read for hours per day in order to reach your reading goals. Read inline. Read while you’re waiting for the train. Read while you’re waiting for your toast to pop up. Listen to an audiobook while you drive. Examine your typical day and you’ll find tons of spare minutes… they add up.
Be a quitter, when it’s called for. You’ll be surprised to learn how many people aren’t able to quit a book when it’s not living up to their expectations. That’s nonsense! Quitting a bad book means you have more time to start chipping away at that “global proliferation of published books” mentioned earlier!
The bottom line: reading can change your life but to reap the benefits good books offer you, you’ll have to make a strong commitment. An investment of time is an indicator of how valuable something is to you. Insight, perspective, transformation, success, growth… it’s all there for you with the power of reading.
