Reading is one of the best ways to advance your life. Over thousands of years of human history our species has accumulated vast knowledge, much of which is available on the internet. Most new books and many old books are coming out in digital formats. If you aren’t in the habit of reading, you should start.
As a general rule I’ve been reading about a book a month for several years. Since I started reading on my Kindle app (iPad/iPhone) its closer to a book a week. On top of this I read a dozen or more articles a day related to U.S. Government, international politics, technology, investing, immigration, race, game, sports, achievement and other subjects that interest me. I check out most of the writers in my blogroll weekly if not daily.
One thing I’m changing about my reading is to read less low-value material. These are mostly sports and entertainment articles that have little practical application to my life. Many people only read sports or entertainment-related content and while they may be knowledgeable on those subjects, unless you make a living as a sports broadcaster or celebrity gossip, then it’s close to worthless. It’s fine to catch up on your local sports team or read about an upcoming movie but I think 5 minutes a day is more than enough.
Getting a tablet/e-reader is a must for really convenient reading (which means you’re more likely to do it). Kindle editions of books are almost always cheaper than physical books, they take up no space, you can make highlights that sync across other devices and you can take your tablet anywhere. I’ve started moving some stuff back from my apartment to my parents house in anticipation of a big move I’m making to Europe in August. The heaviest and most cumbersome things to move besides furniture are boxes of books. If I had 3 wishes I think one of them would be to make all my books instantly digital.
For some great suggestions on what types of books to read check out Roosh’s book reviews. Roosh is a voracious reader and a good example of someone who reads broadly, including history, biography, psychology, personal growth, etc. If you want to be a specialist in your field you should concentrate on relevant books, but truly expanding your understanding means challenging yourself to study unfamiliar subjects. Do you love history? Check out a book on physics. Great at math? Read a book on American history.
Pushing yourself to learn through reading is one of the most satisfying things you can do. One downside is that you’ll see how many people you know waste their brains on TV.
I’m getting rid of my TV.
