I try to get digital versions (books are a major pain in the ass to move once you get about 10 or so), and take notes. Audiobooks are nice, and you can listen to them at 1.5x or even 2x the speed to save time. How to read a book is nice as well. Most of the speed reading stuff out there isn't very useful, and it basically comes down to a tradeoff between retention rates and time spent reading.
Tips For Doing Large Quantities Of Reading?
- Thread starter Jimmy Clayton
- Start date
If it's some kind of business literature I'm reading and I like what I read - I'll just rip that whole page out and stick it in the binder.
Dats cuz I'm honest with myself like that and I know I will probably never go back to that book again just to look up "that one thing".
Dats cuz I'm honest with myself like that and I know I will probably never go back to that book again just to look up "that one thing".
Don't accumulate books. You have to super carefully evaluate each book before deciding if it is worth the investment of reading it. Then read one at a time. I think it was Tim Ferris who said only read one non-fiction book at a time.
I'd recommend just reading 4 Hour Workweek then stop reading altogether, that's what I did. I just pay a guy to read menus and street signs and shit for me, can't be bothered these days. Good luck bros.
Also cancel your membership to the War Room and you'll feel way less overwhelmed.
I'd recommend just reading 4 Hour Workweek then stop reading altogether, that's what I did. I just pay a guy to read menus and street signs and shit for me, can't be bothered these days. Good luck bros.
Also cancel your membership to the War Room and you'll feel way less overwhelmed.
Well, nowadays I read paper books only when there's no internet or electricity for some reason. Only one at a time and usually read them in one or two sittings, even long ones. I mostly just pick them at random from my quite large heirloom collection of old but good books.
I know what you mean about older books. Most of the books I read don't have audiobooks available for them and it sucks.
I break my reading into diff categories. I have the really good stuff which is usually older and only available in book or ebook format. I go through these slower and highlight and take notes on these. I am also very picky about which physical books I read since they take up more time.
I have more up to date books on stuff like marketing and business where I listen to them on audiobook at the gym every morning. These are more easy listening and I grind through them much quicker than my physical books. I am less picky about what I listen to on audiobook.
Then I listen to different things while at work on the computer depending on my mood and the task. Sometimes interviews and sometimes music.
I stop reading books when I find myself wanting to read another book more. It's mainly based around which book has top priority at the time.
I read multiple books at once usually and taking notes on them helps me come back later and focus on the main concepts.
Like others have said, I think you can over-read to the point where you need to just stop and start grinding some stuff out. I tend to go in phases between heavy reading and then no reading for a while. If I feel like reading I read. If I don't feel like reading or I feel overwhelmed I take a break and do something that I do feel like doing. I think you get to a point where all the books start to sound the same and it is less about reading and more about doing.
I break my reading into diff categories. I have the really good stuff which is usually older and only available in book or ebook format. I go through these slower and highlight and take notes on these. I am also very picky about which physical books I read since they take up more time.
I have more up to date books on stuff like marketing and business where I listen to them on audiobook at the gym every morning. These are more easy listening and I grind through them much quicker than my physical books. I am less picky about what I listen to on audiobook.
Then I listen to different things while at work on the computer depending on my mood and the task. Sometimes interviews and sometimes music.
I stop reading books when I find myself wanting to read another book more. It's mainly based around which book has top priority at the time.
I read multiple books at once usually and taking notes on them helps me come back later and focus on the main concepts.
Like others have said, I think you can over-read to the point where you need to just stop and start grinding some stuff out. I tend to go in phases between heavy reading and then no reading for a while. If I feel like reading I read. If I don't feel like reading or I feel overwhelmed I take a break and do something that I do feel like doing. I think you get to a point where all the books start to sound the same and it is less about reading and more about doing.
^^^^^ This
+ Stop looking for shortcuts. Speed reading lessens retention. You should read to learn, so then read and focus on learning, not on finishing books. Your question reminds me of fat people who ask 'how to lose weight?' or people who ask 'how do I make money online?' when they know god damn well how to do it, they just want a fucking short cut that doesn't involve much effort. Get over it, put in the effort or stock dicking around and accept that you won't put in the effort because you are lazy.
If you make a habit of reading, you will read faster eventually, at your own natural rhythm... not some fake rhythm designed to help college kids who have no desire to read finish a book they need to read for a test.
Also, reading multiple books is awesome if you have the discipline to finish them (especially mixing very long books with short ones) I do that now. But when I started reading seriously I stuck to one book at at time and didn't pick up or buy a new one until I finished the one I was on.
Agreed. 4 Hour Workweek changed my views on reading. I try to work more and read less (or not at all). There are many other great concepts in the book for being efficient too. I highly recommend it.
Usually left to right. Starting at the top of the page. That's just me though.
You know, I don't know where shit like this comes from...
In my OP, I pretty much say, "I accumulate information faster than I can go through and digest it" and ask for tips on how to better manage my time in regards to this.
And i'm getting shit like..."Stop looking for shortcuts", "Stop dicking around", "try cracking the cover, lazy fucking poser" etc.
The ones making comments like this seem to be the worst at reading comprehension and should probably be looking for tips themselves. If you read my OP and thought to yourself, "This guys lazy, looking for shortcuts, etc" you are probably a thick-skulled douchenozzle yourself who has the intellectual capacity of a steamed carrot, thus rendering your opinions useless.
/Rant
Everyone else - thanks for the help.
I feel patient today: I think you don't understand the image you created in other people's minds with some of your wording. Let me try to transpose this for you to see if you can see it from our perspective:
Even if the person posting this was a fitness freak who really did eat, exercise and sleep well, what mental image would come to your mind when reading that? Yeap, a lazy fuck trying to lose weight via shortcuts. We got the same mental images from your words.
It isn't a lack of understanding on our part. It is about prejudices, also known as common sense. People who write the words you just wrote send signals that based on previous experiences, most people will associate with lazy fucks who buy books to be trendy.
It is quite common, so it isn't like we are reacting to a non-existing phenomena.
Here is a tip for you, instead of thinking everyone is crazy/nasty/stupid for inferring certain concepts based on what you are saying, why don't you look at how you said what you said, and you will understand why we are inferring what we did, and then improve your communication skills. Or not. You can always just continue to communicate poorly and call people who don't understand your poor communication an 'idiot'. No sweat off my brow.
Now to answer your stupid questions (I say stupid because none of the answers we give should affect you, you are a unique person and should get to know yourself, accept yourself and live within the limitations/strong points of your unique persona instead of looking at others for a standard by which to guide your life)
I read in the bathroom, before I go to bed, when I want to relax or get my mind off shit. It is a habit, so it kinda just happens by itself, not something you 'manage'. I don't watch TV, so unless I want to look for a good movie (a time consuming process) I just pick up whatever book I have handy.
I read multiple books IF I'm reading a big book (900+ page). No particular category. But I do combine it with a small one/short stories/easy reading (think self help/business advice, etc)
Both, I have a list of books I want to read, and sometimes I add new ones. Sometimes I go with old ones on my list, sometimes with new ones. It really depends on how I feel and what I want to read. Sometimes I want classic literature, sometimes newer less well known authors, sometimes self help, sometimes business, etc.
Depends on my mood. Generally it doesn't take me more than a week to finish a book. But I have no rush. I read to enjoy/learn, so I focus on that.
I'm very selective before I pick up a book, so this doesn't happen often.
If the book was recommended to me by someone I know IRL, and I started it, I'll finish it just so I can give a reply. Sometimes I'll skim through it.
If it was something I found online and I find it too trashy, I'll skim it a bit and then just give it away.
No, actually. Prejudice is not also known as common sense.
Prejudice
"An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the fact"
Common Sense
"Sound judgment not based on specialized knowledge; native good judgment."
Based on your personal evaluation of the "fitness product transposition", it seems as though you are a cynic and have a negative opinion of others. You have my sympathy.
You keep on speaking in the collective "we", yet you and one other poster were the only ones who had a problem. Maybe you refer to yourself as "we", or maybe you are the spokesperson for WF...I don't know
Well, do you know most people in this thread immediately thought I was a "lazy fuck"? I know you had that thought, but how can you read other peoples minds? Or are you the type of person who thinks, "Well, I think this way, so most other people should/do too..."
And buying books to be "trendy"? Quite common? What planet are you living on?
Thinking everyone is crazy/nasty/stupid? There were 2 or 3 negative responses in this thread. If everyone were saying "Jimmy Clayton is fucking lazy" then yea, but they aren't. There were quite a few people here who understood what I said based on their responses.
You seem to be one of the few who can't seem to get past my "poor" communication and understand what I am trying to get at. I insulted you because you implied I was lazy and looking for a shortcut, which is sooo far off base.
I like to learn from others. If there is someone who had the same problem as me and found a solution that worked for them, guess what? I may give it a shot because it may work for me too.
Asking questions and getting advice from others in hopes of helping your own situation does not equal "looking at others for a standard by which to guide your life"
And anyways, thanks for your answers.
I'm not looking to get into a back and forth thing here with you. If I stepped over the line with my insult, then I am man enough to apologize for it. But I do not take lightly to people implying I am looking for shortcuts and am lazy, because that couldn't be further from the truth.
This. How do!? If I could stop saying every stupid word in my head as I write too, I could probably triple my output.