Most of what you learn is surface-level drivel. You never get into the meat of something because you’re trying to learn too quickly. You can’t learn well if you’re in a rush.
I start all books the same – casually. I give them a read, and if I’m interested, I highlight passages along the way. No notes, deep rumination, and definitely no book notes – YET. I’m not speed reading, but I’m also not analyzing every paragraph. That would be a waste of my time.
At the end of a book, I’ll know if it’s worth learning. That’s an important concept in knowledge management –> not all books are equal. But when you come across a good one, you have a decision to make:
- Take the time to learn from it
- Speed on to the next book
If you stick around, that means a second reading. If you’ve ever watched a murder mystery and loved the twist, you know that watching it a second time reveals the “obvious” clues you missed. Usually, its more enjoyable as you scream in delight when spotting key pieces of information.
Instead of reading many books this year, commit to learning from a few. When you come across a good one, get out your notes and get to work. And if you scream in delight when something sticks, you should celebrate. You’re now reading well.
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
