If there’s one trick I know of for improving my reading immediately, it’s this: to think before I put the book down for the day.
After a reading session, it’s tempting to close the book and move on to other tasks, meetings, etc. Instead, hit pause for a few moments and think about what you’ve read. Specifically, ask yourself any one of the following questions:
- What did I just read? What happened in the book?
- Why does it matter?
- What is something I learned that I don’t want to forget?
- How can I use what I just read in my day today?
- Who do I know that could also benefit from this?
If we’re going to be better readers, we must become better thinkers. If all we do is READ, READ, READ, and we never actually think, then we’re missing 90% of the book.
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
