How to Be a Better 🤓 Reader
Our interest in reading is well summarised in a NYT article where Tina Jordan points out that good reading can help sleep, smarts and empathy! What's not to like!? So, if you want to learn, experience or laugh — read a book! Jordan lists her sevenfold strategy to successful reading as …
1. Read the Right Book 🫵
To find something good to read, decide if it's for pleasure or intellectual challenge or escapism — and go there!
Even creepy Bill Gates has recommendations! Or just go to the library.
2. Make a Reading Plan 🫵
- Set aside reading time, every day. Same time? Same place?
- Replace screen time!
- If the book's no good — stop!
- Set goals … number of, per week/month/year.
- Variety of genre/topic/author is good!
- Turn off your fucking phone!
3. Read Deeply 🫵
- Take your time — there's no rush, is there?
- Finger trace to stay focussed/awake.
- Use a dictionary.
- Reread passages you didn't grok.
- Make notes.
- At the end of a session, summarise what you've read — habitually.
4. Read Critically 🫵
- Ask questions … What techniques is the writer using?
- Critique the author's arguments.
- Creepy Bill's note taking for concentration …
5. Explore Formats 🫵
- Phone apps.
- Audio books.
- Web archives.
- eReaders, eBooks …
6. Read Socially 🫵
- Book clubs, online/in-person.
- Social media authors and groups.
- PBS, BBC, Mental health.
- Journals, reading logs.
7. Book Experiences 🫵
- Gertrude & Alice.
- Blogs.
- Literary sites.
- Pocasts: SMH, BBC, NYT.
The article is much better than our earlier post about How to Read a Book 📖 because it's much more concise! 🙂
Books can also reduce stress levels because (psychologists think) the brain has to concentrate while reading and that distraction eases tension — as little as six minutes can slow heart rate and relax muscles.
This is … an active engaging of the imagination as the words on the printed page stimulate creativity and you enter … an altered state of consciousness. Dr David Lewis, cognitive neuropsychologist.
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