How To Get More Out Of Your Reading
Whether it is for leisure, learning or work
One of the most common pieces of advice authors impart to hopeful writers, second to putting pen to paper daily, is to read voraciously; whilst there are no shortage of people giving writing advice, tips and techniques, very few discuss how to read effectively. I find this strange, and thoroughly believe that we could all do with a little guidance in how to get more out of the books we consume, myself included. What’s more, I don’t think this merely applies to aspiring authors, but to anyone and everyone who reads semi-frequently or wants to.
Moreover, to determine how to get the most out of a book, you need to establish why you are reading in the first place; if you are doing so purely for escapism and leisure, your approach will probably differ from someone reading a specific book to help them write an essay. In this article, I will not pronounce judgement on either type of reading, or boldly assert that reading for learning is better than that for leisure. If anything, I sympathise with the 16th century Essayist Montaigne when he said:
“I am not prepared to bash my brains for anything, not even for learning’s sake however precious it may be. From books all I seek is to give myself pleasure by an honourable pastime… If I come across difficult passages in my reading I never bite my nails over them: after making a charge or two I let them be… If one book wearies me I take up another.”
With that being said, there is a time and a season for all types of reading, and none of them are mutually exclusive. In the following piece I have tried to offer suggestions that can help every type of reader with every kind of motivation, be it leisure, learning or something else entirely. Continuing, the techniques suggested here are useful for those looking to extract actionable lessons, expand their thinking, retain the information they consume and overcome “readers block”. With this in mind, let’s dive in:
Discuss the books you read with others
A book read and not discussed is half-experienced and half-understood; discussing literature allows you to get alternative interpretations, to explore ideas and to challenge your own beliefs regarding a book. With this in mind, make an effort to discuss the books you have read once you finish them, whether that be online, in person or over-the-phone. This could simply be discussing it with a friend, or it could mean joining a book club.
Teach others what you have read
The best measure of your understanding of a topic is whether you can teach it to someone else. With this in mind, try telling a friend what the book you have read was about (omit spoilers) and it’s central message and themes. Teaching what you have read is a great way to discover the gaps in your own knowledge. Developing a habit of teaching books to others forces you to be more thorough whilst reading. If you don’t have anyone to discuss a book with, then summarise the book in a blog post or in a journal- this challenges you to condense a book into its central argument and to note its salient points.
Highlight and annotate texts
Take the time to actively engage and dialogue with a text, as opposed to merely passively consuming a book. On this point, many of us only read as part of a bedtime ritual, a set-up which encourages one to read without engaging their mind too much. There is nothing wrong with this per se, but make time to study a text as well, as you might have done at school. This kind of reading can enhance your understanding of a book and will actually ensure that it’s message stays with you for longer. It’s especially helpful in preparing you to discuss or teach a text.
Keep a notepad next to you whilst reading
Use this notepad to write down points of interest and words or names that you wish to research further– being able to put images to a book can enhance your reading experience, particularly if the book occurs in a different culture or time from your own. Additionally, if you are struggling with a passage, write it down and mark it with a question mark. It can be easy to skip over passages in a book which are difficult, but this approach means you never develop your knowledge.
You don’t have to tackle the tough passage at that moment in time, but by making a note of it, you can come back at a later date and try to conquer it. A notepad is preferable to having your phone by your side because it is less likely to distract you from the book, however, a phone can be great for searching images to help visualise a scene. I’ve even sketched in books before in an attempt to visualise characters and spaces.
Read the books referenced on topics that interest you
Oftentimes, books beget books. What I mean by this is that in most books, particularly non-fiction, numerous other pieces of work will be cited to make a point, and these texts will be displayed in the bibliography. Furthermore, some books even lay out further reading at the end of each chapter. If you enjoy a book and find it particularly entertaining or compelling, follow the author’s signposts to read the books that made it possible. Think of it like the suggested list you get on Netflix. On numerous occasions I have discovered books this way; who’s recommendation can you trust more than a great author?
Read outside of your comfort zone
As I have written about before, it can be easy to allow our bookshelves to become homogeneous, and all too tempting to select work from authors who share our own beliefs and confirm our worldviews. This is understandable, but make an effort to challenge your confirmation bias by allowing opposing ideas onto your bookshelf. In a world defined by digital echo chambers, don’t allow your bookshelf to become one too.
Balance the old and the new
C.S. Lewis, the author of Narnia and famous Christian apologist, authoritatively stated that:
“It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new one.”
Lewis noted that when students are studying Plato or some other ancient luminary, they almost always choose books by modern scholars talking about the book. He attributes this to a fear of meeting the great philosophers and thinkers head on. Comically, noted Lewis, it is the modern writers discussing the Plato’s or Aristotle’s who are often more unintelligible than them. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to go straight to the original classics.
Whatever your motivation for reading, I hope these small practical steps will help you to get- and retain- more out of the books you read.
