How to Read 20 Books a Year
I will admit that I read more than twenty books in a year. I don’t do this to boast but to show that with a full-time job, a wife in graduate school, and two kids, it can be done. You too can read 20 books a year.
There is value in reading as many books as possible. Brian Tracy reports: “If you read only one book per month, that will put you into the top 1% of income earners in our society. But if you read one book per week, 50 books per year, that will make you one of the best educated, smartest, most capable and highest paid people in your field. Regular reading will transform your life completely.”[1] While I am not sure where Tracy gets his statistics from, it is an interesting idea. Couple that with these statistics:
25% of people have not read a book in the last year
46% of adults score in the lowest two levels of literacy
Reading frequency declines after age eight[2
Research seems to indicate that if you read twelve books or more a year, you will be successful. But how do you do it? Just read at least thirty minutes a day. How do you do that?
Make a list of things that take up at least 30 minutes of your time every day. It could be watching TV, being on social media, etc.
Decide which you will do less of (TV watching, surfing the Internet).
Go to the bookstore, library, or Amazon and find four books that you want to read.
Pick a spot in your house where you are going to read.
Make sure no electronic devices are nearby.
Set a timer for thirty minutes, but place it where you can’t see it.
Start reading.
When the timer goes off, put the book down for tomorrow.
Another way to read for thirty minutes is while you are driving. Obviously I don’t recommend physically reading while you drive, but you can listen to a book. Audible.com or your local library can give you access to audio books that you can listen to on your phone on your way to work instead of listening to the radio or to music.
Here is my challenge: For one month. take thirty minutes a day to read and see how many books you can read or listen to. I can assure you that you won’t miss that thirty minutes at all, and you will become a better leader because of it.
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/habit-will-put-top-1-experts-money-makers/#BcMJFsCbdMhRQgk3.99
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/habit-will-put-top-1-experts-money-makers/#BcMJFsCbdMhRQgk3.99