Leaders are readers

Those people who can keep up with the latest information will have the competitive edge needed to succeed, not only academically and professionally, but in other key areas of life as well. Studies show that there is a direct relationship between your ability to read and your success in life. Core message (I think?): You don’t have to study the individual brushstrokes of a work of art in order to appreciate it. You don’t have to study each and every word in a book, to realize its value. Eric Schmidt, CEO Google: “There were 5 exabytes of information created between the dawn of civilization through 2003, but that much information is now created every 2 days.

1. The benefits of reading

• Improved vocabulary and language skills: When you encounter new words while reading, you can look up their definitions to learn their meanings. Seeing a word used in context can also help you understand how to use it correctly.

• Increased knowledge and understanding: Reading about different subjects and ideas can expose you to new concepts and ways of thinking, which can broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the world.

• Improved concentration and focus: Reading requires you to pay attention to the words on the page and understand their meaning. This can help improve your ability to concentrate and focus on a task for an extended period of time.

• Better writing skills: Reading exposes you to different writing styles and techniques, which can inspire you to try new approaches in your own writing. Reading can also help you develop a sense of what makes for effective communication on the page.

• Relaxation and stress reduction: Reading can be a relaxing and enjoyable activity that takes your mind off of your daily stresses and worries. It can be a form of escapism that helps you relax and unwind.

• Improved empathy and social skills: Reading about the experiences of others can help you understand and relate to people who have different backgrounds and life experiences. This can improve your social skills and ability to connect with others.

• Improved memory: Reading requires you to remember information, such as characters, plot points, and settings. This can help improve your overall memory function. When you read, you are constantly taking in new information and trying to understand it. This process of actively engaging with the material can help improve your memory function.

• Increased creativity: Reading exposes you to new ideas and ways of thinking, which can inspire you to come up with creative solutions to problems. Reading about new ideas and concepts can inspire you to think creatively and come up with original solutions to problems.

• Improved analytical thinking and problem-solving skills: Reading often requires you to think critically about what you are reading, which can help improve your analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• reading kicks your brain into gear. When you read, you’re using your brain for many functions at once – which is a vigorous and rewarding workout. An incomparable level of mental exercise, and the brain is always a muscle that gets stronger the more you challenge it.

• reading improves your memory

• reading improves your focus

• reading improves your vocabulary

• reading improves your imagination

• reading improves your understanding

When to read?

When it comes to reading books, timing is everything. Studies have shown that reading before bedtime can actually make it harder for you to fall asleep, as the mental stimulation from the book can keep your brain active and alert.

On the other hand, reading in the morning or during the day can be a great way to start your day off on the right foot. Not only does it help wake up your brain, but it also sets the tone for a productive and focused day ahead. Plus, reading in the morning can help you establish a healthy morning routine and make it easier to stick to your goals.

But when it comes to the best time to read for your brain, it's all about finding the right balance. While reading in the morning or during the day can be beneficial, it's also important to make time for relaxation and winding down before bed.

One option is to set aside dedicated time for reading during the day, and then switch to a more relaxing activity before bed, such as listening to calming music or practicing mindfulness. This can help signal to your brain that it's time to relax and prepare for sleep.

Ultimately, the key is to find what works best for you and your schedule. Experiment with different times of day to see when you feel the most focused and engaged, and then make that your designated reading time. And remember, the most important thing is to make reading a regular part of your routine, whether it's in the morning, during the day, or before bed. Happy reading!

2. How to read: why is speed reading important?

Most common challenges to reading in general / shortcomings regular reading:

1. Regression (back skipping)

2. outdated skills (primary school level)

3. Subvocalization (= the inner voice reading as well, it limits your max to a few hundreds of words).

Myths about speed reading

1. Faster readers don’t comprehend well (compare to riding a car, you don’t allow to drift your mind away, give it stimulus)

2. It’s harder and takes more effort to read fast. Slow reading is much more draining (Stopping at words, reread them etc). Faster readers put in less time and get more out of the process.

3. Faster readers can’t appreciate reading. You don’t have to study the individual brushstrokes of a work of art in order to appreciate it. You don’t have to study each and every word in a book, to realize its value.

How to read faster:

Speed reading is a reading technique that involves reading text quickly while still trying to understand and retain as much of the material as possible. There are a few key techniques that can help you speed read:

1. Previewing the material: Before you start reading, take a few minutes to look over the material and get a sense of what it is about. This can help you better understand the main points and what to look for as you read.

2. Skimming: As you read, look for key words and phrases that help summarize the main points. Skimming can help you get a sense of the overall structure and content of the material.

3. Using a pacer: A pacer is an object that you use to guide your eye as you read. It can be a finger, a pen, or a bookmark. Moving the pacer down the page can help you read more quickly and avoid re-reading material.

4. Eliminating distractions: Eliminating distractions such as music, TV, and social media can help you focus on the material and read more quickly.

5. VISUALIZE the words, don’t say them out loud in your head. Words are symbols as well.

6. Counting. Count while reading and you will stop saying the words out loud. You will focus on what you see and not hear!! This takes practice, comprehension can drop in beginning, but soon your mind will stop counting and you will see words instead of reading

7. Peripheral vision Expand your Peripheral vision, Your mind is capable to see the connection between a group of words. You don’t have to read every letter to understand a word in an instant, you don’t need to read every word to read a sentence. To expand vision:

There are many online resources that can help you learn speed reading, including tutorials, videos, and apps. Some websites that offer speed reading resources include Spreeder and 7 Speed Reading. It's also a good idea to practice reading a variety of materials, as this can help you improve your speed reading skills and build your overall reading comprehension.

Reading is like exercising:

• Read comfortably and set finish line after 4 minutes.

• Set alarm for 3 minutes and reach line

• 2 minutes, use finger and follow your finger as fast as possible. Go through it line by line

• Final: 1 minute. Do not skip any line, and don’t worry about comprehension right now.

• Now breath: set your timer for 2 minutes. Start from your finish line to read a new section. Read at a comfortable rate with comprehension. Count the number of lines you read, x words per line, / 2.

• Faster right? Compare with driving 150 en dan ineens 100. Same principals apply for reading.

• It's a good idea to practice speed reading exercises at least once a day to help improve your skills. Be sure to set aside dedicated time for practice, and try to eliminate distractions so you can focus on the material. As you become more comfortable with speed reading, try increasing the speed at which you read. Gradually push yourself to read faster, while still trying to understand the material. Monitor your progress by timing yourself as you read, and aim to improve your speed over time. It's also important to practice reading a variety of materials, including fiction and non-fiction, to help improve your overall reading comprehension and speed reading skills. Keep practicing until you reach a level that you are pleased and satisfied with.

3. How to read: remember everything you read

4. What to read

Yakshit shared a list of websites that offer a variety of interesting articles and information. The first website, http://thedecisionlab.com, offers articles that help individuals become better decision-makers and offers case studies on behavioral science concepts. The second website, http://sciencedaily.com, offers the latest studies on science and technology, health and wellness, and space and time. The third website, http://lifehack.org, offers life hacks on topics such as brain power, relationships, and happiness. The fourth website, http://thoughtco.com, offers articles on STEM, humanities, and languages and resources to learn more. The fifth website, http://waitbutwhy.com, offers articles on fascinating topics. The sixth website, http://dailystoic.com, offers daily lessons on the philosophy of Stoicism. The seventh website, http://medium.com, is a platform where experienced and aspiring writers can share their work on any topic. The eighth website, http://wikipedia.com, offers information on famous people, places, monuments, and awards. The ninth website, http://readsomethinginteresting.com, recommends articles based on the reader's preferences.

5. Take a reading skill assessment

Here are a few websites that offer reading assessments or tests:

1. The Literacy Company - https://www.theliteracycompany.com/products/reading-tests/

2. Renaissance - https://www.renaissance.com/products/star-reading/

3. Lexile - https://www.lexile.com/fab/

4. Scholastic - https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/student-assessment/

5. Edmentum - https://www.edmentum.com/reading-assessments

These websites offer a variety of reading assessments for different age groups and skill levels, from basic reading assessments for young children to more advanced assessments for older students and adults. It's important to note that these assessments are not always free, some of them need to be purchased or you need to have an account to access them.

6. Final remarks

Conclusion

Quiz

How to apply this in your life

1. Reading self-assessment, set alarm, and read comfortable. Count words (three lines / 3 * lines). On average 150-250 words per minute. Try again now with visual pacer: give your reading the finger. Do the speed reading exercises and apply tips & tricks from Jim Kwik (see Reading doc.). Plan them daily.

2. Identify a current reading habit that you’d like to change. Any transformation requires you to acknowledge what’s holding you back and notice when it shows up during your practice.

3. Practice reading with a visual pacer each day. Schedule your reading, for even 10 minutes a day, to build your ‘reading muscle’.

4. Make a list of books you would like to read this month and write down what can change inf your life when you finish reading them.

5. Take the free speed-reading online masterclass at www.jimkwik.com/reading

Food for thought

Expand your understanding