I’ve been sharing some thoughts with you on The Reader’s Edge, and we’ve been looking at how reading sharpens your opportunities for success. First, we examined a few general guidelines:
- Create a Reading Plan
- Periodically Reread a Good Book
- Read Consistently
- Read in Stages
Now, it’s time to look at some guidelines that will make your reading more productive. These tools will power your reading and take you to the next level. Let’s get started:
- Multiphasic Reading: Read several things at once. Unlike reading in stages, where you focus on one topic for an extended period of time, you now focus daily on multiple areas in a much shorter period of time (1 – 4 weeks). You’ll be surprised at the connections your brain makes. I recommend not focusing on more than six areas at a time. Every month, I take a look at my 3-year Master Reading List, and compile a list of reading materials from 4-6 of these classification areas (more on this below): Classic or Contemporary Novels; Poetry or Short Stories; Biographical Current Events or Topics; Historical; Leadership and Productivity; An Area of Personal Interest or Specialization; Psychological, Self-Help, or Spiritual.
- Swift Reading: Some things don’t need to take a lot of your time in order to provide you with basic information. Every morning, I read several news sources, magazine articles, and some other items in less than 45 minutes. I get the essential information I need, and mark, clip, or file other things I may want to spend more time reading. I usually read a book through more than once before I mark it as completed. On the first read, I skim through it in 20 – 30 minutes.
- Slow Reading: Reading fast also requires that you know when to slow down. Usually, I read through a book 2-3 times. As I’m reading it the third time, I read slowly, meditate on the details, take lots of notes, and ponder the implications of what is being said. I also read slowly on topics that are way above my understanding (this stretches my thinking), or on topics in which I want to gain an additional depth of understanding. I don’t set time limits on this process. Currently I’m working my way through a book chapter by chapter that I’ve been reading for three years. Yet, out of this reading, I’ve gained a depth of understanding on a topic that is of immense interest to me.
- Read Across Disciplines: This ties in with Multiphasic Reading. If you’re going to grow, you need to provide yourself with a Liberal Arts education. There is too much specialization nowadays, at the expense of Liberal Arts. Prior to our specialization in an area of interest, we’re all taught a broad course of instruction intended to provide general knowledge. These are fundamental areas that we need to continue to train ourselves in–even as we develop specialized skills. These areas define the topics of our Master Reading List. A good Liberal Arts education, and a good Reading Plan, finds resources that address these four general areas:
- Arts (Art, Creative Writing, Music–This phrase is also used to encompass all 4 categories. Hence the name Liberal Arts)
- Humanities (Language, Literature, Philosophy)
- Natural Sciences (Mathematics and Science)
- Social Sciences (Economics, Education, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology )
As you can see, the categories of the Master Reading List, line up with the Liberal Arts categories. These provide a framework for your continued growth and expanding success. Take the time today to make yourself a reading list, then take the next step and read!
Tags: Reading, Success, Productivity, GTD
