Reading techniques | Dr. Manjunathan M.S | TEDxAnandNagar

Summary

The video script emphasizes the importance of reading, particularly non-fiction books, as a means to rapidly acquire knowledge and enhance personal and professional growth. It highlights that successful individuals such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk are avid readers, suggesting that reading is a common trait among leaders. The speaker, Manjunath Mind, a performance coach, shares his personal journey from an IT manager to a business coach, attributing his success to the knowledge gained through reading. He identifies common reasons why professionals avoid reading and proposes a framework to increase reading speed and comprehension. This includes engaging all senses, using a pointer to guide reading, understanding eye fixation, creating a distraction-free environment, and leveraging visualization for better memory retention. The script concludes with the message that reading is a powerful tool for learning and success, urging viewers to embrace reading as part of their daily routine.

Takeaways

• 📚 Successful people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk are voracious readers, emphasizing the importance of reading for leadership and knowledge.
• 🚀 In a fast-paced, competitive world, knowledge is power, and reading non-fiction books can accelerate learning and personal growth.
• ⏳ Reading books efficiently can save time and provide a wealth of knowledge; the speaker suggests reading 52 books a year equates to earning 52 Master's Degrees.
• 🤔 Common reasons for not reading include lack of time, perceived difficulty, and uncertainty about what and how to read.
• 🧠 Reading speed can be improved with training, and an untrained reader can read about 200 words per minute, which can be increased with practice.
• 👀 Understanding eye fixation and reducing it by reading in groups of words can significantly enhance reading speed.
• 📖 The preview process, similar to watching a movie trailer, helps to understand the framework of a book and increases reading speed by 15-20%.
• 👆 Using a pointer as a meta guide can improve reading speed by 20-30% as it forces the eyes to follow the pointer, capturing more data quickly.
• 🧘‍♂️ Creating a distraction-free environment and relaxing the mind can lead to deeper focus and faster information absorption.
• 🧠 Memorization is a trainable skill; understanding how the brain stores and recalls data can improve memory retention.
• 🎬 Visualization and creating a mental movie of the content while reading can enhance memory and make the process enjoyable, leading to better retention.
• 💰 Reading more leads to faster learning, which is crucial for success in any field, as highlighted by the speaker's personal experience and professional coaching.

Q & A

What is a common trait among successful people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk?

They are all voracious readers, which suggests that reading is a key habit for success.

Why is reading non-fiction books considered an effective way to acquire knowledge?

Non-fiction books condense decades of an author's experience into a few hundred pages, allowing readers to quickly absorb and apply the knowledge.

What is the significance of reading 52 books a year according to the speaker?

Reading 52 books a year is equated to acquiring the knowledge equivalent to 52 master's degrees, emphasizing the power of consistent reading for professional growth.

What was Manjunath's career shift and how did reading books help him?

Manjunath shifted from being an IT manager to a business coach and trainer. Reading books helped him gain knowledge related to business, which was crucial during his initial struggle in the new role.

What percentage of professionals have not tried reading a single book after starting their career, according to the speaker's experience?

25 percent of professionals have not read a single book after starting their career, as observed by the speaker.

What are the four reasons people give for not reading books?

The reasons include lack of time, finding reading difficult, believing reading is only for professional development, and uncertainty about what kind of books to start with.

What is the average reading speed of an untried reader?

An untried reader typically reads around 200 words per minute.

How can enhancing reading speed to 3x the normal speed reduce the time needed to read a book?

If a book is 50,000 words, reading at 3x the normal speed would take just one hour and thirty minutes, significantly less than the four hours and thirty minutes it would take at a normal pace.

What is the first step in the framework shared by the speaker to enhance reading speed?

The first step is the preview process, which involves understanding the book's structure by reading the title, subtitle, author's information, introduction, table of contents, preface, chapter headings, and any indexes or pictures.

How can using a pointer as a meta guide improve reading speed?

Using a pointer to trace the words while reading can increase reading speed by 20 to 30 percent, as it forces the eyes to follow the pointer, allowing the reader to capture more information quickly.

What is the importance of understanding eye fixation in reading?

Understanding and reducing eye fixation can enhance reading ability. Instead of reading word by word, reading in groups of words can reduce the number of fixations and increase reading speed.

How can creating a focused environment improve reading efficiency?

Removing distractions, such as social media and phone notifications, and creating a dedicated reading hour can help the mind focus deeper, leading to faster information absorption.

What is the key to enhancing memory and understanding while reading?

The key is to understand how the brain stores, retains, and recalls data. Converting data into visual or emotional content, like creating a 'mind movie', can enhance memory and comprehension.