How I read 100 books a year- 5 tips for reading more

Ruri Ohama

17 Jan 202309:35

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the speaker shares five tips to reignite the joy of reading after a period of disengagement. They discuss creating a new bedtime routine with a Kindle instead of a smartphone, listening to audiobooks during commutes, experimenting with different genres, using Shortform to preview books before investing time and money, and reading multiple books simultaneously to avoid boredom. The speaker emphasizes the importance of enjoying the reading process and not feeling obligated to finish every book started.

Takeaways

📱 Swap smartphone usage with reading before bed to create a new routine.
🚗 Listen to audiobooks during commutes to utilize otherwise idle time.
📚 Experiment with different genres to discover new interests in reading.
💸 Use services like Shortform to get key ideas from books before investing time and money.
📚 Reading multiple books at once can help combat boredom and maintain interest.
📖 It's okay to not finish a book if it's not holding your interest or providing value.
🕒 Prioritize reading books that align with your current mindset and interests.
🔍 Use platforms like Shortform to discover new books and genres regularly.
🎯 Set a reading goal, like 100 books in a year, to motivate and track progress.
💡 Reading should be enjoyable; choose books that bring pleasure or value to keep the habit engaging.

Q & A

What was the speaker's goal regarding reading in 2022?
-The speaker set a goal to read 100 books in a year in 2022.
How did the speaker change their habit of using screens before bed?
-The speaker created a charging station for their phone far away from their bed and placed a Kindle next to it to encourage reading before sleep.
What book did the speaker reference to explain changing habits?
-The speaker referenced 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg to explain how to change habits.
How does listening to audiobooks help in incorporating more reading into daily routine?
-Audiobooks allow the listener to make use of time that would otherwise be idle, such as during commuting or doing chores, to enjoy a story or learn something new.
What are some potential issues with listening to audiobooks?
-Listening to audiobooks can be passive, and there are a few things to be careful about, which could be discussed in another video if the audience is interested.
Why is experimenting with different genres of books recommended?
-Experimenting with different genres can help discover new interests and find stories that might not have been considered otherwise.
What does the speaker suggest to avoid feeling like time and money are wasted on a book?
-The speaker suggests using a service like Shortform to get key ideas from books before deciding to invest time and money into them.
How can reading multiple books at once help with boredom?
-Reading multiple books allows the reader to switch between them as interest wanes in one, ensuring there's always something engaging to read.
What does the speaker suggest about finishing every book you start?
-The speaker suggests that it's okay to put down a book that isn't holding your interest or providing value and move on to something else.
Why is it important to read whatever you feel like?
-Reading should be enjoyable, and reading whatever you feel like ensures the process remains a pleasure rather than a chore.
What is the key to building a lasting reading habit according to the speaker?
-The key to building a lasting reading habit is to make reading something you love doing and look forward to, as this makes the process more enjoyable.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Reclaiming the Love for Reading

The speaker shares a personal journey of rediscovering the joy of reading after becoming engrossed in social media. They set a goal to read 100 books in a year and achieved it in 2022. The video aims to share five tips that helped them accomplish this feat. The speaker emphasizes the importance of making reading a daily routine and replacing the habit of screen time before bed with reading. They also suggest listening to audiobooks during commutes or while doing chores as a way to multitask and make the most of spare time. The speaker encourages trying different genres to discover new interests and using services like Shortform to get key ideas from books before investing time and money, thus avoiding unsuitable reads.

05:01

🌟 Building a Lasting Reading Habit

In the second paragraph, the speaker continues with tips for building a reading habit. They recommend reading multiple books at once to prevent boredom and to explore various genres and writing styles. The speaker also advises not to force oneself to finish a book that isn't engaging, emphasizing that time is valuable and should be spent on enjoyable reads. They suggest using Shortform to get an idea of a book's content before committing to it. The speaker encourages reading based on personal interest and mood, highlighting that everyone's preferences are unique. They conclude by expressing hope that the tips will help viewers read more and gain valuable insights from books, making reading an enjoyable and rewarding habit.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Reading Habit

A reading habit refers to the regular practice of reading books or other materials. In the video, the speaker discusses how they lost their reading habit due to increased smartphone usage but later rekindled it by setting a goal to read 100 books in a year. The video's theme revolves around re-establishing a reading habit and the benefits it brings.

💡Social Media

Social media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. The script mentions how the speaker used to spend hours on social media before deciding to change their habits. Social media is portrayed as a distraction that can hinder the development of a reading habit.

💡Goal Setting

Goal setting is the process of defining specific, achievable objectives. In the video, the speaker set a goal to read 100 books in a year, which served as a motivational factor to rekindle their reading habit. This concept is central to the video's message about taking proactive steps to achieve personal objectives.

💡Habit Swap

Habit swap is a strategy where a person replaces a less desirable habit with a more beneficial one. The video describes how the speaker swapped their habit of scrolling on social media before bed with reading, leading to a more productive routine. This concept is used to illustrate a practical approach to changing behavior.

💡Audiobooks

Audiobooks are recordings of books read aloud that can be listened to during various activities. The script suggests listening to audiobooks during commutes or while performing other tasks as a way to incorporate more reading into daily life. Audiobooks are presented as a tool for utilizing otherwise unproductive time.

💡Genre

A genre refers to a category of literature or other forms of art characterized by similar form, style, or subject matter. The video encourages trying out different genres to discover new interests and expand one's reading experience. Exploring genres is highlighted as a way to find books that align with one's evolving interests.

💡Shortform

Shortform is mentioned as a service that provides book guides and summaries to help readers decide whether to invest time and money in a full book. It is used as an example of how technology can aid in the selection process of books, thus enhancing the reading experience.

💡Reading Multiple Books

Reading multiple books at once refers to the practice of engaging with more than one book simultaneously. The video suggests this approach to avoid boredom and maintain interest in reading. It is used to demonstrate how diversifying one's reading can enhance engagement.

💡Imagination

Imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. The video implies that reading novels can exercise one's imagination, contributing to creativity and empathy. Imagination is linked to the broader benefits of reading beyond just information gathering.

💡Quitting a Book

Quitting a book means to stop reading a book before finishing it. The video advises that it's acceptable to quit a book if it's not holding one's interest, emphasizing the value of time over the obligation to finish a book. This concept supports the idea of reading for enjoyment and personal growth.

💡Enjoyment

Enjoyment is the state of taking pleasure in an activity. The video stresses the importance of enjoying the reading process, suggesting that reading should be a source of pleasure rather than a chore. Enjoyment is identified as a key factor in building a lasting reading habit.

Highlights

The speaker shares their journey from being an avid reader as a kid to struggling with distractions like smartphones and social media as they got older.

In 2022, the speaker set and achieved a goal of reading 100 books in a year and aims to share tips on how others can do the same.

The speaker swapped their smartphone habit with a reading habit by creating a charging station far from their bed and placing a Kindle nearby.

The power of habit: Inspired by Charles Duhigg's book, the speaker focused on making reading a part of their daily bedtime routine.

The speaker suggests listening to audiobooks while driving or commuting as a way to incorporate more reading into busy schedules.

Audiobooks allow multitasking during activities like cleaning or washing dishes, helping people make the most of their time while consuming content.

Exploring different genres can make reading more interesting; trying out mysteries, poetry, or other types of literature keeps things fresh.

The speaker recommends using services like Shortform, which provides book summaries and guides, to decide whether to invest time and money into reading a particular book.

Reading multiple books at once helps prevent boredom and allows the reader to switch between genres and topics based on their mood or interest.

Switching between fiction and non-fiction can provide balance and prevent burnout from reading only one type of book, helping to expand literary horizons.

The speaker emphasizes that it’s okay to stop reading a book that doesn’t hold interest, and that finishing a book should not be a chore.

Time is more valuable than money when it comes to reading; it's better to put down a book you don't enjoy than waste time finishing it.

Shortform can help reduce the chances of wasting time by offering summaries of books, allowing readers to assess if they align with their current interests.

It’s important to enjoy the process of reading by choosing books that align with your mood or curiosity, ensuring that reading remains fun and not a task.

Building a lasting reading habit requires finding pleasure in the process, and the speaker hopes these tips will help others rediscover the joy of reading.