10 Tips for Reading More Books in 2024

Summary

This video offers 10 top tips to enhance your reading habits and potentially read up to 100 books a year. The host emphasizes the importance of reading for enjoyment, starting with genres you love, and being okay with quitting books that aren't engaging. They suggest buying books readily, reading multiple books at once, utilizing audiobooks, and shaping your environment to encourage reading. The video also recommends using tools like Kindle and Goodreads to track progress and gamify the reading process. Ultimately, the focus should be on enjoying the journey of reading rather than the quantity of books read.

Takeaways

• 📚 Read what excites you: The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading books that you genuinely enjoy to foster a love for reading.
• 🚫 It's okay to quit books: The script encourages viewers to abandon books they are not enjoying and suggests it's a normal part of the reading process.
• 🛒 Buy books without hesitation: The speaker advises buying recommended books immediately, as they are a great investment for personal growth.
• 📚 Read multiple books at once: Having several books going at the same time can cater to different moods and maintain reading habits.
• 📱 Utilize technology: Using apps and devices like Kindle and audiobook services can enhance the reading experience and accessibility.
• 🔍 Use summaries for efficiency: Short-form book summaries can be a great way to digest a lot of content quickly.
• 🎧 Listen to audiobooks: Audiobooks are a game-changer, allowing multitasking and making it easier to get through certain types of books.
• 🏠 Shape your environment: Having physical and digital environments that encourage reading can support the habit.
• 🎮 Gamify your reading: Using platforms like Goodreads to set challenges and track progress can make reading more engaging.
• 🆔 Embrace a reader identity: Viewing oneself as a reader can make it easier to incorporate reading into daily life.
• 🔢 Stop focusing on numbers: The key is to enjoy the process of reading rather than focusing on the quantity of books read.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to share 10 top tips for reading more consistently, with the goal of potentially reading up to 100 books a year, while emphasizing the enjoyment of the reading process over the quantity.

What is the first tip mentioned in the video for increasing reading habits?

The first tip is to read what you love until you love to read. The idea is to start with books that excite you, making the reading process enjoyable and thus easier to maintain as a habit.

What type of books does the speaker personally enjoy reading?

The speaker personally enjoys reading paranormal romance, fantasy fiction, and trashy romance novels, as they are easy to read and help maintain the reading habit.

What is the speaker's view on quitting a book while in the middle of reading it?

The speaker believes it's completely okay to quit a book while in the middle of reading it. They compare books to other forms of content delivery like videos or blog posts, suggesting that if you're not getting value from it, you should feel free to stop.

What is the speaker's philosophy regarding buying books?

The speaker's philosophy is to buy books immediately upon recommendation without overthinking it. They argue that books are a small cost for a significant amount of work and knowledge, and it's worth acquiring them even without immediate disposable income.

What is Morning Brew and how does it relate to the speaker's reading habits?

Morning Brew is a free daily email newsletter that updates readers on business, finance, and tech news in a few minutes. The speaker uses it to stay informed and to reduce the time spent scrolling through various news services.

Why does the speaker recommend reading multiple books at once?

The speaker recommends reading multiple books at once to reduce the friction of choosing what to read and to accommodate different moods. Having a variety of books available allows for a more flexible and enjoyable reading experience.

What is the role of audiobooks in the speaker's reading routine?

Audiobooks play a significant role in the speaker's reading routine as they allow for multitasking, such as listening to books while walking or commuting. They also make it easier to get through certain types of books that might be denser or more challenging to read physically.

How does the speaker suggest shaping one's environment to encourage reading?

The speaker suggests having easy access to books, both physically and digitally. This includes having books on the bedside table and organizing digital devices to prioritize reading apps, making it easier to pick up a book or listen to an audiobook.

What is the significance of a Kindle according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, a Kindle is an incredible device that has greatly impacted their reading habits. It's lightweight, portable, and allows for easy access to a wide range of books, making it easier to read consistently.

Why does the speaker recommend gamifying the reading process?

The speaker recommends gamifying the reading process to make it more fun and engaging. Using platforms like Goodreads to set reading challenges and track progress can serve as motivation and help build the reading habit.

What does the speaker suggest regarding the importance of identity in building a reading habit?

The speaker suggests that changing one's identity to that of a reader can significantly aid in building a reading habit. Identifying as someone who reads can make it easier to take daily actions and maintain the habit.

What is the speaker's final tip for readers who want to read more?

The speaker's final tip is to genuinely stop caring about the numbers of books read and focus on enjoying the process. The goal should be to read and absorb the insights from the books rather than just increasing the count.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Embracing the Joy of Reading

The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading for personal growth, sharing their passion for reading that has significantly enhanced their life over the past 12 years. They introduce ten tips to help viewers read more consistently, with the goal of potentially reading up to 100 books a year, though they clarify that the number isn't as important as the act and enjoyment of reading itself. The first tip is to read what excites you, as recommended by Naval Ravikant, suggesting that the best books are those you look forward to engaging with. The speaker shares their preference for paranormal romance, fantasy fiction, and easy-to-read novels as a means to maintain the reading habit. They encourage viewers to identify a book they're excited to read and to start there, inviting comments on what book the viewers are most eager to read.

05:00

🚫 Overcoming the Pressure to Finish Books

The speaker challenges the conventional belief that one must finish a book once started, likening it to the unnecessary pressure felt in school. They propose viewing books as a form of content delivery similar to videos, newsletters, or blog posts, and suggest it's perfectly acceptable to stop reading a book that no longer provides value. The action point is to identify a book that's currently being struggled with and to give oneself permission to stop reading it, with the assurance that it can be resumed later. The underlying philosophy is that productivity and enjoyment are key, and if a book isn't enjoyable, it's not the right choice at the moment.

10:01

💸 The Value of Investing in Books

The speaker advocates for the immediate purchase of recommended books, arguing that books are an inexpensive investment in condensed knowledge and experience. They share their personal journey from borrowing books to buying them without hesitation, given their relatively low cost and high value. They also mention the significant effort that goes into creating a book, from the author to the editors and researchers, and suggest that buying books is a way to support that effort. The speaker encourages lowering the threshold for buying books, especially when one can afford to do so, and to consider free resources like the Morning Brew newsletter for daily updates on business, finance, and tech news.

📚 Reading Multiple Books Simultaneously

The speaker discusses the practice of reading multiple books at once, which allows for a variety of content and caters to different moods. They share their current reading list, which includes a mix of fiction, non-fiction, spirituality, and self-help books, and explain how this approach reduces the friction of choosing what to read. They also mention the use of book summary services and audiobooks as effective ways to consume more books, especially during commutes or while performing other tasks. The speaker passionately recommends audiobooks for their convenience and ability to make dense material more accessible.

🎧 The Power of Audiobooks

The speaker extols the virtues of audiobooks, detailing how they have transformed their reading experience by allowing them to listen to books while on the go. They mention various platforms for accessing audiobooks and share personal anecdotes of listening to lengthy fantasy series during commutes and The Lord of the Rings while walking for exercise. The convenience of audiobooks is highlighted as a way to multitask and enjoy books in situations where reading a physical book might not be feasible.

🌿 Shaping Your Environment for Reading

The speaker suggests that both physical and digital environments can be shaped to encourage reading. They recommend having physical books easily accessible and designing smartphone home screens to promote reading by featuring apps like Kindle, Audible, or Spotify for audiobooks. The idea is to make reading a habit by giving oneself visual reminders and easy access to reading materials, while also making it more difficult to access distractions like social media.

📱 The Kindle: A Game-Changer for Readers

The speaker highly recommends the Kindle e-reader as an impactful tech device that has greatly enhanced their reading habits since its original release in 2008. They praise the portability and convenience of the Kindle, which allows for reading anywhere, anytime. The speaker also mentions the Kindle app on their phone as a way to read in situations where carrying a physical Kindle isn't possible, such as on public transport. They encourage viewers to consider getting a Kindle or similar e-reader to facilitate a consistent reading routine.

🎮 Gamifying Reading with Goodreads

The speaker introduces the concept of gamifying the reading process through platforms like Goodreads, a social network for readers that allows users to track their reading progress, set challenges, and review books. They mention the satisfaction of rating books and seeing one's reading list grow, which can serve as motivation to read more. The speaker also suggests alternative apps like 'sofa' for organizing downtime and tracking books, emphasizing the importance of making reading a fun and rewarding experience.

🔄 Shifting Identity to a Reader

The speaker discusses the idea of changing one's identity to that of a reader as a powerful tool for building the reading habit. They reference James Clear's work on atomic habits and suggest that identifying as someone who reads can make it easier to take action and maintain the habit. The speaker encourages viewers to adopt the identity of a reader and to make time for reading as part of their self-image.

🚫 Disregarding the Numbers, Enjoying the Process

In the final tip, the speaker advises viewers to stop focusing on the number of books read and instead concentrate on the enjoyment and process of reading. They acknowledge the appeal of increasing one's reading numbers but stress that the real goal is to read and derive pleasure and insight from the experience. The speaker wraps up by reiterating the importance of enjoying the journey of reading and not being concerned with quantitative measures of success.

Keywords

💡Reading Habit

Reading habit refers to the regular practice of reading books or other materials. In the video's theme, the reading habit is central to the speaker's message, emphasizing its value in personal growth. The script mentions that reading has added more value to the speaker's life than anything else, and the tips provided are aimed at helping viewers cultivate a consistent reading habit.

💡Enjoyment

Enjoyment is the pleasure derived from an activity. The video's theme revolves around the idea that to read more consistently, one must enjoy the process. The script advises readers to 'read what you love until you love to read,' suggesting that enjoyment is a key motivator for building a reading habit.

💡Productivity

Productivity is the effectiveness of producing desired outcomes. In the context of the video, productivity is linked to the idea of 'Feelgood productivity,' which is the speaker's philosophy that one should enjoy the process of what they are doing to be productive. The script mentions that the secret to productivity is finding a way to enjoy the process, which applies to reading as well.

💡Paranormal Romance Fantasy

Paranormal romance fantasy is a genre of fiction that combines elements of romance with supernatural or paranormal themes. The video's script uses this genre as an example of the type of books the speaker personally enjoys, which helps to illustrate the point that one should read what they are excited about to maintain a reading habit.

💡Quitting Books

Quitting books refers to the act of abandoning a book that one is not enjoying or finding valuable. The video encourages viewers to be okay with quitting books, comparing it to changing a YouTube video if it's not providing value. This concept challenges the traditional mindset that one must finish a book once started and aligns with the video's theme of prioritizing enjoyment in reading.

💡Content Delivery

Content delivery is the means by which information or entertainment is presented or distributed. The script uses this term to reframe the concept of books, suggesting that they are just another form of content delivery like videos, newsletters, or blog posts. This perspective helps to normalize the idea of quitting a book if it's not providing value.

💡Multiple Books

Reading multiple books at once is a practice mentioned in the video that allows for variety and flexibility in reading choices. The speaker shares that they often have several books going at the same time, catering to different moods and interests. This approach reduces the friction of choosing what to read and supports the habit of daily reading.

💡Audiobooks

Audiobooks are recordings of books read aloud, allowing listeners to consume books through listening. The video highlights audiobooks as a game-changing tool for reading on the go and multitasking. The script provides examples of how the speaker uses audiobooks during walks and commutes, illustrating how they can enhance the reading experience.

💡Environment Shaping

Environment shaping is the process of designing one's surroundings to encourage or facilitate certain behaviors. In the context of the video, shaping one's environment to promote reading includes having easy access to books and organizing digital spaces to prioritize reading apps. The script suggests that this can help build the reading habit by making it more convenient and habitual.

💡Kindle

Kindle is an e-reader device that allows users to download and read digital books. The video speaks highly of Kindles as a tool for reading, noting their portability and convenience. The speaker's personal experience with Kindles since 2008 is shared to emphasize their impact on the ability to read more, especially when on the go.

💡Gamification

Gamification is the application of game-design elements and principles in non-game contexts to increase engagement and motivation. The video suggests using platforms like Goodreads, which can gamify the reading process through reading challenges and tracking progress. This approach is presented as a way to make reading more enjoyable and to build the habit.

💡Identity

Identity, in the context of the video, refers to how one perceives themselves and the characteristics they associate with themselves. The script discusses the importance of adopting a reader identity to facilitate the habit of reading. By identifying as a reader, one is more likely to engage in reading activities and make time for books.

💡Numbers

In the video, 'numbers' refers to the quantification of books read, such as aiming to read 100 books a year. The speaker advises viewers to focus on the enjoyment of reading rather than the numbers, emphasizing that the quality of reading and the insights gained are more important than the quantity. This concept is integral to the video's message of valuing the process over the outcome.

Highlights

The presenter emphasizes the value of reading in their life and shares 10 top tips for reading more consistently.

Reading 100 books a year is presented as an arbitrary goal; the key is to enjoy the process of reading.

Tip 1: Read what you love until you love to read, as suggested by Naval Ravikant.

The presenter shares their preference for paranormal romance and fantasy fiction as easy reads to maintain the reading habit.

Tip 2: It's okay to quit books you're not enjoying, similar to switching off a YouTube video.

Books are a cost-effective way to gain years of someone's life experience.

Tip 3: Buy books immediately upon recommendation to avoid the effort of acquiring them later.

Morning Brew is recommended as a free daily email newsletter for business, finance, and tech news.

Tip 4: Read multiple books at once to suit different moods and interests.

Tip 5: Utilize book summary services for efficient learning.

Tip 6: Listen to audiobooks to multitask and enjoy books on the go.

The presenter shares their personal experience with audiobooks, such as listening to 'The Fellowship of the Ring'.

Tip 7: Shape your environment to make reading more accessible, like having a book by your bedside.

Tip 8: Use a Kindle for convenience and portability in reading.

Tip 9: Gamify your reading process with platforms like Goodreads to track progress and set challenges.

Tip 10: Change your identity to that of a reader to naturally incorporate reading into your life.

The importance of not focusing on the number of books read, but rather on enjoying the reading process.

Transcripts

hey friends welcome back to the channel

so over the last 12 years reading has

added more value to my life than

anything I've ever done or anyone I've

met so in this video I want to share 10

of my top tips for reading more

consistently and if you follow the tips

in this video then there's a high chance

you might even be able to read 100 books

a year but obviously I just want to say

upfront it does not matter how many

books you actually manage to read every

year 100 is just an arbitrary number

just like anything else what matters is

that you are in fact reading and you are

enjoying the process tip number one is

one of my favorite quotes from investor

and Entre R preneur Naval ravikant where

he says read what you love until you

love to read and this is an idea that's

actually still pretty underrated like

people who struggle to hit their reading

goals often view reading as this like

this major thing that you have to

optimize and you have to kind of read

the difficult books or read the classics

or like read sapiens and try and like

get through that for the hundredth time

why is life so hard but it's kind of

like with working out the best workout

is the workout that you are excited to

do similarly the best book is the one

that you are excited to read in a given

moment now for me what I really enjoyed

reading is Paranormal romance fantasy

fiction and trashy romance novels that

you get like recommended on good reads

and these are great because it's a nice

easy thing that I can read and so if I'm

ever in a position where I've sort of

lost the habit of reading every day

instead of trying to dive in with like a

really challenging novel or a really

challenging book that's going to be

pretty hard to read it's not going to be

particularly exciting I'll dive in with

something really easy until I love the

process again and then as I'm going

along I'll be able to tackle the more

challenging book so if you want an

action point from this video then ask

yourself what is one book that I would

be really excited to read right now and

just go and read it and in fact I'd love

to hear in the comments what is that one

book that you're most excited to read

right now all right tip number two is

that it's actually totally okay to quit

books while you're in the middle of them

again reading has this weird thing like

we we have this weird mindset around

books that if I start a book I then have

to finish the book and it's probably

this thing that we've been told

throughout school that reading is feels

like work and it feels like a chore and

if you if you start a bug then you have

to finish it otherwise you're like

deficient in some way but the way that I

personally find more helpful to think

about books is that a book is just

another medium of content delivery like

a YouTube video is a medium of content

delivery as is an email newsletter as is

a blog post as is a movie now if you're

watching this video on YouTube and you

stop getting value from it you wouldn't

think twice about just like picking

another video you wouldn't be thinking

oh my goodness this is a video it's an

educational video I have to watch it

through to the end you'd be thinking oh

it's a video I might try it maybe I Vibe

with it maybe I don't but either way

you're not like putting this major

pressure on yourself to finish the video

but when it comes to books we do this

all the time we put this pressure on

ourselves to finish books that we've

started and so if we can get over that

weirdness that we have around books and

start thinking that it's actually okay

to quit books while you're in the middle

of them and so a tangible action point

here is what is one book that you are

currently in the middle of that you've

been struggling to read and once you've

identified what that book is you just

tell yourself that you are going to

abandon reading it for now that doesn't

mean you're never going to finish it it

just means you can always finish it

later and you can always start a new

book that you're a little bit more

excited about because one of the

premises of my whole philosophy around

productivity which is why my book is

called Feelgood productivity is that

really the secret to productivity and

doing stuff is to find a way to enjoy

the process if you are having having to

struggle through a book it's probably

not the right book for you at this time

all right tip number three is to always

buy the book now books are somewhere

between $5 and $20 they're fairly cheap

in the grand scheme of things and even

if you don't have that sort of money you

probably know ways to acquire books even

without paying for them not that I'm

kind of endorsing any of that stuff but

you know what I mean now back in the day

when I didn't have any money my approach

to book recommendations was that if I

ever got a book recommendation I would

find a way to acquire the book that

might have meant borrowing it from the

local library or finding some other ways

to get get access to books but these

days My Philosophy now that I do have

some disposable income is that anytime

someone recommends a book I will just

buy the book without even thinking about

it a book is such a small cost for such

a stupid amount of work this is my book

I've spent three and a half years

working on this book it's had literally

thousands of hours of of effort that's

gone into it it's had me a researcher an

editor another editor another three

editors going going through the book

making sure everything is legit a

researcher to fact check absolutely

everything we've talked about there is a

stupid amount of effort that goes into

the into the production of a single book

book and you can buy a book for

somewhere between $5 and $20 and it's

literally years of someone's life

experience that's condensed into this

thing that like there's almost no other

Med medium that gives you such bank for

your buck in terms of what you can learn

and what you can get from a book which

is why what I normally recommend is to

lower your threshold for buying books if

you have the disposable income just buy

any book that you hear the

recommendation of if you don't you can

find a way to acquire it and me

personally I can trace so many of my

most life-changing decisions down to a

single book and so if you hear a book

recommendation you might as well just

buy the book now other than books one

other thing that I read on a regular

basis happens to be a totally free email

newsletter called morning Brew who are

very kindly sponsoring this video

morning Brew is a completely free daily

email newsletter designed for busy

people and professionals that updates

you on all of the interesting news in

the worlds of business and finance and

Tech in just a few minutes now I used to

waste a lot of time scrolling on

different apps and news services but now

I just read morning Brew most mornings

and that gives me basically everything I

need to know in these worlds that I care

about it summarizes the world's must

know news every day but unlike

traditional news it's actually

entertaining and it's written in a

pretty engaging Style that's fun and

accessible and actually interesting for

anyone to read for example morning Brew

is how I'm personally keeping up with

all of the ridiculous stuff that's going

on in the world of AI and seeing if

there's anything I can incorporate from

that into my own life and my own

business I'm also using it to stay up to

date with social media trends and

movements which generally helps me think

about the long-term future of my

business there are over 4 million

professionals like you and me reading

morning Brew every single day and it is

in fact totally free and takes less than

10 seconds to sign up so you might as

well and if you're fancy signing up then

do head over to morningbrew daily.com

Ali or hit the link in the video

description and that will let you sign

up complet completely for free and

you'll also be supporting the channel

along the way so thank you so much

morning Brew for sponsoring this video

tip number four is to read multiple

books at once again this speaks to that

point around it's okay to quit books

like sometimes you're just not in the

mood for a certain type of book I often

have about eight or nine different books

on the go some of them are fiction some

of them are non-fiction some of them are

directly related to my work some of them

are completely unrelated to my work and

so to just give you an idea I read for

around half an hour at least every day

and the books that I'm currently in the

process of reading are excellent advice

for living by Kevin Kelly eight dates by

John and Julie gotman Kundalini Contra

which is a spirituality book crucial

conversations which is a book about how

to have important conversations the

fantasy fiction book light lock by Alex

Aster the fantasy fiction book battle

mage by Peter Flanery and finally one

blade of grass which is a Zen Memoir by

Henry shukman that I'm sort of 20%

through so this is quite a lot of books

and it's quite a lot of variety there's

a bit of self-help bit of spirituality a

bit of fiction and it's nice because it

means that every evening when I'm on my

Kindle just before bed I can decide what

do I feel like reading today and I'll

just go wherever my energy takes me but

if I only had one book that I was

focusing on at a given time I would then

feel a lot more of that friction where

I'm like ah I don't really feel like I

don't know doing a spirituality book

tonight if I didn't have an alternative

option then I just wouldn't read and

then I would lose the habit and then I

would end up reading a lot less oh also

another fantastic way of getting through

lots of books is by using short form

they're an insanely good book summary

service by far the best one I've ever

used and they have summaries from all of

the best non-fiction books across loads

of different genres they'll be linked

down in the video description if you

want to check them out tip number six is

to listen to audiobooks audiobooks are

absolutely freaking life-changing you

can now get audiobooks on on Audible you

can also get them on Spotify with

Spotify Premium you can also get them on

speechify if you use speechify like

there's now lots and lots of ways of

accessing audiobooks other than just

audible which has been around for a very

long time but audiobooks are absolutely

gamechanging because it means that you

can listen to books while you on the go

while you are doing more interesting

things and one of the really nice things

about listening to a book is that it's

often easier to get through certain

types of books when listening to them

rather than when reading them so for

example I'm currently listening to The

Fellowship of the Ring the first book in

The Lord of the Ring series I have tried

reading that book tons and tons and tons

of times over the years but I've never

quite been able to kind of battle

through some of the heavier denser

descriptions but having a really nice

narrator reading it out to me makes me

much more likely to get through it

similarly I Tried reading sapun by

youval Noah Harari for absolutely ages I

never managed to get through it until I

listened to it on Audible and then I got

through the whole thing and I was like

damn this is actually really good and

there are some books where listening to

it is just so nice but also obviously it

means that you can do it while doing

other things one of my favorite things

to do is to go on a walk while listening

to an audio book so these days as I'm

getting in my 10,000 steps every day I'm

listening to the Lord of the Rings audio

book and it's absolutely sick similarly

back when I had a day job and I used to

commute to work and back I'd be I'd be

driving an hour each way to work when I

worked at the hospital and I'd be

listening to the Brandon Sanderson

fantasy book series the mistborn series

The Stormlight Archive The Wheel of Time

series by Robert Jordan and these were

just incredible long ass fantasy series

and I'd be listening to them in the car

and I'd get to work and I'd be like ah I

don't want this to end so if you haven't

yet started reading audiobooks I can

wholeheartedly recommend and in fact I

have narrated my own Audi book and if

you want to sign up to a free trial of

audible you get one free credit you can

use it to buy my book if you want it's

free might as well let's now move on to

tip number six which is to shape your

environment so right now I'm living a

bit of a digital Nomad year where I've

got everything of mine in a suitcase and

a backpack which is why I don't really

have many physical books on me although

I do like to carry one or two physical

books and so I have obviously mine so I

can show it off in videos like this and

also this one how to change your life by

Jake Humphrey and Damen Hughes which is

very nice so far and so if you're a

physical book kind of person then

shaping your environment means just

having easy access to books like maybe

you have a book on your bedside table or

two or three so that when you get into

bed you might as well reach for a book

and read for a little bit but it's not

just your physical environment it's also

your digital environment and so one

thing that I find really useful to do is

to design my iPhone home screens in a

way that encourages me to read and so on

my home screen right now I've got a

calendar I've got my habit tracker I've

got my to-do list app and I've got the

Kindle app and I've also got the

readwise reader app both of these things

are things that encourage me to read and

then on one of the other pages of my

phone I've got the Kindle widget and the

Audible widget and so one thing that I

found super helpful is to just not have

any social media apps visible on my home

screen so if I want to go on Instagram I

have to physically scroll down and type

in Instagram for it to work but the

basic idea is that if you want to build

any sort of habit you want to try and

give yourself little nudges to do that

habit and to remind yourself that oh

yeah this is the thing I wanted to do

and if you want to break any kind of bad

habit like for example social media

addiction or anything like that you want

to make it a little bit harder for you

to access those things and so action

point here might be that can you pause

this video right now and just add a

couple of reading themed apps to your

phone screen maybe it's a Kindle app

maybe it's a reader app maybe it's a

Spotify app for audiobooks or AUD

whatever that might be there's a bunch

of different apps of read for reading

but if you have those first thing on

your home screen then it's also helping

you design your digital environment in a

way that makes it Mak it a lot easier to

read tip number seven I've mentioned

this a couple of times but let me grab

it I could wholeheartedly recommend

getting a Kindle Kindle is just a

freaking incredible it's an incredible

device it's stupidly cheap they're like

I don't know 50 say 60 $70 on Amazon

these days you can get them cheaper if

you have adverts on the front cover as

well I've been using a Kindle pretty

much every day since 2008 when the

original Kindle came out and it's been

one of the if not the single most

impactful tech device I have ever bought

it's just amazing because like it's so

nice reading on a Kindle it's not quite

as nice as reading on paper but they're

so light I can carry a Kindle everywhere

I go I do in fact carry a Kindle

everywhere I go and these days when I'm

staying in different airbnbs and hotels

and stuff I will always take my Kindle

out and have it on my bedside table

whereas my phone will be on charge all

the way across the room which means when

I get into bed I am not tempted to go on

my phone I'm in fact the the only thing

I have access to is literally just my

Kindle and I can attribute the vast

majority of books that I've been able to

read while being busy and doing other

things to the fact that I have a Kindle

and I also have the Kindle app on my

phone so that I can read when I'm on the

toilet and also when I'm on trains and

buses and transport and taxis and all

this sort sort of stuff where I wouldn't

otherwise have my Kindle on me so action

point here is if you don't yet have a

Kindle then consider buying one or some

other kind of e-reader or like ask for

it as a gift you use a Kindle

consistently I can pretty much guarantee

that it will completely change your life

all right tip number eight is to

consider gamifying your reading process

using something like Goodreads now

Goodreads is like a social network thing

for readers it's owned by Amazon it's a

bit juny but it does mean that if you

start reading books on Kindle it will

automatically add it to your Goodreads

library and it's just kind of fun to

sort of set up reading challenges and

see how many books can I read when when

I'm on good reads it's kind of fun to

review books as well and give them a

star rating and you can just keep track

of every single book you've ever read if

you don't want to use Goodreads there's

an app that I found recently called sofa

which is a nice way to organize your

downtime that also lets you add books

the idea here is that if you can try and

make it a little bit fun turn it into a

little bit of a game when you finish a

book you give it a bit of a rating you

add it to your list and then you feel

yourself making progress by reading more

and more books that's just another

little nudge that we can use to help

build that habit of reading tip number

nine is to change your identity this is

something that James Clear talks a lot

about in atomic habits that if you do in

fact want to build a habit that's

particularly good for you you want to

start on the level of identity it's much

easier to read more books if you

identify as someone who reads a lot of

books or if you identify as a reader

rather than if you have told yourself

that you have the identity of someone

who doesn't read or like oh I don't read

books or I never read it's like all of

these things are disempowering things

that you are saying to yourself and so a

fairly easy way of reading more books is

to just shift into that identity I am

someone who reads I someone who makes

time to read and you'll find that if you

have that identity it becomes a lot

easier to take the daily actions and

then finally tip number 10 is to

genuinely stop caring about the numbers

I know this video you know clickbait

titles and all that crap like 100 books

a year 50 books a year a th books a year

whatever no one gives a about about

how many number of books you read it's

kind of fun to make the number go up

especially if you're trying to build a

habit initially just like you know

working out it's kind of fun to see how

many times can I actually get to the gym

but the main thing is that you want to

be reading and you want to be enjoying

the process of doing it which is the

entire thesis of my productivity

philosophy productivity takes care of

itself when you can find a way to enjoy

the process so again it's not about the

numbers if you're reading non-fiction

it's far better to read just like maybe

a handful of books in the year or maybe

even just one maybe even half a book in

the year and to really absorb the

insights and takeaways from it again

assuming you're reading for the sake of

insight but the most important thing is

to not worry about the numbers so much

and try your best to enjoy the process

so hopefully some of these tips will

help you read a little bit more this

year or next year and if you're

interested in trying to remember more of

the things that you read Because you

find that you read and then you forget

whatever you've read you might like to

check out this video over here which is

all about how to remember basically

everything you read so thank you so much

for watching watching and I'll see you

in the next video bye-bye