Why Reading Matters: Successful People Read

Summary

The speaker reflects on the importance of reading and how it shaped their life, beginning with a love for magazines that introduced them to various cultures, including hip-hop. As they matured, books became a key source of knowledge, inspiration, and business insights, with biographies and influential books like 'The Alchemist' offering valuable lessons. They also share their unique hobby of leaving books for commuters to discover, emphasizing the power of reading to broaden minds, spark creativity, and fuel personal growth. Encouraging others to embrace reading and overcome challenges, they highlight its transformative impact.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker grew up surrounded by books, thanks to their mother's influence, which cultivated a lifelong habit of reading.
• 📰 The speaker's initial interest in hip-hop culture and various other topics came from reading magazines before transitioning to books.
• 📖 The speaker attributes much of their business knowledge to reading books about deals and success stories in the industry.
• 👤 Biographies are a favorite genre for the speaker, as they provide valuable lessons from the lives of others.
• 📘 Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs and Benjamin Franklin are highlighted as particularly influential reads.
• 💡 Reading *The Alchemist* was a life-changing experience for the speaker, reinforcing the idea that the universe conspires to help those with dreams.
• 🎒 The speaker has an interesting hobby as a 'book ninja,' leaving books in public spaces for others to discover and enjoy.
• 👨‍🏫 The speaker emphasizes that reading is crucial for developing communication and writing skills, advocating for pushing beyond light reading into more challenging material.
• 📊 The percentage of teenagers reading for fun is at an all-time low, and the speaker encourages changing that trend by making reading a regular habit.
• 🔥 Reading provides a sense of hope and energy, reminding the speaker of life's possibilities and offering inspiration to keep going, especially during challenging times.

Q & A

What influence did the speaker's mother have on their reading habits?

The speaker’s mother always kept books in the house, which made reading an important habit. This early exposure influenced the speaker to continue reading as they grew older.

How did the speaker first learn about hip-hop culture outside of L.A.?

The speaker learned about hip-hop culture outside of L.A. by reading magazines like Double XL, which contained stories about classic albums from other places.

What type of content did the speaker start reading before getting into books?

The speaker started by reading magazines related to their interests, which eventually led them to read books about the same subjects.

How did reading influence the speaker's business knowledge and decision-making?

The speaker attributes much of their business savvy to reading books about the music industry and deals made by others. These readings helped them understand decisions that empowered people throughout their careers.

What types of books does the speaker enjoy, and why?

The speaker enjoys reading biographies, finding them particularly interesting because they offer many lessons depending on whose life story is being told.

Which biographies had a significant impact on the speaker?

The speaker found Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs and Benjamin Franklin particularly interesting. Franklin is considered one of the speaker’s heroes.

How did the book 'The Alchemist' impact the speaker's life?

The speaker describes 'The Alchemist' as life-changing. It made them realize how many people had conspired to help them reach their current position, reinforcing the belief that the universe supports those with a strong desire.

What is the speaker's 'book ninja' hobby, and what is its purpose?

The speaker calls themselves a 'book ninja' and leaves books in public places, such as the underground or the tube, for commuters to find, read, and pass on to others. This hobby is meant to encourage reading.

What advice does the speaker give about reading and writing?

The speaker encourages people to read as much as possible, challenging themselves with more complex material. They also stress the importance of practicing writing.

What personal challenge did the speaker overcome by starting to read more books?

The speaker had a tendency to not finish things when they became difficult or boring. By setting a New Year's resolution to read more books, they overcame this habit, finding value in completing what they started.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Growing Up Surrounded by Books

The speaker reflects on their early exposure to books, thanks to their mother who emphasized the importance of reading. As a result, they developed a lifelong habit of reading. Initially, they were drawn to magazines, particularly about hip-hop culture, which expanded their understanding of music beyond their local scene. Gradually, they transitioned to reading books, especially about the music industry and biographies, which inspired their business ideas. The speaker believes that biographies are particularly valuable, sharing lessons from figures like Steve Jobs and Benjamin Franklin.

05:04

📖 Life-Changing Impact of 'The Alchemist'

The speaker highlights a significant moment in their life when a colleague recommended 'The Alchemist.' Reading the book transformed their perspective, helping them realize how people and circumstances conspired to bring them to their current position. The speaker praises the book for its message that if one has the desire, the universe will align to support their journey. The conversation reflects the theme of being unafraid to dream big, resonating with the speaker's personal experiences.

📕 Spreading the Love of Books: Becoming a 'Book Ninja'

The speaker shares a unique hobby—being a self-proclaimed 'Book Ninja.' In their spare time, they leave books in public spaces like the underground (subway) for strangers to discover. They hope that people will find these books, read them, and pass them on, spreading a culture of reading. The initiative reflects their passion for making reading accessible and enjoyable to a wider audience.

📚 The Power of Reading in Leadership

The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading for effective communication and leadership, citing the example of a president who is an avid reader. They advocate for encouraging young people, especially girls, to read beyond gossip books and to challenge themselves with more substantial content. The speaker believes that reading builds intellectual strength and broadens horizons, urging listeners to develop a lifelong reading habit.

📖 Inspiring Others to Read: A Personal Mission

The speaker reflects on their personal goal of inspiring others to read, especially teens, as the percentage of young people reading for fun is at an all-time low. They share how a New Year's resolution to finish more books helped them overcome a habit of abandoning hobbies or tasks when they became difficult. This resolution pushed them to find satisfaction in completing books, and they hope others can adopt a similar mindset to enjoy the benefits of reading.

📚 Reading as a Source of Inspiration and Energy

The speaker discusses the impact of reading on their mindset and energy levels. Reading about the lives of legendary figures sustains their hope and serves as a reminder that life is full of challenges and unexpected twists. When feeling unmotivated, the speaker turns to books for a burst of creativity and productivity. Reading helps them reconnect with the idea that every individual has a unique purpose and potential, fueling their ambition and drive.

✨ Embracing Hidden Greatness and Ambition

The final paragraph centers on the theme of inner greatness and ambition. The speaker believes that everyone has a lofty ambition and hidden greatness within them, which is a birthright. They encourage embracing this potential and living each day with a sense of purpose and aspiration, guided by the knowledge gained from reading.

Keywords

💡Books

Books are a recurring theme in the video, representing knowledge, inspiration, and personal growth. The speaker refers to books as a source of wisdom, particularly in areas like business, life lessons, and culture. Books are seen as a means to gain new perspectives, as exemplified by mentions of biographies and influential works like 'The Alchemist.'

💡Biographies

Biographies are highlighted as a specific genre of reading that provides valuable life lessons. The speaker mentions reading the biographies of influential figures like Steve Jobs and Benjamin Franklin, learning from their successes and failures. These stories offer insight into decision-making and personal development, reflecting the speaker’s admiration for their achievements.

💡The Alchemist

'The Alchemist' is mentioned as a life-changing book for the speaker. It symbolizes personal growth, the power of dreams, and how the universe aligns to help individuals achieve their desires. The speaker’s reflection on the book highlights how literature can inspire transformative realizations about life’s journey and purpose.

💡Hip-hop culture

Hip-hop culture is brought up as an early influence for the speaker, initially accessed through magazines before moving on to books. This shows how cultural interest can be an entry point into broader reading habits, with hip-hop serving as a gateway to understanding other areas like business and personal empowerment.

💡Business savvy

Business savvy refers to the practical knowledge and strategies the speaker gained from reading. The speaker learned about the music industry and business deals through books, emphasizing how reading can equip individuals with the skills and understanding to make informed, empowering decisions in their careers.

💡Education

Education, in this context, is not just formal schooling but the continuous process of learning through reading. The speaker emphasizes how reading fuels creativity and productivity, providing intellectual stimulation and inspiration. Education is presented as an ongoing journey that enriches life and work.

💡Personal growth

Personal growth is a central theme, with reading portrayed as a key tool for self-improvement. Through books, the speaker has developed business acumen, learned life lessons from biographies, and gained philosophical insights from works like 'The Alchemist.' The act of reading is directly tied to personal development.

💡Reading habit

The speaker discusses the importance of maintaining a reading habit, influenced by their mother and carried through adulthood. Reading is not only a pastime but a way to stay informed and connected to various interests, from culture to business, demonstrating the value of lifelong learning.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration is a key outcome of the speaker’s reading experiences. Whether through learning about iconic figures or reading transformative books, inspiration serves as a driving force for personal and professional growth. Books are framed as sources of motivation and new ideas.

💡Sharing knowledge

The speaker mentions a hobby of leaving books in public spaces for others to find, showing a commitment to spreading knowledge. This act of sharing aligns with the broader message of the video, which emphasizes the importance of reading and learning, not just for oneself but for others as well.

Highlights

Books were always present in my house, thanks to my mom, which helped cultivate my love for reading.

I started by reading magazines, which introduced me to hip-hop culture outside of L.A.

Reading about other classic albums through magazines allowed me to explore different music scenes.

Reading biographies, especially those about industry leaders, helped shape my business decisions.

Walter Isaacson’s biographies of Steve Jobs and Benjamin Franklin were particularly influential to me.

The book 'The Alchemist' was life-changing as it taught me that the universe conspires to help you if you have a desire.

I have a unique hobby of leaving books in public places like the underground for others to find and read.

I call myself a 'book ninja,' as I secretly leave books for commuters to discover and enjoy.

The president is an avid reader, and that’s one of the reasons for his excellent communication and writing skills.

Reading should not be limited to gossip books; it should challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone.

Teenagers today read less for fun, and I want to inspire more people to read by sharing my favorite books of the year.

Making a New Year's resolution to read helped me finish books, overcoming my tendency to abandon projects when they became difficult.

Reading biographies of legendary figures reminds you of life's ups and downs and sustains hope.

Education and reading can reignite creativity and productivity, even on challenging days.

Books remind me that everyone has hidden greatness and a birthright to pursue their dreams.

Transcripts

i was always you know had books around my mom  always you know kept books in the house and  

it made it important i was well versed yeah you  know so um it's a habit i just kept uh as i grew  

older and i just read things i was interested  in you know i started off reading magazines you  

know what i mean that's how i learned about  hip-hop culture outside of l.a by reading  

like double excellent stories hearing about  classic albums from other places and all that  

and then like anything i was interested in i read  the magazines about it and i just started getting  

the books and uh just like you said a lot of my  best ideas a lot of my business savvy which i'm  

you know i ain't the smartest dude but i know what  i know you know came from books like i read books  

about the industry i read books about the deals  that was done in the industry right and these  

dudes you know held out and made certain decisions  that empowered them for the rest of their career  

i like biographies in general um biographies  i think are really you know really interesting  

read um what did you learn from them well i think  you learn a lot depending upon you know whose life  

you're reading about um there are lots of lessons  in there i read isaacson's biography of jobs which  

i thought was quite interesting and i actually  really liked his biography of benjamin franklin  

who i would say certainly one of my  heroes he seemed like a really great guy  

you know one of my really important colleagues  on my team one of my managers karen veazey she  

suggested i read the book the alchemist and it  changed my whole life because i realized all of  

the people who had conspired to get me to this  place oh i love the alchemist man that book is  

it will change your life it's the one you know  what it why because it absolutely shows you  

that if you have the desire the universe will rise  up to meet you exactly where you are yes yeah oh  

yes yeah yes you have to be unafraid to dream you  have a very interesting hobby i want to ask you  

about this photograph because this is something  that you've done this uh regularly uh yes so  

um in my spare time uh i am this is a phrase  that i have coined myself i am a book ninja  

and i i like ninja my way around uh public places  mostly the tube or the underground which is what  

we call in the uk and i leave um i leave books  for commuters for people to find they'll be able  

to find and then read and then hopefully like pass  on read write read read if the president were here  

one of his greatest strengths is reading that's  one of the reasons why he's a good communicator  

why he's such a good writer he's a voracious  reader so we're trying to get our girls no matter  

what to just be to love reading and to challenge  themselves with what they read and not just read  

the gossip books but to push themselves beyond and  do things that maybe they wouldn't do so i would  

encourage you all to to read read read just keep  reading and writing is another skill it's practice  

i wanted to make a sort of summary and talk about  some of my favorite books that i read this year  

and i also wanted to make this book to hopefully  inspire you guys or more people in general to read  

as well the percentage of teenagers that read  for fun is at an all-time low let's change that  

oh yeah the reason why i started reading was  because i made actually a new year's resolution  

so i thought okay well maybe this could you guys  can pick the same resolution maybe you guys have  

the same problems as i had which is that i  kind of have a problem with finishing things  

sounds a bit weird but generally as soon as  things get a little difficult i i get bored  

and i move on to something else and this could  be for even silly stuff like playing a video game  

if it gets boring at some point i don't really  care to finish it and i'll just buy a new game  

or move on to something else or whether it's a  hobby project as soon as it gets a little boring i  

i generally don't finish it so i i miss that  feeling of finishing something when you read  

books on lives legendarily lived it sustains  your hope it reminds you that life is full of  

ups and downs it reminds you that the very  journey of being human has these unexpected  

twists and i don't know about you but education  fuels my energy i can be having a day where you  

know what i'm not on my the top of my game and i  just make the time to read a book and it gives me  

this burst of fire in the belly to give me another  two or three hours of creativity or productivity  

but more than anything else when i read books it  reminds me of the best of life it reminds me you  

know what there are no extra people on the planet  it reminds me you know what make your eye can  

larger than your eye can and it reminds me  that every single one of us does have this  

lofty ambition and this hidden greatness within  this that is our birthright to live every day

oh