I’m a reading machine. My wife likes to call me “a book with legs”, in reference to Charlie Munger’s description of his erudite self. I guess that’s a good description, as a given week usually consists of a reading a book or two, and almost a hundred articles. Hey, I’m a firm believer that reading is a key to being more successful. Making a daily habit of reading and growing your knowledge is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. How do I find time to do this?
- Speed reading: Reading is a time commitment. To make the most of your time, learn to speed read. You’ll obviously read faster, as well as retain more information. To keep up my chops, I use the Acceleread app for the iPhone.
- Time blocks: I usually wake up at 5:30 or 6am, and set aside 1.5 hours for book reading. The kids aren’t awake, so this is a perfect time for intense, focused reading. Articles immediately follow, as well as evenings. As a general rule, I almost always have something to read in front of my face.
- Focus on specific subjects: You need to read intentionally. This means picking specific subjects. I actually have a quarterly map of subjects that I plan to learn. If something is outside the scope of this subject matter, then I either set it aside for “fun” consumption, or simply ignore it.
- Evernote: This is particularly useful for articles. I simply clip the article or email a link for consumption during one of my designated reading times.
This is a general framework that’s worked great for me. I’m constantly evolving my learning habits, so if I discover any major changes, you’ll be informed. Happy reading!