Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Reading to Learn

by CWK


1. Read for yourself.

When you read, make sure to get something for yourself. Consider how this book might profit, inspire, or encourage you. Apply what you read to your own life.

2. Read Relatively.

Read to relate. Relate what you are reading to your own life and own experiences.

3. Read Slugglishly.

Read slowly, meditatively, considerately. Think about what you are reading. Read good books like you would drink good wine.

4. Reread

You won’t be able to master a book in one, two, or three readings. I’ve read my favorite books (or sections thereof) 10-15 times. For learning’s sake, it would be better to really read and digest one classic than to skim 100 classics.

5. Read with dictionary in hand.

Look up unfamiliar words as you go along. You can get a pocket dictionary for a bargain, but the payoff for reading will be ... priceless. We are familiar with the phrase ‘reading for comprehension.’ But reading for comprehension implies we comprehend what we are reading. This is impossible unless we know the meanings of difficult words.

6. Discuss what you read.

We tend to retain and understand what we can articulate. So, join a book club, or start your own. You’ll be surprised how much more you lean when you read ‘in community.’

7. Read with pen in hand.

Mark up books with notes and questions. Dogear the most important pages. This will make it easier to find the best insights in the future. It will also make reading more ‘tactile’ – thus involving more of your senses in the reading experience. 

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