Thread: How do you read it all?

Sell your TV.

Originally Posted by Bilgefisher

Perhaps some folks can help me here.

How are you able to read all the documents you like efficiently?

I'm not.

I read a very small percentage of what I'd like to read, and it's tremendously frustrating. Here are two suggestions I have (neither of which I've been able to perfect yet ):

1) Don't try to multitask. When you're reading/studying, turn off your TV, turn off your phone, lock your door, and focus on what you're reading/studying.

2) Bill Gates has this cool thing he used to do every year when he worked for Microsoft. For one full week each October, he would have what he called a "think week." Basically, he spent an entire week at one of his vacation places completely disconnected from the world, and would use the time to catch up on all his reading. He would encourage the senior employees to submit proposals for new businesses, technologies, products, ideas, etc (or even just thoughts on making the company a better place to work), and along with all the other reading he wanted to get done, he'd spend the week reading those things and responding with handwritten notes. He didn't answer email or anything...just spent the entire week reading and contemplating.

While it's probably not practical for any of us to do that (unfortunately), there's no reason why you couldn't do a mini version of it -- for example, spend one weekend every few months, and do nothing but catch up on your reading.

Audiobooks. I prefer holding/reading a book but it works for my husband.

Originally Posted by Yveskleinsky

Originally Posted by Bilgefisher

I just have way to much to read, and I can't find enough time to read it all. I'm looking for suggestions from others to keep up on everything you want to read.

Sell your TV

Yves, if I could rep you a million points, I would right now.

Bilge, unplug the boob tube for 30 days.

Make an hour a day for reading-- give up something else, if you didn't have a TV in the first place.

You will be amazed.

-Russ H.

Originally Posted by JScott

2) Bill Gates has this cool thing he used to do every year when he worked for Microsoft. For one full week each October, he would have what he called a "think week." Basically, he spent an entire week at one of his vacation places completely disconnected from the world, and would use the time to catch up on all his reading. He would encourage the senior employees to submit proposals for new businesses, technologies, products, ideas, etc (or even just thoughts on making the company a better place to work), and along with all the other reading he wanted to get done, he'd spend the week reading those things and responding with handwritten notes. He didn't answer email or anything...just spent the entire week reading and contemplating.

Diane Kennedy actually does this almost *every week*-- allocates an entire day for this.

Can't find the post where she talks about this-- but I did much the same thing, when I designed home theaters (since I'd organized my time so that I didn't have to spend all of it working on projects).

Gave me an *immense* amount of perspective and a great feeling of well being w/myself (I knew what was important to me, and what I wanted).

-Russ H.

Use "selective reading". Read what you need to read for the moment. If you want to learn online marketing, then read only the highest rated books and articles about that subject. Get an overiview of the online marketing subject and then read only that which catches your fancy (that which is most likely to suit you and your bank account).

Keyword: "selective".

Audio books are a great way to go. I would guess I average about an hour per day in the car and I've been averaging 2 hours per day over the last couple months on my bike pedaling away this large ass that seems to be chasing me everywhere I go. Audiobooks on the ipod are a great way to get some think time in.

Thanks to a certain member here... I wound up downloading several good books on poker and listened to all three 4-5 times while riding the bike.

Oh - and put some reading material in the throne room!

I love reading, but I only end up reading a small percentage of what I want to read. Its ok you can only do so much; now I just buy 3-4 books at a time and when I'm done get more.

I just ordered this book, it looks fantastic!

Originally Posted by Russ H

Diane Kennedy actually does this almost *every week*-- allocates an entire day for this.

Can't find the post where she talks about this-- but I did much the same thing, when I designed home theaters (since I'd organized my time so that I didn't have to spend all of it working on projects).

When I first read this, I thought, "That must be nice, but there's just no way to do it in practice..."

But then I realized, "Why not?!?!?"

Tomorrow will be my first "reading day"...if it goes well, maybe I'll do it every week or two...

Great suggestion!

Toilet University -- every time I sit, I read. No distractions, no computers, no TV, learning happens every single day and in short bursts. My bathroom also serves as a library.

Originally Posted by Russ H

Yves, if I could rep you a million points, I would right now.

Bilge, unplug the boob tube for 30 days.

Make an hour a day for reading-- give up something else, if you didn't have a TV in the first place.

You will be amazed.

-Russ H.

I wish it were this easy. I do not have cable and watch 1-2 movies a month. TV is not my issue. For many folks though, this is an excellent suggestion.

I do like the idea of taking a day or two every once in awhile to catch up on reading or using audio books. Strangely for me though many of the books I have been reading are e-books from smaller authors that do not have that option.

Good suggestions. I'd love to hear more.

Found the first DK post on "free" days>

Here it is.

There may be more, for anyone who wants to dig.

-Russ H.

Most of us waste an incredible amount of our lives WAITING for stuff.

So I've made it a habit to always keep a book in my car/purse. I have read MANY books the past few years while waiting:

• in line at the bank
• at stop light
• to get my car washed
• to get my car inspected
• for an oil change
• in the doctor's office
• in line at the post office
• for a table/food at a restaurant (when traveling alone, I read WHILE I eat.)
• in the security line at the airport
• to board the plane
• for a friend to meet me somewhere

I could go on and one, but you get the point.

At first, it's hard to "get into it" so quickly, because you might just have time for a page or even paragraph. But after you do it for a while, you actually look forward to long, slow lines! The amount of information is so small, that you really have time to absorb it and think of ways to apply it to your own sitch before reading the next nugget.

Originally Posted by PhxMJ

Toilet University -- every time I sit, I read. No distractions, no computers, no TV, learning happens every single day and in short bursts. My bathroom also serves as a library.

Agreed.

Here's a problem perhaps Fanocks can solve for me -- how do you keep your legs from falling asleep while you're sitting there!?!?

Originally Posted by JScott

. . . Here's a problem perhaps Fanocks can solve for me -- how do you keep your legs from falling asleep while you're sitting there!?!?

Uh-oh . . .

Originally Posted by Turd Swerling

. . . You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead — your next stop, the Toilet Zone . . .

Just don't wanna go there, y'know?

-Russ H.

Originally Posted by JScott

Here's a problem perhaps Fanocks can solve for me -- how do you keep your legs from falling asleep while you're sitting there!?!?

Originally Posted by Russ H

Uh-oh . . .

If it wasn't clear, this was in reference to Fanocks' thread about "What problems can I solve for you..."

It wasn't a crack at Fanocks in any way...

Generally speaking, I am one hell of a reader.

My favorite techniques and methods for optimal comprehensive learning are to read under these circumstances, especially:

• Read while I jog and bench press, doing the bench with one hand while I read with the book in my other hand.
• Cruising down the beach amidst a morning sunrise on my horse.
• On the deck of my sail boat under a breezy crisp lunar evening.
• While I am in the elevator going to a deal breaker at the upper hills of Manhattan.
• While I'm cutting the grass with one of those push mowers like in that movie, "Honey... I shrunk the kids."

Additionally, I find it absolutely relaxing to sit under an Apple Tree and bask in the breezy Montana afternoon with picket white fences and spacious mountainous terrain. Nothing inspires me more to take action than spending a great day in a relaxing environment with a hand vault of information. You can feel the words as they enter your mind and open those unknown corridors.

But remember, the key to it all is to "Just Do It" or you'll never be threw with it. And reading, my friend, reading unlocks new door ways and glittering veins of gold inside your mental framework. The more you read, take action... the more you will succeed and feel satisfaction.

Best of luck,

Ben C.

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