Saturday, April 07, 2007

Reading Skills


"You're the same today as you'll be in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read.".....Jones

Isn't it interesting that most homes valued over $250,000 have a library?
You can open up a new world with a simple visit to your local library or bookstore.
So why is reading important?

1. Reading opens up new worlds. Reading allows you to travel far away and experience different cultures, religions, places and people, and all through the pages of a wonderful book. At a fraction of the cost of actually going there 

2. Reading challenges you. Sometimes we think we know it all. We think we have a tremendous grasp on a certain topic. But then, we read something that challenges us. It makes sense. It takes our preconceived ideas and shreds them. It pokes holes in our theories. It takes us on a line of reasoning we hadn't considered. And we are better for it, because someone took the time to expose us to something new--through his or her writing.

3. Reading opens up new ideas. There are so many ideas we have never even heard or considered. Yet, by picking up a little book, we can be confronted with ideas that can revolutionize the world around us. These are ideas that can change your finances, your family, your work, your attitude - your life! Reading allows you to receive ideas galore!

4. Reading reinforces our beliefs. We can open a book written by someone special, and as we read we remember why we believed in the first place. The book lays the groundwork of the thoughts we have. It reinforces our logic. It makes us strong and reminds us of who we are.

5. Reading allows you to interact with the greatest minds. You could gain incredible insights into the minds and ideas of people like George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill, Mother Theresa, and Aristotle just by opening a book. Imagine being able to delve deeply into philosophy, politics, religion and more, with the greatest minds that have ever lived...all inside a book.

Over the centuries books have brought hope to the masses. They have paved the way for rulers both good and evil. Books have been destroyed - burned and shredded - by the powers that be. Books have brought down cruel nations and rulers and obliterated social structures that have outlived their usefulness. They have inspired the individual. They have shared the private thoughts of the rich and the poor. They have shown us the way - the way to live and the way not to live.

Reading is truly at the center of the term "personal development." That should tell us something!
 
Some thoughts on Developing a Reading Plan.
Do it daily and regularly. 
Set aside time each day. 
15 minutes each day is better than an hour a week.
Make sure it gets done at the same time each day.
Prepare your mind, so it can absorb the information.
Prepare the atmosphere, choose an atmosphere that is conducive. 
Keep a journal. Take the time to write down what you are learning and how you can apply it.
Choose a variety of books. Don't just read one genre. Rotate through different books. 
Interact with the authors as you read. 
Ask questions and then continue reading to see if they are answered. 
If you disagree, write it down. Write down examples of how the principles work or don't work. 
Make your reading as interactive as you can.
Read things that you might disagree with. 
Pick up a book by authors whose viewpoints you know you will disagree with. 


Tips for Improving your Reading Speed.
1. Read, read, read. Just like any task, the more you do it, the faster you can get.
2. Develop your vocabulary. The better you know the language, the easier it will be for you to read faster.
3. Don't move your lips while you read. It slows you down.
4. Don't make any noises while you read. It is your subconscious trying to read with you and it slows you down.
5. Don't read each word individually. That slows you down. Read groups of words together and your mind puts them together in logical order.
6. Sweep your hand gently and quickly through the middle section of the page and read as you go. Start slowly, practicing, and go faster and faster until you reach your highest rate.

This can be a stretching exercise.
Above all: Do it. Go to the store. Buy books. Read them! Because the books you don't read can't help you!


I wish You Great Success.

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