Master the skills of a good reader

 




Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Cuban consider reading to be one of the key points of success. This view also has scientific evidence. The study published by Canadian psychologist Keith E. Stanovich has proven that reading broadens the outlook and general knowledge, improves both verbal and writing skills, and contributes to a wider range of vocabulary.


In order to gain maximum effect from reading, you should learn how to become a good reader.


A good reader is one who concentrates on the text, tries to guess the writer’s intention, analyzes and interprets the information, and tries to imagine and keep it in memory. All these actions constitute the process of active critical reading.

Let us find out how to develop the qualities of a good reader:

1. Pick up the appropriate material


If you want to read a lot, you ought to be into the process. Research your interests and purposes carefully: whether you wish to relax and enjoy or enrich your knowledge. Then, choose the books that will match them and may bring you the expected results.

2. Add reading to your routine

When seeing this on your to-do list, you’ll be tempted to tick the task off it. In such a way, what was planned on paper is more likely to be implemented than just an idea in mind. Yet do not force yourself to read a book that doesn’t hold your interest. Just quit it and switch to another one.

3. Train your speed of reading

One popular method is using a pencil, a pen, or even your finger as a pacer and moving it underneath the words. This will make your eyes instinctively follow your pacer while reading, and you won’t stop that easily.

4. Try out audiobooks

Audiobooks are an excellent solution if you lack some free time for reading. Listening to an audiobook can be conveniently combined with some other activities such as doing chores, working out, or even commuting to your work.

5. Acknowledge tsundoku

Tsundoku is a Japanese term denoting the practice of buying a lot of books and keeping them in a pile because you intend to read them but have not done so yet. However, it doesn’t make you a bad reader. It merely implies that you always have something to read. Just don’t forget to put a book into your bag when leaving home.

6. Take your time

The truth is that the faster you read, the less likely you are to comprehend fully what you’re reading. So, don’t hurry up, slow down when needed to get the point across right. Don’t hesitate to reread the paragraph in case you haven’t captured the essence from the first time. Over time you’ll be able to read faster without losing sense and flow of the author’s thoughts.

7. Read aloud

After making sure you’re alone or not disturbing anybody, try to read the text out loud. Thanks to this, you’ll catch the rhythm of how the author expresses his thoughts and begin to read more accurately. Reading aloud can also help improve your foreign language skills, especially pronunciation.

8. Visualize the text

It is scientifically proven that illustrations influence the human mind more than just words. Try to create a picture from what you read. Not only will this help you to understand the author better, but it will also make you remember the information for longer.

9. Take some notes and highlight key points

This is a well-known, tried and tested method to employ for a deeper understanding of the text. A Contemporary Journal research revealed that taking any notes of what you are reading enhances your ability to handle that information. By the way, Bill Gates told Time magazine he spends more time on books he dislikes and disagrees with because he writes arguments and counterpoints in the margins.

10. Refer to your summaries from time to time

Our memory is not perfect. Sometimes we may forget something important, and this is exactly when our notes come in handy. Yet the best outcome, called combinational creativity, happens when you combine insights from current books with ones finished before.

So, it’s about time you took some book from the shelf, opened it, and got down to reading because a thing begun is half done.

Share your thoughts on whether you are into reading or not. What are your secrets to benefiting from reading the most?


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