Don't Worry about Reading More Books. Focus on Reading Better.
TLDRThe speaker shares their personal practice of maintaining a journal to log every book they read, which has evolved into an intellectual autobiography reflecting their interests over the years. They emphasize the importance of reading quality over quantity, advocating for a natural reading pace that allows for deeper engagement with the material. The video critiques the 'toxic productivity culture' that encourages rapid consumption of books rather than thoughtful engagement. The speaker suggests that becoming a better reader is more valuable than simply reading more, likening reading to quality exercise or nourishing food for the soul. They recommend savoring complex works, such as Plato's dialogues or Dante's Divine Comedy, and building a meaningful relationship with books, treating them like old friends. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to focus on personal growth and meaningful connections with literature rather than the number of books read.
Takeaways
- 📚 The speaker has kept a journal for five years listing every book they've read, providing an intellectual autobiography.
- 🔍 The journal allows for tracking interests over time and performing rough metrics without needing a spreadsheet.
- 📈 In 2018, the speaker read 45 books, which increased to 60 in 2019, 72 in 2020, 76 in 2021, and on pace to read 52 in 2022.
- 🧘 Finding a natural reading pace of 52 books per year feels comfortable and allows for deeper engagement with the material.
- 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading better rather than just reading more, which is a crucial distinction.
- 🎯 Before focusing on reading more, one should aim to become a better reader, which is more important than efficiency or quantity.
- 🏋️♂️ An analogy is made to going to the gym, where quality and mindfulness in exercise are more beneficial than just spending more time at the gym.
- 📚 The speaker discusses the importance of savoring books, especially those from the Western Canon, rather than rushing through them.
- 🤔 The speaker questions the value of reading 100 books a year if it means not retaining or deeply engaging with the content.
- 📚 Reading books like 'The Divine Comedy' is considered better for the soul, similar to how certain foods are better for physical health.
- 👫 The speaker suggests treating books like friends, investing time and effort to build a relationship with them, and revisiting them over time.
- 📒 While keeping a journal of the books read is nice, the speaker advises not to make the number of books the goal, but rather to focus on personal growth and the kind of person one wants to be.
Q & A
What is the purpose of keeping a journal of books read according to the speaker?
-The purpose of keeping a journal of books read is to form an intellectual autobiography, allowing the individual to see their interests and how they have evolved over time.
How many books did the speaker read in 2018 and what was significant about that year?
-The speaker read 45 books in 2018, which was the year they started the practice of keeping a journal of books read.
Why did the speaker read more books in 2019 compared to 2018?
-The speaker read more books in 2019 because they were finishing their dissertation and had more time for reading, despite being busy with their personal life events such as getting married.
What was the speaker's reading pace in 2022 and how did it make them feel?
-The speaker read 40 books in 2022 and projected to read 52 by the end of the year. This pace felt natural and allowed them to read without pushing themselves, leading to a sense of contentment and better reading experience.
What is the crucial distinction the speaker wants to make between reading more and reading better?
-The speaker emphasizes that reading better, which involves deeper engagement and understanding, is more important than simply reading more or being more efficient at reading.
Why does the speaker criticize the 'toxic productivity culture'?
-The speaker criticizes the 'toxic productivity culture' because it focuses on metrics and efficiency, which can detract from the quality of reading and the intellectual benefits it provides.
What analogy does the speaker use to compare reading habits with physical exercise?
-The speaker uses the analogy of going to the gym to compare reading habits. Just as spending more time at the gym doesn't necessarily mean better health outcomes, reading more books doesn't guarantee better reading or deeper understanding.
What is the speaker's opinion on reading difficult books like Plato's dialogues?
-The speaker believes that difficult books like Plato's dialogues should be savored and read slowly to fully engage with the text and gain a deeper understanding.
What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to focusing on the number of books read?
-The speaker suggests focusing on becoming a better reader, choosing books wisely, and engaging deeply with the text as an alternative to simply focusing on the number of books read.
Why does the speaker recommend revisiting books?
-The speaker recommends revisiting books to see how one's understanding and perspective have changed over time, and to gain new insights from the text.
What is the speaker's advice on building a community around reading?
-The speaker advises forming book clubs, discussion groups, or local communities with like-minded individuals to share and discuss the books they read, which can enhance the reading experience.
How does the speaker feel about using a journal to keep track of books read?
-The speaker appreciates using a journal to keep track of books read, but cautions against turning the number of books into a goal, instead advocating for personal growth and deeper engagement with the material as the true objectives.
Outlines
📚 Personal Reading Journal and Its Benefits
The speaker discusses maintaining a personal reading journal for the past five years, which is a simple list of books read without additional thoughts or commentary. This practice is likened to an intellectual autobiography, allowing the speaker to track their interests and reading habits over time. The journal reveals a gradual increase in the number of books read each year, culminating in a comfortable pace of about 52 books per year, or one book per week. The speaker emphasizes that this pace is personal and varies from individual to individual. The video also makes a distinction between reading more and reading better, suggesting that quality and depth of reading are more important than quantity.
🏋️♂️ Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity in Reading
The speaker compares reading to going to the gym, arguing that being more intentional and focused leads to better outcomes than simply spending more time on the activity. They discuss the importance of savoring books, especially those from the Western Canon, which are not meant to be read quickly. The speaker shares their experience with Aristotle's 'Nicomachean Ethics' in graduate school, which was studied in depth over a semester. They criticize the 'toxic productivity culture' that encourages metrics and measurements as a means to feel good about one's achievements. Instead, they advocate for a deeper engagement with books to become a better thinker and a better person.
📚 Choosing Books Wisely and Building Lasting Connections
The speaker suggests that reading should not be a numbers game but rather an opportunity to form meaningful relationships with books. They describe their monthly discussions of challenging books from the Western Canon, which are chosen for their depth and the ability to be properly absorbed within a month. The speaker encourages viewers to choose books wisely, to revisit them, and to engage in discussions with others to build a community around reading. They also recommend keeping a journal to track reading progress but caution against making the number of books read a goal in itself. Instead, the focus should be on personal growth and the kind of person one aspires to be.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Reading Journal
💡Commonplace Book
💡Reading Pace
💡Reading More vs. Reading Better
💡Toxic Productivity Culture
💡Savoring Books
💡Western Canon
💡Book Haul
💡Graduate School Reading
💡Book Clubs and Discussion Groups
💡Personal Growth
Highlights
The speaker has maintained a journal for five years, listing every book they read without additional commentary, forming an intellectual autobiography.
The journal allows for tracking interests and reading habits over time, such as noting a shift in interests from 2018 to 2020.
In 2018, the speaker read 45 books, slightly less than desired due to graduate school commitments.
The year 2019 saw an increase to 60 books read, despite being busy with a dissertation and a wedding.
In 2020, with more time spent indoors, the speaker read 72 books.
The speaker's best year for reading was 2021, with 76 books completed.
For 2022, the speaker has read 40 books and anticipates reaching 52 by year's end, which feels like a natural pace.
Reading at a pace of 52 books a year allows for deeper engagement and a better reading experience.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading quality over quantity, suggesting that reading more does not necessarily equate to better reading.
The video critiques the toxic productivity culture that encourages reading more books at the expense of deeper engagement.
The speaker prefers to be a better reader rather than just reading more, advocating for a mindful and intentional approach to reading.
An analogy is drawn between reading and going to the gym, where quality and intentionality are more beneficial than mere quantity of time spent.
The speaker discusses the importance of savoring books, particularly those from the Western Canon, rather than rushing through them.
The speaker's experience with Aristotle's 'Nicomachean Ethics' in graduate school, where a deep and slow reading approach was taken.
The speaker discourages binge reading of important works, suggesting it detracts from the value and benefits of the books.
The speaker argues that books like Dante's 'Divine Comedy' are soul food and should be savored for their full benefits.
The speaker suggests choosing books wisely, following a natural progression, and revisiting works to see how one's understanding has evolved.
The importance of forming book clubs and discussion groups to engage with like-minded individuals and deepen the reading experience is highlighted.
Maintaining a reading journal is recommended to track progress but not to make the number of books read the ultimate goal.
The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to focus on becoming the kind of person they aspire to be through reading, rather than just aiming to read more.
Transcripts
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