How I Read Books?

After my last post about reading, someone asked me this very question. Instead of replying to them directly, I thought I’d share my process with all of you here. Hopefully, you’ll find it insightful and maybe even pick up a tip or two!

The Environment

To truly enjoy and absorb what I’m reading, I need the right environment, somewhere calm and distraction-free. For me, that’s usually at night. I love staying up a bit late to read a few pages.

Daily goal

This year, I’ve decided to approach my reading in a more structured way. I’ve created a list of 12 books—one for each month of 2025 (with the help of ChatGPT). To make sure I finish each book on time, I divide the total number of pages by 30 days. This gives me a manageable daily reading goal. For instance, my current read, Grit, is about 350 pages long. To finish it within a month, I need to read an average of 12 pages a day, which is quite manageable, even if I choose to read each page twice (more on that later). 

Audible

I also use Audible to complement my reading. With a premium membership, I get one audiobook each month, and I’ve decided to align my Audible picks with my reading list. Sometimes, I even combine reading and listening: I’ll read the physical book while listening to the audiobook. It feels like the author (or narrator) is reading along with me, which adds to the experience.

Notes

What I love most about reading is reflecting on the ideas I’ve absorbed. I have a private Telegram channel where I post my insights after finishing each chapter. It’s like having a personal library of reflections I can revisit anytime. This practice helps me retain key ideas and apply them when the opportunity arises.

Rereading

Another tip: If you want to get even more out of a book, consider reading it twice. Every re-read reveals something new. Let’s face it: our minds sometimes wander while reading, and we might miss important details. That’s where Audible helps me again: I’ll read a chapter first and then listen to it (or vice versa) to make sure I’ve caught everything.

Wrap-up

In the end, reading is a deeply personal experience, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What matters most is finding a method that works for you and enjoying the process. As the saying goes, “The journey is more important than the destination.”

I hope these thoughts inspire you to pick up a book. Happy reading!