How to Actually Learn from Books: Quantity vs. Quality

Do you want to learn more this year?

That’s great! Learning is essential for personal and professional growth. The problem is that many people try to learn by reading books. In order to learn from books, you must trade quantity for quality.

This means spending more time on fewer books. You will remember what you’ve read, and you’ll be able to apply the information to your life and work.

Here are some tips to getting the most out of your books and your book-consuming approach:

1. Choose quality over quantity. It’s great to brag about having read 50 books last year. But most people can’t read that much AND use that knowledge effectively. Choose a few books and read them slowly, taking the time to understand the concepts.
2. Choose wisely. Choose the best books. Develop criteria for books to make it onto the coveted shelf in your personal library. Just because a book is on someone else’s list, doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for you.
3. Slow down. Digest the concepts. Have a conversation with yourself about the concepts in the book. What do they mean to you?
4. Take Notes. Don’t just highlight or underline passages in a book. Write down your thoughts and questions about the material.
5. Apply it. Use what you’re reading to improve yourself and your life.
6. Make it a habit. Developing these skills will take time, but it is time well spent if you can do it.

As I’ve said (probably) in other essays, let books serve you. They’re there for your benefit. Some books will do that better than others. And only you know what is good for you.

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