“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” George R.R. Martin.
What comes to mind when you here about Shakespeare, Chinua Achebe, Ben Carson, Napoleon Hill, Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer and so on? There are just a few of popular writer, some alive, some dead, whose works have inspired billions of people.
You are likely not to have met these and other writers in person but you enjoy and benefit from their writing. If they were alive today, you probably might want to sit at their feet and listen to their wisdom. If they called a paid meeting, you would go to all lengths to attend.
The good news is that it is possible to tap into the wisdom of such people as long as you read their writings. Did you know that most sages or gurus distil their wisdom in books? A book is an organized summary of a person’s thoughts on a specified subject.
In essence, today you can symbolically sit at the feet of Myles Munroe and imbibe his wisdom even if he is now dead. The knowledge and wisdom of the greatest human beings (including Jesus Christ and Mohammad) is available in books.
Similarly, you don’t have to travel abroad to meet famous authors. You only need to buy, borrow or download their books and read them for you to ‘drink’ into such wisdom. The advantage we have today is that we can tap into the wisdom of multiple individuals instead of just one or a few.
What are you reading today? Newspapers, magazines and websites are full of information that can help in personal development. Books (including school textbooks, encyclopedias, the Bible, the Quran, motivational books, novels, play, and so on are also gold mines you cannot ignore.
Reading has many advantages. For example, you can solve many life problems using information you have gathered from books. Moreover, reading makes you a resource person in your family, community and society in general, helping others with their challenges.
Reading can also land you a dream job. Employers are impressed by individuals who have a good grasp on their areas of specialization. If you are knowledgeable in computer software matters, for example, you can convince an employer to offer you a relevant job.
How can you become a good reader?
- Identify your areas of interest. Stick to a few. Being a jack of all trades is not always good. You can become an expert in many issues but an expert in none.
- Identify established authors / writers in your area of interest. Make sure your list includes current and past authors.
- Select a few books to start with and create a reading list.
- Create a reading plan. How long will you read a book? How many books can you read in a month.
- Stick faithfully to your list and plan.
- Make notes and summaries of the books you read.
- Where necessary, come up with an implementation plan of the content you have learned in the books.
Where can you get books
- The internet: Search for free books to read online or downloadable ones. By typing the name of the book in the search engine, you will gain access to it.
- The library: Visit your local library to read books within the premises. You can also register to borrow books and read at home.
- Borrow books from those who have them in their libraries. However, ensure you take care of the book and return it on the days you have committed to.
- Buy books: As your income increases, start stocking your library. In a few months’ time, you will have an enviable collection of your favourite books.
- Exchange books: Once you have a library, identify other readers whom you can exchange books with. This way, you will not have to purchase a book for you to read it.
Whatever you do, cultivate a reading culture.
