Bonus tip that I cut from the video for time: Try listening to audiobooks as well. I do about half my "reading" through audiobooks, and they have two key benefits: 1) You don't have to actively push forward through the story. Instead, the pace is set for you, much like it is with a TV show or a person telling you a story in real life. This is especially helpful for people who find it hard to get through normal books. 2) You can listen to them while doing other things, like laundry. I've dealt with certain elitist people who say that listening to an audiobook "doesn't count", but I see that argument mostly as a hindrance to helping more people build a love of reading. Sure, some books are better experienced through text - but it's also true that books evolved from oral storytelling. And most books (especially fiction) can be adequately experienced either way. Plus, starting with audiobooks may encourage you to eventually start reading more paper/digital books. Hope this video was helpful! You can also find some more book recommendations here: collegeinfogeek.com/essential-books-for-students/ - or see what I've read at my Goodreads profile: www.goodreads.com/tomfrankly
Did you find audio manga? i know they're easy to read, but for me i get very anxious when i read ANY book i get lost in the details and i make sure to understand perfectly :(
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I was partially one of those elitists until I didn't have time to read. Audiobooks became my go to. I've accepted the fact that my brain doesn't absorb books the way it used to when I was a kid and was inseparable to books. So I started reading more fiction as they aren't a chore for me.
@@bruh438 I actually didn't know there was audio manga! Then again, the only manga I've really read are Alita and part of Terra Formars. Most of my comic reading has been Marvel, in addition to Scott Pilgrim, Monstress, and Saga.
I agree, 90% of my reading is through listening to audiobooks. I am an Assistant Librarian, and you are correct that some book snobs do say that Audiobooks do not count. I simply tell them I do not have the time to sit down and read almost 100 books in a year. For many commuters, listening to audiobooks to pass the travel time is a great way to get a book in. For stay at home caregivers that are tired of the mundane routines of life, audiobooks or podcasts can keep your mind active and current. Thank you for your great channel.
What has seriously helped me is listening to audiobooks. It’s gets me interested in new topics which then leads me to listen to more books or grab the paper copy. Sometimes I listen to the audio while reading just to get me in the groove
I have minor dyslexia, but that alone makes reading mentally exhausting and far from enjoyable. After 15mins my brains are done with it. It's not ADHD because I can listen long podcasts 4h straight without getting tired. I really need to get more into audiobooks.
ADHD isn't a short attention span - that's a misconception. it's a lack of regular stimulation. I know, becasue I have ADHD and I can do tasks for long periods of time provided the stimulation is there. Reading pure text makes me glaze, so I prefer videos where there is more stimulation for the eyes. It doesn't matter how one absorbs information. Anyone who suggests otherwise is a snob and a gatekeeper.
@@nebularain3338 That’s my same issue! I have ADD and sitting down and reading is legit difficult to do. At least for a long time. Tbh I do technically read if you count subtitles because I can’t watch a movie, tv show, or play a video game without them.
This is really terrific. I read a couple of terrible books when I was younger, and it just took the wind out of me. The main one was long, engrossing, and the conclusion was a MASSIVE letdown. I didn’t want to experience that disappointment again. It has taken me a lot of effort to return to a love of reading. Tons of great suggestions in here to keep building on my past successes. Thank you!
Protip: Go to law school, you'll never dread reading after that.. :') But, for real; If you like certain movies, read the books as well! That's an easy way to start.
You've missed the point. Some people are simply not designed for text based input. There are currently around seven identified methods for human learning, and text based is just one of them. I myself am kinesthetic/visual, which means I absorb information by visual example, so videos are ideal for me. Books are great, but they are not the be all and end all of education and/or entertainment. In other words - not liking books does not make one less intelligent.
This is probably my favorite Thomas Frank video, hands down. By the title, i thought that 'oh he's gonna talk about the audiobooks, habits blah blah blah and all of those usual tips that we see on the internet, but bam was i wrong. Especially that tip about the tbr and emotional attachment really get to me. Keep up the good work!
All this advice is absolutely fabulous and every time I'm talking to people who struggle with reading these are the things I would recommend I think this is a brilliant video
Actually opened this video looking for tips to read articles/academic books you don't really want to. That would be a HUGE help for me. Can you address it in one of your next videos? Thanks as always for your awesome contents. Really.
Himitsu As a history major, I’m often exposed to dense (and oftentimes dry) sources that aren’t necessarily in my field of interest. One of Thomas’ tips in a previous video was to build an “interest link,” and that’s something I have found helpful.
@@ladymacdish3406 Yeah I think he mentions that in this video as well, tell me if I'm wrong. I don't know, just wanted to know if there's some other tips & tricks to make you devour pages and pages of articles other than that, which is pretty intuitive but doesn't work with me. Btw cheers, I'm a History bachelor, now mastering in Cultural Anthropology :)
Himitsu wow awesome! I’m looking into grad school as well. Yeah I tried to find the one where he mentioned the interest link thing but couldn’t find it. And, I kinda zoned out on this video lol
*Have an open mind and develop a reading habit. Read as much as you can, expand your mind; you will not only exercise your brain, but you will increase your knowledge, you will learn from the experiences of others, you will travel to new places, you will discover new cultures and you will expand the way you see and do things.*
So what if your brain isn't designed for text input? Surely well read people know about the different (and equally valid) learning methods? Not being a book person isn't a lack of discipline.
I really liked your tip about not viewing your to be read list as a concrete order for which to read books. I go in and out of phases where I want to read, mostly due to school draining me mentally and forcing me to read books I don't enjoy like you mentioned. I think it's important to not limit yourself to one genre or category. There are many children's books that aren't just for children and you shouldn't feel bad for wanting to read them. Reading is an amazing resource and may be a solution to rebuilding our attention spans while at the same time learning more, improving your vocabulary and just having some fun. Thanks for the video!
Like reading, watched the video just because it's Thomas and the video is great. Still found things I can apply to my reading life. Like reading short anthologies, because it is frustrating to me that most often I don't have enough time to finish even one chapter and long stories get stretched out for months. Nice point about categories, I feel like many people are afraid or reluctant to explore anything outside "their" category.
I find comedy novels easier to read. Mainly because laughing gives you energy. Good horror/thriller novels also works since you would turn the page faster
The physical exercise analogy works really well from me. I think that the school system has made me dread reading, and now if I plow into something that's a bit over my head, I get a mental exertion similar to exercising too much. I got this with my current sci-fi TBR pile, so I think I'm going to forget about reading heavy stuff for a while and go back to what sounds interesting and what's more digestible. Thanks, Thomas!
in english, we have to get our parents to sign these bookmarks saying we read for a certain amount of time every day. We are only really allowed to read books that are on the accelerated reading system and we have to quiz on the books after reading them-meaning we have to read keeping a quiz in mind. I used to adore reading, but now my love of reading has been kind of destroyed
i don't strictly follow my tbr list i only use it because i don't wanna forget the books I'm interested in and will read in the future depending on my mood
Thanks for reminding me to take it easy while getting back into the habit of reading. I grew up reading Shakespeare and Jane Austen, then went on to read extremely technical books in engineering, then life happened so I wasn't able to read for years. Just recently trying to pick up the pieces of my reading hobby and I've felt really bad about myself for not being able to read these kind of books anymore, but it's just like you said, it's about building that habit :)
8:14 I think I have come up with a good way to handle reading lists, so I felt I'd share it here: I keep updating my list of books that I haven't read yet but that I think I might read someday. I would never feel compelled to read a book just because I've put it on that list. Sometimes a book on my list gets recommended to me by multiple friends and acquaintances, increasing the probability that I'll eventually read it and sometimes I get discouraged from reading certain books before I think hard whether to read them, resulting in them being deleted from my list. I just collect some dozens of ideas for which books to read in the next months/years and then I ask myself which books are the most important to me right now (i.e. optimise for product of importance and urgency), at the point of ordering books. Currently, this list contains about 150 books that I (vaguely) categorised by topic/field and I'm confident I won't ever read even half of these, which is perfectly fine, since that means I have more time to spend on books that are even more important.
great tip, thank you. I have used it with my dyslexic child, as a rule they don{t like to read but they have too. I set aside a penny jar. Each penny represented daily reading. if she read we moved a penny to the other side if not I moved 2 pennies from read side to unread side as a punishment. before, soooooooo many time she was very busy to read. that way she remembered to read and was able to make her allowances by reading. eternally grateful mom.
This actually happened: A long long time ago, in a land far far away, a co-worker, Joe, asked me how it is that I enjoy reading and read so much! I told him my best guess is that early schooling is actually great at teaching reading ability/skill. But beyond that, unintentionally, in a lot of cases teaches kids to hate reading. For a lot of us, love or enjoyment of reading can't be taught. But it can easily be facilitated through the process of (what I refer to as-) "clicking," much the same as when people (their personalities) "click" when they first meet. It's a matter of matching the right book with that I-hate-reading person. I had worked with Joe long enough to have a basic grasp of his (what I refer to as) psycho-type... He was ex-marine. Seemed to have really enjoyed the military, was a serious jock/macho type, and a Harley rider. And he was smart, with reading ability.. He just hated reading. The following day, I gave him an old copy of James Clavell's "King Rat". The day after that, at work he told me he had started the book and had been unable to put it down.. He had "clicked!" So, I just happened to have some of the other popular Clavell books laying around, so I also gave him those. He devoured them, including "Shogun" -Over a thousand pages.. And it wasn't long until he wanted more reading material.. I brought him in an old copy of "The Far Arena" and told him after that, he was on his own for finding reading material, which he did..
Thomas, this is the exact method I am using to relearn how to read after having strokes that affected language and comprehension. Thank you for making this video.
Currently reading Thinking, Fast and Slow and it is well worth investing in. The way he explains the two systems in which your brain works is remarkable.
I loved reading comic books as a child - before my Mom threw them all away (thousands of $ worth at today's prices). But I DID develop a love of reading - nobody can take that away (smile)
Exactly! Right now I’m a sophomore in high school and we’re reading Cry the Beloved Country but we’re forced to read only until the pages the teacher assigns. My teacher told us to read until chapter 12 but I’m already at ch 20. It’s tough to have the will to read when I have to stop myself from going further every time I pick up the book.
I'd really thank for all of your videos you are really my favorite youtuber u played a huge part in re developing myself after 4 years of losing and suicidal thoughts really a special thanks
Thanks to this video I discovered that there is a comic book series that is a continuation of avatar: the last air bender. Thank you so much! It's one of my favourite stories ever told.
Hey Thomas frank! Your videos are super informative and useful to all people who want to become better version of themselves! Look everybody knows that what they should do! But, they just need right direction, where your tips works well! Thanks. ♥ From India.
I am actually reading Thinking Fast and Slow right now... and when I was listening to that intro I was like, “uhhhh.....are we reading the same book here?” 😂 Its more of a cognition book like the text books I use in college haha. Loved the vid! 🙏🏻👏🏼
I recommend the Illuminae trilogy for books that are easier to read, because the way it is written is very different and it makes it really interesting and easier to read, I read it pretty easily after a really long reading slump
I’m sure that Naval Ravikant podcast can be helpful too in terms of this video topic. Changed my mind on how to read books. It’s from The Knowledge Project.
I am glad you are helping people enjoy reading. And you're right; sometimes you need to get into children's books. Some of my "best friends" are Heidi, the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and many others. I say that books are my friends because I revisit them over and over again. Unfortunately, as an English major in college I lost my love for reading after "hyper analyzing" some wonderful books in our American Literature. It is so nice to read just for the sake of reading -- or listening to audio books. Some of my new "friends" are the five books written by Rush Limbaugh featuring Rush Revere and his horse Liberty. They come as books, but my copies are on CD, which I listen to in the car when traveling. It's so exciting when the book is read by the author. Some of my favorite "popcorn" books are the Small Miracles series and the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. These are books with short stories which grab you, then you say, "I'll just read the next one" and the next one, etc. until you realize 2 hours have passed! I wonder if you could enjoy reading if you were a "writer" of stories? Anyone can write about their own life or opinions, etc. which would leave a legacy to the friends and family you might leave behind someday.
A great video, as usual. One thing I found extremely useful recently was e-books. I was - and still are - quite sceptical of reading books on a screen but I noticed that I was able to get through books a lot faster by switching those constant instagram check-ups into a couple of lines or pages of the e-book. I haven't read a lot of e-books since but at least it got me back into a strong reading habit. PS. That's one sharp haircut you've got there, Thomas!
Great! I used to dislike reading and even once I started properly commuting I still didn’t like it! I would get tired and drowsy in the morning if I read. But ... after a while I started to love it. I look forward to adding book on top of book to my pile. Watching it grow motivates the f*ck out of me! Have a great Friday! Angus
Also, I hated reading until I made myself get an eye exam. I can read just fine but my vision was off just enough so that I started getting a headache after about 15 minutes. It was subtle, but it created a Pavlovian response that reading = pain. Once I got my eyes checked and got my glasses, I started reading books like Atlas Shrugged and Lord of the Rings waaaay more easily.
The idea of reading short stories is a good one. I found a book called, A Twist of The Knife by Peter James. It is very well written and fast paced, definitely worth a read.
Another couple of tips (coming from an English Literature student who went from loving reading to hating mandatory readings and, finally, to learning to love books all over again): - Take a physical book with you to the toilet. It may sound gross for some, but I find that a lot of people I know forget the rest of the world. It's especially useful if you leave your phone outside and know you'll be there for a while. - Ditch a reading if you can't get into it. Yes, it's a "classic", but if you're not enjoying it now, it'll just make you dislike reading as a whole. You can give it a try later if you want to. - Commit to just 5 minutes a day. I've had bad periods of time when it was difficult to even focus on a sentence for mandatory readings. I had to take the pressure off myself, read just a tiny bit and tell myself it was good enough. - Also, articles, fanfiction, summaries, manuals, audiobooks, etc. all count too!!!
I have very low focus and I was not exactly fond of books with very few pictures as a kid. But what really made me hate reading was mandatory readings and my mom, who always pushed me to read more and more. I still don't enjoy reading that much and it's been over 20 years now... I DO enjoy reading books on topics that interest me, but I have very little interest in fiction. If I want to read fiction, I'm better off with audiobooks.
Why read when you can listen with audible is what I was expecting him to say since he's always plugging audible lol. I do have to agree find something you like it's much easier to start. My first book was the Count of Monte Cristo. I read it on my own and it was great, I didn't have a TV and books really helped me visualize and escape into a new world, I still do it now with audible and my kindle paperwhite.
I think one thing that helps is listening to books or watching the movie version. I was struggling to read A Tale of Two Cities but when I listened to it, it was much easier to understand.
The most important (for me) is to find a book you love. Once you're in a book you're invested in, you'll be craving to read the next chapter, just like you'd jump on the next episode of a series. I spend a lot of time before buying a book to make sure that I'll like the story or the content. Also, I always buy books one by one. If I buy too much, then I feel like I have to read them all before buying new ones. So, I have a long To Be Read list, but when I choose a new book to read, I take the one I'll be more invested in. Regardless of when this book ended up in this list :)
I also like the Text-To-Speech apps, which are getting better. I like the Heather voice on NaturalReader and I can adjust her voice speed and so when I have articles, texts, journals or other things on the web I NEED to read I can upload to NaturalReader and listen either at home or make the text into an .mp3 I can listen to in the car. Also for people who think they "should" read, they might try the GreatCourses etc... you can get intellectual content without reading. Also check out Wisecrack and the Crash Course series for intellectual content. As a college instructor I've discovered that not everyone is built for information intake via the written word. :-) I love reading, but getting older it is harder to read because of reading glasses. So AUDIOBOOKS is the way to go for those of us who find reading just exhausting and headache provoking as we age. Extra tip: if possible listen to books read by their author.
I made a bet with my mum that if I read 4 books this year I can get a new iPad next you but she’s not worried that she has to buy me an iPad because it takes me like 2 years to read a full book and I don’t even finish it when I was like 8 likes books in London we do a summer reading challenge where we have to read 6 books for the 6 weeks of break and get a certificate and medal and I managed to read a 10 chapter book minimum every week but know I can’t even read a single chapter in a year now I guess I was just put off
- Reading is a habit that becomes easier (and more pleasant) with practice. - Start with material that’s easier to get through. - Such as comic books or manga which involve reading text but also provide visuals. - Since there are pictures, there’s usually not a ton of room for text so it’s an easier and quicker read. - Can read short anthologies as well. - Treat it as an entry-point to your reading habits. - Authors who write fiction that’s easily digestable - Like “The Hunger Games” - Don’t feel ashamed about reading “kids” books or books beneath your level - Don’t let your TBR (To Be Read List) make reading feel like a chore. - Try listening to audiobooks - Two key benefits - You don’t have to actively push forward through the story. Instead the pace is set for you, much like it is with a TV show or a person telling you a story in real life. This is especially helpful for people who find it hard to get through normal books. - You can listen to them while doing other things, like driving to work or school.
Do you have any more tips for reading difficult texts? Especially academic texts? I’ve been reading easy fiction books like you recommended, but it hasn’t helped me understand difficult prose. Do i need to improve my own language and grammar first?
im 31 years old lawyer and a social worker and now a law master student ... i never read a book unless it is for studying, exams, homeworks, etc (for example, i read the whole criminal law about 7-10 times in the last year). my dream is to read books for fun, not for studying.. i cant do that, i tried but failed. i remember myself as 10 years old boy, my first book i chose to read was "The hound of Baskervilles" and i never completed it.. then i tried more but failed to complete.. maybe now i keep my efforts to read articles, the law and lots of judgments instead of a story book. but when i just was a kid till now i dislike reading. i do it only when i have to. month ago i finished my first book, and it was an audiobook and it works. im so happy for that. officially i completed my very first book (listening not reading). btw, i am a fan of reading manga. does this really count?
I used to love reading until high school. Having advanced placement English classes, made lost interest in something I used to love. Now I wanna get back into it. I just don't know where. Might start off with comics.
I am a high school librarian in a boys school, and so many young men only read because they are forced to. I am going to share this with them, and see if it sparks a change for some.
Better question is how to read through bad or overwritten material. With ebooks anyone can publish now and there’s many examples of poorly organized material.
Ok, ok this is going to sound insane, but I've struggled to read books for several years now, falling asleep or getting bored. Recently my partner dropped off Avatar The Last Airbender comics and I started trying to read daily just a little at a time with those. It was easy to pick up, not many words, and I already knew the backstory so it wasn't super intensive on trying to remember who is who. Those books literally got me back into reading again! I also recommend the Scurry series, or for horror lovers that want something more intense, anything written by Junji Ito. Manga, comics and visual novels are all a great way to ease in to the habit of reading.
Great recommends as usual! Personally, I started with my old American Girl books...super easy to finish, and interesting too, if you're into history. I started at 5 books a year, 3 years (?) ago and am at abt 15-20 books per year now.
One thing I did that made me really start to enjoy reading fiction was to imagine every characters as the most attractive, beautiful human ever, 'cause who doesn't want to "spend time" with beautiful people? Like, regardless of however the character's physical appearance is described, I would just think of them as beautiful.
I usually have multiple books on the go. I think that I finished at least 3 books before completing Thinking fast and slow. Definitely beneficial but not a light read for me!
comics and mangas are the only that i read without forcing myself 😂 i have this big problem, i personally REALLY like the idea of reading more and i would love to read more.. the only thing that it’s stopping me from doing it is my laziness lol 😂 it’s so hard for me to START and i’m always scared of choosing a book. There are so many choices and i don’t have a specific genre that i like, so every time i enter a book store with the intention of getting a book, i always end up buying nothing bc i’m always like “what if i don’t like it?” 😅 ughhhh so bothering
Bonus tip that I cut from the video for time:
Try listening to audiobooks as well. I do about half my "reading" through audiobooks, and they have two key benefits:
1) You don't have to actively push forward through the story. Instead, the pace is set for you, much like it is with a TV show or a person telling you a story in real life. This is especially helpful for people who find it hard to get through normal books.
2) You can listen to them while doing other things, like laundry.
I've dealt with certain elitist people who say that listening to an audiobook "doesn't count", but I see that argument mostly as a hindrance to helping more people build a love of reading. Sure, some books are better experienced through text - but it's also true that books evolved from oral storytelling. And most books (especially fiction) can be adequately experienced either way. Plus, starting with audiobooks may encourage you to eventually start reading more paper/digital books.
Hope this video was helpful!
You can also find some more book recommendations here: collegeinfogeek.com/essential-books-for-students/ - or see what I've read at my Goodreads profile: www.goodreads.com/tomfrankly
Did you find audio manga? i know they're easy to read, but for me i get very anxious when i read ANY book i get lost in the details and i make sure to understand perfectly :(
I was partially one of those elitists until I didn't have time to read. Audiobooks became my go to. I've accepted the fact that my brain doesn't absorb books the way it used to when I was a kid and was inseparable to books. So I started reading more fiction as they aren't a chore for me.
also you can increase the speed on audiobooks if you're looking to speed through a book a little quicker
@@bruh438 I actually didn't know there was audio manga! Then again, the only manga I've really read are Alita and part of Terra Formars. Most of my comic reading has been Marvel, in addition to Scott Pilgrim, Monstress, and Saga.
I agree, 90% of my reading is through listening to audiobooks. I am an Assistant Librarian, and you are correct that some book snobs do say that Audiobooks do not count. I simply tell them I do not have the time to sit down and read almost 100 books in a year.
For many commuters, listening to audiobooks to pass the travel time is a great way to get a book in. For stay at home caregivers that are tired of the mundane routines of life, audiobooks or podcasts can keep your mind active and current.
Thank you for your great channel.
Thomas: "Only about 497 pages....
Me after reading 2 pages of textbook: Feels like I've worked 36 hours a day
Hahaha couldn't agree more
And I collapse when he said "Again, an easy read only about 1,097 pages.
and next he recommended "only 1097 pages" book to someone who dislikes reading.
Thomas Frank : “Only 1019 pages”
My Short Attention Span : ............😂😂
Literally scroll down to find this kind of comment right after the moment 1097 pages 😂
Boring book recommendations at that
@@huyenle7912 Yeah - that was a great intro - ya got me on that one Thomas.
He barely kept a straight face by the end of that intro 😂😂❤
r/humblebrag
I feel an Audible ad coming
Yeah Thomas - you're so transparent
Discover audible with a free audio book, on us.
Ha lol
At first I couldn't tell if you were being serious about those books or just kidding xD * just a 1000 page book *
I did not believe that 60 pages is alot 🤣🤣🤣🤣
In one day I mean
Ikr
I used to hate reading but your channel motivated me to read books and gradually I started enjoying reading books. Thanks! Tom
*Just like any other habit it takes time to develop and start enjoying.*
What has seriously helped me is listening to audiobooks. It’s gets me interested in new topics which then leads me to listen to more books or grab the paper copy. Sometimes I listen to the audio while reading just to get me in the groove
Ameya Rastogi haha my bad..
Not a bad idea, but I hate how audio books are read too. Haha. So drawn out and annoying.
“Only 492 pages.”
Can’t relate.
Trying to get in better shape but you hate exercise? Just climb Mt. Everest!
That’s rlly short though- I just read 2 books longer than that.
Same
That will take about a week of good reading once you get the hang of it
I know, I just read a 302 pg book in one day 😦
I have minor dyslexia, but that alone makes reading mentally exhausting and far from enjoyable. After 15mins my brains are done with it. It's not ADHD because I can listen long podcasts 4h straight without getting tired. I really need to get more into audiobooks.
ADHD isn't a short attention span - that's a misconception. it's a lack of regular stimulation. I know, becasue I have ADHD and I can do tasks for long periods of time provided the stimulation is there.
Reading pure text makes me glaze, so I prefer videos where there is more stimulation for the eyes. It doesn't matter how one absorbs information. Anyone who suggests otherwise is a snob and a gatekeeper.
@@nebularain3338 That’s my same issue! I have ADD and sitting down and reading is legit difficult to do. At least for a long time. Tbh I do technically read if you count subtitles because I can’t watch a movie, tv show, or play a video game without them.
This is really terrific. I read a couple of terrible books when I was younger, and it just took the wind out of me. The main one was long, engrossing, and the conclusion was a MASSIVE letdown. I didn’t want to experience that disappointment again. It has taken me a lot of effort to return to a love of reading. Tons of great suggestions in here to keep building on my past successes. Thank you!
Protip: Go to law school, you'll never dread reading after that.. :')
But, for real; If you like certain movies, read the books as well! That's an easy way to start.
You mean, for example: Harry Potter?
The books are always better than the movies in my opinion
You've missed the point. Some people are simply not designed for text based input. There are currently around seven identified methods for human learning, and text based is just one of them.
I myself am kinesthetic/visual, which means I absorb information by visual example, so videos are ideal for me. Books are great, but they are not the be all and end all of education and/or entertainment. In other words - not liking books does not make one less intelligent.
@@ashkay7950 not always
This is probably my favorite Thomas Frank video, hands down.
By the title, i thought that 'oh he's gonna talk about the audiobooks, habits blah blah blah and all of those usual tips that we see on the internet, but bam was i wrong.
Especially that tip about the tbr and emotional attachment really get to me.
Keep up the good work!
*AUDIO books are great!*
Omg this video was made for me, I find it hard to commit to reading a full book, I lose interest really fast, I hope this helps
The struggle is real, are we gonna ignore the fact that we have the same last name?lol
Claro y tuu
Jalisco y tu?
Cool yo también estoy a nada de entrar a la universidad
yo en dos meses hago mi examen, voy a estudiar biología y tu?
All this advice is absolutely fabulous and every time I'm talking to people who struggle with reading these are the things I would recommend I think this is a brilliant video
*Doing something you HATE but doing it like you LOVE it.*
Key to success...
i should try that 🤔
So conditioning? Got it
15 min reading then 5 min rest, 15, 5, 15, ... . I do so and it works.
Actually opened this video looking for tips to read articles/academic books you don't really want to. That would be a HUGE help for me. Can you address it in one of your next videos?
Thanks as always for your awesome contents. Really.
Himitsu As a history major, I’m often exposed to dense (and oftentimes dry) sources that aren’t necessarily in my field of interest. One of Thomas’ tips in a previous video was to build an “interest link,” and that’s something I have found helpful.
@@ladymacdish3406 Yeah I think he mentions that in this video as well, tell me if I'm wrong. I don't know, just wanted to know if there's some other tips & tricks to make you devour pages and pages of articles other than that, which is pretty intuitive but doesn't work with me.
Btw cheers, I'm a History bachelor, now mastering in Cultural Anthropology :)
Himitsu wow awesome! I’m looking into grad school as well. Yeah I tried to find the one where he mentioned the interest link thing but couldn’t find it. And, I kinda zoned out on this video lol
*Have an open mind and develop a reading habit. Read as much as you can, expand your mind; you will not only exercise your brain, but you will increase your knowledge, you will learn from the experiences of others, you will travel to new places, you will discover new cultures and you will expand the way you see and do things.*
So what if your brain isn't designed for text input? Surely well read people know about the different (and equally valid) learning methods?
Not being a book person isn't a lack of discipline.
I think I sorta have PTSD from reading from being forced to read by parents and school and thinking I’m gonna have to be quizzed
I really liked your tip about not viewing your to be read list as a concrete order for which to read books. I go in and out of phases where I want to read, mostly due to school draining me mentally and forcing me to read books I don't enjoy like you mentioned. I think it's important to not limit yourself to one genre or category. There are many children's books that aren't just for children and you shouldn't feel bad for wanting to read them. Reading is an amazing resource and may be a solution to rebuilding our attention spans while at the same time learning more, improving your vocabulary and just having some fun. Thanks for the video!
Like reading, watched the video just because it's Thomas and the video is great. Still found things I can apply to my reading life. Like reading short anthologies, because it is frustrating to me that most often I don't have enough time to finish even one chapter and long stories get stretched out for months. Nice point about categories, I feel like many people are afraid or reluctant to explore anything outside "their" category.
Me: I love reading
My mind: what are you doing here?
Me: I love watching thomas too💙♥️💛
Wait What!!!🤤
True 👍👍
I've been waiting for you to post a reading video!
I read the Name of the Wind thanks to your suggestion.. So glad you enjoyed Mistborn!
I find comedy novels easier to read. Mainly because laughing gives you energy. Good horror/thriller novels also works since you would turn the page faster
The physical exercise analogy works really well from me. I think that the school system has made me dread reading, and now if I plow into something that's a bit over my head, I get a mental exertion similar to exercising too much. I got this with my current sci-fi TBR pile, so I think I'm going to forget about reading heavy stuff for a while and go back to what sounds interesting and what's more digestible. Thanks, Thomas!
Started a resolution to finish reading a book per month this year. It's actually a light and fun activity to do after everyday's heavy schedule.
Audiobooks are a life changer for me. I like to read, but audiobooks have helped me get more time to learning even when doing other tasks
Dude, you're a true inspiration for me, really, thanks a lot for making these videos
in english, we have to get our parents to sign these bookmarks saying we read for a certain amount of time every day. We are only really allowed to read books that are on the accelerated reading system and we have to quiz on the books after reading them-meaning we have to read keeping a quiz in mind. I used to adore reading, but now my love of reading has been kind of destroyed
When I read with my Grandkids I stop periodically and make them re-cap the story so they read for meaning not just the words.
I think reading along with audiobook narration is really helpful.
i don't strictly follow my tbr list i only use it because i don't wanna forget the books I'm interested in and will read in the future depending on my mood
Rothfuss and Sanderson are soooo talented, both are gifted writers 😊😊😊 Glad you mentioned them.
Audible is your friend! Really does work wonders! :)
Thanks for reminding me to take it easy while getting back into the habit of reading. I grew up reading Shakespeare and Jane Austen, then went on to read extremely technical books in engineering, then life happened so I wasn't able to read for years. Just recently trying to pick up the pieces of my reading hobby and I've felt really bad about myself for not being able to read these kind of books anymore, but it's just like you said, it's about building that habit :)
Thank you for grinding the "Follow your interest" idea often in your videos. Makes reading more fluent.
8:14 I think I have come up with a good way to handle reading lists, so I felt I'd share it here: I keep updating my list of books that I haven't read yet but that I think I might read someday. I would never feel compelled to read a book just because I've put it on that list. Sometimes a book on my list gets recommended to me by multiple friends and acquaintances, increasing the probability that I'll eventually read it and sometimes I get discouraged from reading certain books before I think hard whether to read them, resulting in them being deleted from my list.
I just collect some dozens of ideas for which books to read in the next months/years and then I ask myself which books are the most important to me right now (i.e. optimise for product of importance and urgency), at the point of ordering books. Currently, this list contains about 150 books that I (vaguely) categorised by topic/field and I'm confident I won't ever read even half of these, which is perfectly fine, since that means I have more time to spend on books that are even more important.
Omg the note about school ruining reading is so true. School is definitely the reason why i hate reading
great tip, thank you. I have used it with my dyslexic child, as a rule they don{t like to read but they have too. I set aside a penny jar. Each penny represented daily reading. if she read we moved a penny to the other side if not I moved 2 pennies from read side to unread side as a punishment. before, soooooooo many time she was very busy to read. that way she remembered to read and was able to make her allowances by reading. eternally grateful mom.
This actually happened: A long long time ago, in a land far far away, a co-worker, Joe, asked me how it is that I enjoy reading and read so much! I told him my best guess is that early schooling is actually great at teaching reading ability/skill. But beyond that, unintentionally, in a lot of cases teaches kids to hate reading. For a lot of us, love or enjoyment of reading can't be taught. But it can easily be facilitated through the process of (what I refer to as-) "clicking," much the same as when people (their personalities) "click" when they first meet. It's a matter of matching the right book with that I-hate-reading person. I had worked with Joe long enough to have a basic grasp of his (what I refer to as) psycho-type... He was ex-marine. Seemed to have really enjoyed the military, was a serious jock/macho type, and a Harley rider. And he was smart, with reading ability.. He just hated reading. The following day, I gave him an old copy of James Clavell's "King Rat". The day after that, at work he told me he had started the book and had been unable to put it down.. He had "clicked!" So, I just happened to have some of the other popular Clavell books laying around, so I also gave him those. He devoured them, including "Shogun" -Over a thousand pages.. And it wasn't long until he wanted more reading material.. I brought him in an old copy of "The Far Arena" and told him after that, he was on his own for finding reading material, which he did..
This is brilliant! I need to use this in my classroom. Thank you!
My favorite tip is one about reading short story anthologies. It's what I do to revive my interest in reading.
I love the beginning of the videoo. Thinking fast and slow took me quite some time 😂😂
Thomas, this is the exact method I am using to relearn how to read after having strokes that affected language and comprehension. Thank you for making this video.
Currently reading Thinking, Fast and Slow and it is well worth investing in. The way he explains the two systems in which your brain works is remarkable.
I loved reading comic books as a child - before my Mom threw them all away (thousands of $ worth at today's prices). But I DID develop a love of reading - nobody can take that away (smile)
Exactly! Right now I’m a sophomore in high school and we’re reading Cry the Beloved Country but we’re forced to read only until the pages the teacher assigns. My teacher told us to read until chapter 12 but I’m already at ch 20. It’s tough to have the will to read when I have to stop myself from going further every time I pick up the book.
I'd really thank for all of your videos you are really my favorite youtuber u played a huge part in re developing myself after 4 years of losing and suicidal thoughts really a special thanks
Thanks to this video I discovered that there is a comic book series that is a continuation of avatar: the last air bender. Thank you so much! It's one of my favourite stories ever told.
"So you hate reading? All you have to do is read these 2 giant tomes about reading."
Me: ....
Hey Thomas frank! Your videos are super informative and useful to all people who want to become better version of themselves! Look everybody knows that what they should do! But, they just need right direction, where your tips works well! Thanks. ♥ From India.
I am actually reading Thinking Fast and Slow right now... and when I was listening to that intro I was like, “uhhhh.....are we reading the same book here?” 😂 Its more of a cognition book like the text books I use in college haha.
Loved the vid! 🙏🏻👏🏼
One of the best videos out there congrats bro
I recommend the Illuminae trilogy for books that are easier to read, because the way it is written is very different and it makes it really interesting and easier to read, I read it pretty easily after a really long reading slump
The human brain created an 'Owner's Manual' for itself.
*Now let that sink in*
I’m sure that Naval Ravikant podcast can be helpful too in terms of this video topic. Changed my mind on how to read books.
It’s from The Knowledge Project.
I am glad you are helping people enjoy reading. And you're right; sometimes you need to get into children's books. Some of my "best friends" are Heidi, the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and many others. I say that books are my friends because I revisit them over and over again. Unfortunately, as an English major in college I lost my love for reading after "hyper analyzing" some wonderful books in our American Literature. It is so nice to read just for the sake of reading -- or listening to audio books. Some of my new "friends" are the five books written by Rush Limbaugh featuring Rush Revere and his horse Liberty. They come as books, but my copies are on CD, which I listen to in the car when traveling. It's so exciting when the book is read by the author.
Some of my favorite "popcorn" books are the Small Miracles series and the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. These are books with short stories which grab you, then you say, "I'll just read the next one" and the next one, etc. until you realize 2 hours have passed!
I wonder if you could enjoy reading if you were a "writer" of stories? Anyone can write about their own life or opinions, etc. which would leave a legacy to the friends and family you might leave behind someday.
him: its only 400 pages
also him: its only 1019 pages
me: IS MY HATE A JOKE TO YOU
Thank you Tom! That's really helped .👍👍
A great video, as usual. One thing I found extremely useful recently was e-books. I was - and still are - quite sceptical of reading books on a screen but I noticed that I was able to get through books a lot faster by switching those constant instagram check-ups into a couple of lines or pages of the e-book. I haven't read a lot of e-books since but at least it got me back into a strong reading habit.
PS. That's one sharp haircut you've got there, Thomas!
Great! I used to dislike reading and even once I started properly commuting I still didn’t like it! I would get tired and drowsy in the morning if I read. But ... after a while I started to love it. I look forward to adding book on top of book to my pile. Watching it grow motivates the f*ck out of me! Have a great Friday!
Angus
Mannnn I love this TH-cam channel
Also, I hated reading until I made myself get an eye exam. I can read just fine but my vision was off just enough so that I started getting a headache after about 15 minutes. It was subtle, but it created a Pavlovian response that reading = pain. Once I got my eyes checked and got my glasses, I started reading books like Atlas Shrugged and Lord of the Rings waaaay more easily.
The idea of reading short stories is a good one. I found a book called, A Twist of The Knife by Peter James. It is very well written and fast paced, definitely worth a read.
Another couple of tips (coming from an English Literature student who went from loving reading to hating mandatory readings and, finally, to learning to love books all over again):
- Take a physical book with you to the toilet. It may sound gross for some, but I find that a lot of people I know forget the rest of the world. It's especially useful if you leave your phone outside and know you'll be there for a while.
- Ditch a reading if you can't get into it. Yes, it's a "classic", but if you're not enjoying it now, it'll just make you dislike reading as a whole. You can give it a try later if you want to.
- Commit to just 5 minutes a day. I've had bad periods of time when it was difficult to even focus on a sentence for mandatory readings. I had to take the pressure off myself, read just a tiny bit and tell myself it was good enough.
- Also, articles, fanfiction, summaries, manuals, audiobooks, etc. all count too!!!
I have very low focus and I was not exactly fond of books with very few pictures as a kid. But what really made me hate reading was mandatory readings and my mom, who always pushed me to read more and more. I still don't enjoy reading that much and it's been over 20 years now... I DO enjoy reading books on topics that interest me, but I have very little interest in fiction. If I want to read fiction, I'm better off with audiobooks.
Why read when you can listen with audible is what I was expecting him to say since he's always plugging audible lol. I do have to agree find something you like it's much easier to start. My first book was the Count of Monte Cristo. I read it on my own and it was great, I didn't have a TV and books really helped me visualize and escape into a new world, I still do it now with audible and my kindle paperwhite.
I think one thing that helps is listening to books or watching the movie version. I was struggling to read A Tale of Two Cities but when I listened to it, it was much easier to understand.
him: "a light, easy read, only 1096 pages!"
me: *dreading to read a 308 page book*
Ok
The most important (for me) is to find a book you love. Once you're in a book you're invested in, you'll be craving to read the next chapter, just like you'd jump on the next episode of a series. I spend a lot of time before buying a book to make sure that I'll like the story or the content.
Also, I always buy books one by one. If I buy too much, then I feel like I have to read them all before buying new ones. So, I have a long To Be Read list, but when I choose a new book to read, I take the one I'll be more invested in. Regardless of when this book ended up in this list :)
The TBR list is a good one. I use my TBR list when I don't find something to read.
I use my TBR as a way to remember interesting books I heard about, so when I head down to a bookstore I can pick them up
Hooray for Patrick Rothfuss! Just finished the audiobooks and am somewhat happy you've also read them ^^
This happens to me as well, i get distracted very easily!!!
I also like the Text-To-Speech apps, which are getting better. I like the Heather voice on NaturalReader and I can adjust her voice speed and so when I have articles, texts, journals or other things on the web I NEED to read I can upload to NaturalReader and listen either at home or make the text into an .mp3 I can listen to in the car.
Also for people who think they "should" read, they might try the GreatCourses etc... you can get intellectual content without reading. Also check out Wisecrack and the Crash Course series for intellectual content. As a college instructor I've discovered that not everyone is built for information intake via the written word. :-)
I love reading, but getting older it is harder to read because of reading glasses. So AUDIOBOOKS is the way to go for those of us who find reading just exhausting and headache provoking as we age. Extra tip: if possible listen to books read by their author.
Thanks for another great video! Your vids are super helpful
2:45 that moment the respect I had for you increased by 200%
I love Avatar: The Last Airbender!
The last air bender was a dramatic moment for every fan of the series.
I made a bet with my mum that if I read 4 books this year I can get a new iPad next you but she’s not worried that she has to buy me an iPad because it takes me like 2 years to read a full book and I don’t even finish it when I was like 8 likes books in London we do a summer reading challenge where we have to read 6 books for the 6 weeks of break and get a certificate and medal and I managed to read a 10 chapter book minimum every week but know I can’t even read a single chapter in a year now I guess I was just put off
- Reading is a habit that becomes easier (and more pleasant) with practice.
- Start with material that’s easier to get through.
- Such as comic books or manga which involve reading text but also provide visuals.
- Since there are pictures, there’s usually not a ton of room for text so it’s an easier and quicker read.
- Can read short anthologies as well.
- Treat it as an entry-point to your reading habits.
- Authors who write fiction that’s easily digestable
- Like “The Hunger Games”
- Don’t feel ashamed about reading “kids” books or books beneath your level
- Don’t let your TBR (To Be Read List) make reading feel like a chore.
- Try listening to audiobooks
- Two key benefits
- You don’t have to actively push forward through the story. Instead the pace is set for you, much like it is with a TV show or a person telling you a story in real life. This is especially helpful for people who find it hard to get through normal books.
- You can listen to them while doing other things, like driving to work or school.
Do you have any more tips for reading difficult texts? Especially academic texts? I’ve been reading easy fiction books like you recommended, but it hasn’t helped me understand difficult prose. Do i need to improve my own language and grammar first?
The suggestions were amazing 🤗
This is out of the ordinary. How do you manage an anxiety disorder in college? Or how do you deal with the side effects of being burned out?
im 31 years old lawyer and a social worker and now a law master student ... i never read a book unless it is for studying, exams, homeworks, etc (for example, i read the whole criminal law about 7-10 times in the last year).
my dream is to read books for fun, not for studying.. i cant do that, i tried but failed. i remember myself as 10 years old boy, my first book i chose to read was "The hound of Baskervilles" and i never completed it.. then i tried more but failed to complete..
maybe now i keep my efforts to read articles, the law and lots of judgments instead of a story book. but when i just was a kid till now i dislike reading. i do it only when i have to.
month ago i finished my first book, and it was an audiobook and it works. im so happy for that. officially i completed my very first book (listening not reading).
btw, i am a fan of reading manga. does this really count?
I used to love reading until high school. Having advanced placement English classes, made lost interest in something I used to love. Now I wanna get back into it. I just don't know where. Might start off with comics.
I am a high school librarian in a boys school, and so many young men only read because they are forced to. I am going to share this with them, and see if it sparks a change for some.
Better question is how to read through bad or overwritten material.
With ebooks anyone can publish now and there’s many examples of poorly organized material.
Yeah - and learning when to abandon something.
thank you man this is really important for me.
I think I'm going to order some books I'm excited to read but try to read some of the few books on my tbr before I pick up the ones I'm eager to read.
Ok, ok this is going to sound insane, but I've struggled to read books for several years now, falling asleep or getting bored.
Recently my partner dropped off Avatar The Last Airbender comics and I started trying to read daily just a little at a time with those. It was easy to pick up, not many words, and I already knew the backstory so it wasn't super intensive on trying to remember who is who.
Those books literally got me back into reading again!
I also recommend the Scurry series, or for horror lovers that want something more intense, anything written by Junji Ito. Manga, comics and visual novels are all a great way to ease in to the habit of reading.
Brilliant tips! Thank you!
One can start with 'goosebumps' ... short and interesting
@María de los Ángeles Mena same.. and i still have them on my book shelf 😁
Great recommends as usual! Personally, I started with my old American Girl books...super easy to finish, and interesting too, if you're into history. I started at 5 books a year, 3 years (?) ago and am at abt 15-20 books per year now.
One thing I did that made me really start to enjoy reading fiction was to imagine every characters as the most attractive, beautiful human ever, 'cause who doesn't want to "spend time" with beautiful people? Like, regardless of however the character's physical appearance is described, I would just think of them as beautiful.
I just can’t imagine the ppl in my head so it’s almost like I’m reading nothing but words
This has helped sooooo much!
I'm reading The art of War Sun Tzu.
I usually have multiple books on the go. I think that I finished at least 3 books before completing Thinking fast and slow. Definitely beneficial but not a light read for me!
comics and mangas are the only that i read without forcing myself 😂
i have this big problem, i personally REALLY like the idea of reading more and i would love to read more.. the only thing that it’s stopping me from doing it is my laziness lol 😂 it’s so hard for me to START and i’m always scared of choosing a book. There are so many choices and i don’t have a specific genre that i like, so every time i enter a book store with the intention of getting a book, i always end up buying nothing bc i’m always like “what if i don’t like it?” 😅 ughhhh so bothering
Great like your other videos. Thanks Thomas.