Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away… That’s how most stories written for children usually start, and it was with these words long friendship with books began many years ago. As a child, my mother used to tell me stories during bedtime, and I used to be amazed by them. I would ask my mother to repeat those stories because of how happy they made me feel. In this article, I will share with you how I developed a reading habit and how you can too.
How I Developed a Reading Habit
Starting Small and Early
Stories have this unique way of connecting with us on a deep and personal level. I couldn’t get enough of them, so my family and relatives used to buy me all sorts of books. I read Tinkle, Champak, and Chacha Chaudhary, the most popular comics of the time. Whenever my uncle and his family used to come to India for a visit, they used to bring more books for me. I was introduced to Pinocchio, Barney the Purple Dinosaur, TinTin, Peter Pan, and other characters from fairy tales.
Very early in my life, I fell in love with books and the countless adventures the pages contained within them. Each story was different, each world was beautiful, and the words cast their magic. I developed a reading habit when my aunt gifted me the first two Harry Potter books on my birthday. I still have those exact copies with me and still revisit the magical world created by JK Rowling from time to time.
The School Library
During my school days, we used to have a mandatory visit to the library every week for half an hour. The rule for the students was that you could not sit idle or without a book during that time. We weren’t allowed to talk to our classmates and couldn’t share the book, though many of us tried. If you read a book for 30 minutes, you would read enough to arouse your curiosity and get the book issued. It was pretty smart on the school’s part.
There were two books in the library: reference books and non-reference books. Reference books usually consisted of textbooks and encyclopedias. On the inside, they had a stamp that said they were not meant to be issued to the students. The rest of the books, such as novels, storybooks, and various informative books, could be taken out of the library for seven days. The librarian used to encourage us to get one new book issued every week.
I used to enjoy looking at the Guinness Book of World Records and other such books because they gave me a lot of interesting trivia. Usually, I would look for a book that I wanted to get issued that week. Now and then, the people from Scholastic would come to the school and set up a mini-book fair for a week. Students could buy the books if they chose to, but I never did.
Family Influences and Encyclopedias
Our city would host an International Trade Fair and an International Book Fair at Pragati Maidan every year. We would spend an entire day roaming the halls, looking at the stalls for anything that caught our attention. It became a yearly ritual for our family. My parents would buy me a lot of books because we considered them as investments at our home. Even today, we have many books at our house as all four of us have their collections of books.
My first experience with books that didn’t have stories but were purely focused on providing information came when I was six. My dad’s aunt and uncle introduced me to encyclopedias, a set of eight books, each providing facts and information on different topics. It was my first indication that not all books are supposed to have stories to be interesting. They can be informative and still be valuable.
My uncle gifted me the Penguin’s Encyclopaedia 2003 for my birthday. His kids used to have a book titled Geography of the World that caught my attention, so I borrowed it from them. At the time, Britannica was one of the most popular encyclopedias. One of my prized possessions is a set of 58 books by Grolier Publications, another collection of informative books. It comprises different series such as 1000 Things You Should Know, I Wonder Why, Story a Day, and many more. As I write this article, I realize that these early contributions are responsible for my ability and willingness always to learn something new.
Why Should You Read Books?
The books have changed as the years have passed, but my habit of reading has stuck with me. It has served me well in many situations. Because of my reading habits, I can be confident during any conversation, regardless of the subject. I understand what is being said, so I can pose appropriate questions and contribute effectively to make the exchange meaningful for everyone involved. Reading books is a part of my personality. It has impacted the way I conduct myself and how I deal with people every single day. Its impact on my life can’t be understated.
Why Don’t We Read Books?
Let me be frank: reading books can be Boring with a capital B if you are not used to it. If you are habituated to reading, congratulations to you! It is a big deal, and I would like to acknowledge you, and you should be proud. If, on the other hand, you feel that books put you to sleep, honestly, I don’t blame you. It can be quite a shock for any child who comes across a book with a small font and no pictures in it for the first time.
Today, we have so many alternatives to reading books. Social media is enormous, video content is booming everywhere, and OTT platforms such as Netflix provide a multimedia experience that books can’t match. Now more than ever, popular novels and books are being adapted into motion pictures (films), dramas, and other visual mediums. Even if you wanted to pick up one of the classics, you could probably find a movie adaptation that works quite well as a substitute.
Reading Books Keeps You Informed
People can spread their message, information, and ideas through other mediums, such as YouTube, social media platforms, and podcasts. They persist with writing books and becoming published authors because it is the ultimate indicator of being an authority figure in a particular field.
Books contain information, insights, and lessons in a neatly organized package. A book is the equivalent of hundreds of articles and videos all rolled into one valuable source of information. Books are comprehensive in providing a clear picture of complex topics such as racism, feminism, and business philosophy. You might not be able to trust everything you see online, but you can certainly trust a book.
Reading to Gain Perspective
When you read other people’s work, you open yourself to seeing the world from their perspective. Reading is an excellent way to challenge the way you think. You can agree or disagree with what you read, but it will present you with alternate schools of thought on various subjects. It is an excellent way to form opinions and clarify your thought process.
Being brought up in a protected environment, there are many things that I haven’t been exposed to yet and things that I probably won’t ever experience. As I read many books from various genres on various subjects, I am often surprised by how much I don’t know and how ignorant I am sometimes. A small example is the Black Lives Matter movement, which has existed for a long time, but I learned about it only recently. The gender pay gap is also a problem whose magnitude I wasn’t aware of until recently.
Books are a more reliable source of information to address specific issues because films as a medium are still comparatively new. You can write anything in a book, but restrictions are still imposed on what can be depicted on the screen. As a result, you may come across information that skews away from reality in many ways. Furthermore, the issue of being tasteful and sensitive when showcasing such issues through motion pictures.
I have also found that relying only on the internet for information can be counter-productive. Since most websites have an algorithm that decides what content you will see, it shows you more of what you already see. This is known as confirmation bias. It is a tendency to interpret, favor and recall information that reinforces what you already know or believe. This can be dangerous because this cognitive bias will confirm your beliefs and prevent you from seeing different perspectives on any issue. This may distort your view of the world, cause you to be narrow-minded and rigid in your beliefs, and affect your decision-making.
Movies aren’t always as good as the book.
I mentioned that you could probably find a movie adaptation of books to save you the trouble of reading them. As a rabid movie fan, I appreciate a good film adaptation that justifies its source material. However, no matter how much we love The Godfather or Game of Thrones, no screen adaptation can completely capture the brilliance of a well-written masterpiece. I enjoy the acting performances and the technicalities in filmmaking as much as the next guy.
When any material is adapted into a motion picture, the makers are bound to take creative licenses, interpret it in their manner and make changes in the service of the narrative. My personal experience is that whenever I watch a movie and then read the book it is based on, I find it more entertaining and exhilarating. More examples of films don’t do justice to the book. However, there are a few brilliant adaptations that are brilliant.
Reading the book and learning how the movie was different is always fun. The book expresses the author’s original thought as he wanted it to be, so you can also benefit from his perspective. Additionally, no TV show or a two-hour movie can cover everything in a 500-page book—that’s a reality, and we can’t ignore it.
Reading for Leisure and Entertainment
Content is everywhere in different shapes and forms. Any reasonable person would agree that the volume of textual content that is generated daily has to be more than any other form of content. It’s easier and takes way less time to produce and release. It has been the original method of entertainment since the time we had the media concept in our society.
I have a habit of turning off my internet from time to time. Recently, I conducted a small experiment where I turned off the internet on my smartphone. I wanted to see what I could do on my smartphone if it wasn’t connected to the internet. It turns out that smartphone is not so smart without the internet. There was a time when you could play games like Snake on your phone. Today, even games require you to be logged in and connected to the web. Videos are available online, and music is also streamed online. Nothing on the smartphone for entertainment doesn’t require the internet.
For those 12 hours, I read books and wrote articles. Books are always available, both online and offline. You don’t require the internet or even electricity to operate them. Just open a page and start reading; it’s that simple.
A Call to Read
Books have helped me grow into the person I have become today. My understanding, knowledge, insights, and how I think are all attributed to my habit of reading. It’s in the way I was raised and the influences I have had throughout my life. The value of education in a person’s life has been preached to me my entire life. I see it in action every day. It doesn’t matter to me if an average CEO reads one book weekly. I have seen the impact in my life; that is all the proof I need. My encouragement to you is that even if you don’t read much right now, you can always start and should start.
At this point, you might be wondering, “ALL THAT IS FINE! BOOKS STILL PUT ME TO SLEEP, SO UNLESS YOU CAN TELL ME HOW I CAN DEVELOP A READING HABIT, STOP WASTING MY TIME!”
How Can You Develop a Reading Habit?
I didn’t read many books in college, and it wasn’t until 2018 that I decided I needed to get back to reading books. Even after purchasing many books, I didn’t get much reading done that year. I got back on track in 2019 and read many books from various genres. This portion is relevant for people who don’t like reading books and those who love them. Not only will you start reading books, but you can also increase the number of books you read. The tips I am sharing below are things I have tried personally and have worked for me.
Start Small
The key to developing any habit is consistency. We want to take out time for reading every single day. Reading is like any other practice, such as going to the gym or drinking alcohol, regarding your endurance and capacity. It requires progression in small increments until you get used to it.
Start by reading a couple of pages daily or reading 5 minutes daily. If possible, read at the same time. I was reading right before bedtime benefits my reading habit and improves my sleep. You can start by reading thinner books if you find the thicker ones too much. When I started reading again in 2019, the first few books I read were only 100-odd pages. That said, one thing you can avoid is looking at how many pages there are in the book.
Once it becomes a part of your routine, gradually increase your time. At ten pages a day, you read approximately 3650 pages, about 10-12 books per year. Even if you read ten pages daily, that would add a lot of value.
My mentor always tells me to be faithful to the small; big things will follow suit. Even though ten pages a day may not seem like a considerable number, it matters because you will have gained a valuable reading habit and learned many new things. By the end of the year, you will experience a significant transformation within yourself.
Ask a Friend for Help
I am a big fan of John Grisham. He writes legal thrillers, and I like his books even though I don’t find the law fascinating. But I am glad I read his books because they are gripping and accurate. I only read his books because one of my friends from school gave me his book, ‘The Associate, ‘ in the eleventh grade. He was an avid reader and felt I would like this book if I read it.
Your friends and relatives know you, and they know your preferences. Find someone who reads many books and can recommend some good ones to start with. If you happen to read good books to start, you give yourself a better chance to develop a reading habit. You don’t want to be turned off reading because of a bad book.
Create an Account on Goodreads
Goodreads is a platform where you can create a reading list and keep track of your reading activity. You can find book recommendations based on your interests. You can see if any of your friends on Facebook or people in your contacts are reading any books if they are active there. You can also post reviews on the site and share posts with your friends. That also will give you fresh ideas about new books you can read.
One of the more exciting features of the platform is the Reading Challenge. You can pledge to read any number of books you want in a particular year. You can set the dates you started and finished reading a specific book and track your progress according to page numbers. For example, I took up the challenge to read one book per week in 2019; that’s 52 books for the year. By the end of the year, I had read exactly double that.
It also shows you all the books you read in a particular year in the “Year in Books” section. Additionally, it provides statistics about the total number of pages and books you read over time which is quite nifty. Doing the Reading Challenge can help you develop a reading habit.
Join a Community or a Book Club
Whenever you are trying to develop a reading habit, one of the things that helps the most is to provide yourself with an environment that supports you in your pursuit. It would be helpful to surround yourself with avid readers who can support and encourage you to read consistently.
I have found that joining a book club, either offline or online, can be pretty helpful. You can join groups and communities on Goodreads as well. Many book clubs are on Facebook, and if you look for them, you will find many in your city. Book clubs usually meet once or twice a month. Usually, they select a book that all members will read and discuss in the meeting. Another standard format is where members choose a book they read for a particular month and then share their review at the meeting. This method works because now members have a purpose and a deadline to read the book.
I have been a member of Toastmasters International for a long time and have been a member of many clubs. Some of them have a book club. My home club, Central Delhi Toastmasters, conducts a monthly meeting where we discuss the books each of us reads.
Find Mentors
I am lucky and grateful to have met many successful people in my life, all from different walks of life. Many of them agreed to mentor me from time to time on specific aspects of my life. One of the common traits of successful people is their never-ending quest to improve themselves. For that purpose, I found that most of them focused on keeping themselves current and updated with the latest from their domains. They would have discussions about recent topics and where to find information.
On most Saturdays after my Toastmasters meeting, I would accompany my friends from the club to have lunch and coffee. Being the youngest of the lot, I listened to their discussions, and they often suggested things I could read. These friends introduced me to authors such as Mark Manson and Cal Newport.
We used to frequent a restaurant on the second floor. The exciting thing was that you had to go through a bookstore on the first floor to access the staircase to the floor above. Usually, that meant we would spend some time looking at books and seeing what was new on the shelves. It was a small thing one wouldn’t notice, but putting yourself in such situations plays a vital role in developing a reading habit.
Diversify What You Read
I have found that it is often helpful to read books from multiple genres. It is not a good idea to read books written by the same author consecutively because they may be repetitive, only containing some updates. You might find the style of writing becomes monotonous and often predictable, which may cause you to lose interest. This usually happens with fiction books.
As an aspiring public speaker, I often find that familiarity with many different subjects enables me to better connect with people from different backgrounds. One added advantage to diversifying what you read is that you will learn things you didn’t previously know. This will increase your familiarity with a wide range of subjects, which may come in handy occasionally and reflect your personality over time.
On a personal level, it also teaches the attitude of being open to new experiences and trying new things. One strategy that works is reading one book on a completely unfamiliar subject or genre after 4 or 5 books of your choice. Using this method, I experimented with high fantasy when I read ‘The Hobbit,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings‘ and ‘A Song of Ice and Fire.’ I also read books on spirituality and meditation, which I normally wouldn’t read, such as the ‘Tao Te Ching.’
Drive Time University
Audiobooks have gained unprecedented popularity amongst the masses. This term reflects the idea that you can learn while driving your car. There are many services such as Audible, Kobo, and OverDrive that users can subscribe to and access audio programs of the books. Audible also publishes Audible Originals, audiobooks whose paper formats aren’t released.
I prefer listening to audiobooks and found that it has the same impact as reading a physical copy or an ebook on Kindle. Depending on the type of program you are listening to, the audiobook might have sound effects, multiple readers, and a music score that supplements the listening experience. I like to do is that whenever possible, I put on the audiobook and read along with a physical copy in my hand.
Some people believe that listening to audiobooks is not the same as reading. I understand why one might think that way, but don’t let that stop you. It doesn’t matter if you are reading or listening to the book because the content is the same. A similar argument could have been for movies, but they are significantly different from the source material previously explained. However, I feel obligated to point out that I don’t prefer the services which summarize the book in 20 minutes or less such as Storytel, MentorBox, 4books, etc. I haven’t tried them out, so I will reserve my thoughts. I prefer reading the entire book and making interpretations based on what I need instead of listening to what someone else might have gleaned from the book.
Conclusion
Developing a reading habit will serve you for life. It is a rewarding pursuit. Naturally, it comes with its frustrations and challenges. I urge you to be patient and persistent. It is like practicing meditation; you must stick with it for the most benefit. I will share something my mentor, Sam Cawthorn, always reminds me whenever I see him. TRUST THE PROCESS, he always says. If you have reached this point, I will leave you with a final parting thought and a promise. Reading is a way to become an intellectual master, which is crucial if we are to become the best version of ourselves we can be. Make minor improvements every day and keep learning; you will see yourself in a new light before long.