As you may know, an important part of self-actualisation is reading books. Books expand your mind and provide valuable information for things you are trying to develop. I have a blog on why books will change your life forever which explains the power in educating yourself through this medium, but this will only be valuable if the way in which you read books is effective. As important as reading, is making sure the information you are learning is actually having a lasting effect on your life, in reality.
It’s all about reading, learning, validating and embodying every powerful idea that you choose to investigate.
12 Principles To Get The Most Out Of Books
Below, I have outlined 12 fundamental principles that I use when approaching the world of books. Try your best to implement each one slowly over time and don’t worry if you don’t follow all perfectly.
Research a Book Before You Read It
Before diving into a book, invest some time in understanding its content, reviews, and purpose. Look at summaries, reviews, or interviews with the author to see if the book aligns with your current goals and interests. This pre-reading effort can help you filter out less impactful reads and ensure that the time you spend reading is well-invested. Research similar books so that you can compare and find the best option for you to choose.
Don’t Automatically Read What Is on the Best Sellers List
While best-seller lists can offer popular titles, they don’t always represent the most thought-provoking or valuable reads. Look beyond the mainstream and seek books that align with your personal growth journey, professional goals, or intellectual curiosity. Sometimes, hidden gems lie in niche categories or older publications. The most conscious content will not be that which is marketed to you, because what is marketed, is about money. The deepest wisdom will most likely be found outside of mainstream society, so spend some effort probing a little deeper. This is not to say never read any books that you see advertised, it just means be proactive and don’t just read what comes your way first.
Underline Important Ideas
As you read, underline or highlight passages that resonate with you. These could be powerful concepts, phrases, or quotes that spark new thoughts. By doing this, you create a personalised roadmap within the book that you can revisit later for quick inspiration or reference. These ideas will also be easy to find when you write out and summarise the top ideas once you have finished reading the book (this is referenced in a later principle).
Read at a Pace That Allows You to Contemplate and Retain Information
Avoid rushing through books just to finish them. Slow down and take the time to reflect on the material. Pause to ask yourself questions, visualise scenarios, or connect ideas to your own experiences. Retention and comprehension improve when reading is deliberate and reflective. I often read with a laptop close by so that I can do research on certain ideas or find pictures where necessary. This creates a much deeper experience. The main point is to focus on quality reading and not just quantity. Learning to integrate new ideas into your actual life takes time.
Take Your Own Notes When Reading
Writing notes in your own words helps solidify what you’ve learned. Jot down questions, summaries, or insights in a notebook or digital tool. This habit not only reinforces memory but also creates a personal archive of your thoughts for future reference. More important than the ideas you read in books, is your own written down contemplations of these ideas, where you think through the topic at hand for yourself. This is where the real growth lies.
At the End of the Book (or Each Chapter), Write Down the Top Ideas
After completing a chapter or the entire book, summarise its key takeaways. This practice helps you distill the essence of the material and ensures that important ideas are not lost. These summaries can serve as a quick reference for future action or discussion. The ideas that you underline whilst reading will form part of these top ideas and summaries. Underlining them will make them easy to find later on.
Ask Yourself, “How Will My Behaviour Change After Reading This Book?”
Turn knowledge into action by reflecting on how a book’s ideas can influence your life. Identify practical steps you can take to embody these lessons. A book’s value is only valid when you take what you learn and integrate it into reality. Asking this question after every book you read is essential — it will help prevent you from building up a web of beliefs in your mind and instead gets you to actually find the territory that the map is pointing to. All ideas must be validated and built into in your direct experience otherwise they mean nothing.
If Possible, Read and Discuss a Book with Another Person
Discussing a book with a friend, colleague, or group can deepen your understanding. Sharing perspectives and insights often uncovers ideas you might have missed. The act of explaining your interpretations also refines your mental models of what you are trying to learn. If you don’t want to discuss what you read with others, then writing out summaries in your own words as though you were explaining it to another also works well.
Read High-Quality and Idea-Dense Books Multiple Times
Some books are so rich in content that a single read isn’t enough to absorb their full value. Revisit these books periodically to uncover new layers of understanding and refresh your memory of their core messages. Often it can takes years before you discover the truth that one idea is pointing to. Of all the books you have already read, contemplate which of them would be powerful to read again. I often look through my bookshelf and look at which books I have read to see where I may still need to improve my life. If I find a specific topic that needs more work then I read a book that covers that topic again.
Ask “What Do I Need to Develop in My Life?” To Guide What You Read
Choose books that address your current needs and challenges. Let your self-development goals guide your reading choices, ensuring that the content you consume aligns with your stage of growth and aspirations. Asking yourself “What part of my life needs better understanding so that it can improve?” is a great way to guide what books you research to read. The trick is finding the balance of reading books at your current level to deepen the level where you are at as well as at a level just above where you are at to start developing you further.
Make a Book List
Keep a running list of books that catch your interest. Organise them by theme, priority, or stage of development to ensure you have a curated selection to turn to when choosing your next read. This helps you stay intentional and prevents good recommendations from slipping through the cracks. I use Notion to track all of my books. This helps me not only remember the ones that I add that I find all over the place, but also helps me organise them into themes and plan which ones I want to read each month and year. Notion is also helpful because I can store notes in a centralised place for all of my books and the research I do whilst reading them. Crafting a good book list is a powerful decision that I recommend making — it’s also just really exciting because you are essentially mapping out the trajectory of your entire existence!
Put Down a Book That Isn’t Right for You
Not every book deserves to be finished. If a book isn’t engaging, relevant, or well-written, give yourself permission to stop reading it. Time is valuable, and it’s better spent on books that truly resonate with you. I have fallen into the trap of feeling like I need to read each book from start to finish to get the full value, but this just isn’t true. If a book isn’t providing high-quality ideas, put it back on the bookshelf, or better yet, donate it to someone who might find it valuable.
Remember, any important area of your life will become most powerful and most effective when you embody principles that guide you. Whether you have read 100 books, or the next book that you buy will be your first, integrate these principles above to deepen your ability craft your life, using new ideas from books. I challenge you to even come up with some of your own.
Happy reading!
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