How to read books if you don't like reading

[tombennett]

Most people read daily, but there are people who do not like this process. If you don't like reading, don't worry, you're not alone. The number of people who dislike reading has tripled and many adults fail to read a single book in a year. Perhaps you were forced to read boring literature at school or at work, or you simply could not find the genre that you like. Maybe you should study existing genres to see what suits you. In addition, there are special tricks that will allow you to familiarize yourself with the text, even if you do not feel like reading it.

Reading for yourself

Choose the text you like. Many people are addicted to the classics, but you may not like it, which will make you lose interest in reading. Choose literature that you enjoy, and it will be easier for you to read.

Explore a wide variety of genres: celebrity biographies, romance novels, non-fiction, comics, fiction.

Ask friends and family to recommend you something they like. It is possible that you will love these books too.

Maybe several genres will suit you. Let's say you read romance novels first, and then you get carried away by comics. Do not drive yourself into narrow frames - read everything you can find!

Go to a bookstore. Regular stores have their advantages. You can walk the aisles and pick up any books that catch your attention. You are more likely to find something interesting if you see it in front of you than if you look for something specific. In many stores, you can also read a book before buying in a cafe or on a sofa.

In addition, bookstore employees are usually very fond of books and are willing to give recommendations.

Remember that you are not reading for grades. Many people hated reading because in school they had to read only to write an essay or assignment writing help and get grades, and there was no emotional connection with the book. If you're only trying to figure out what you might be interested in, remember that you won't be judged. Even if you do not like some of the genres, there will be nothing to worry about.

You are also not competing with anyone. Just because you like a certain type of book doesn't mean you're better than someone else.

Read books that you find interesting and exciting, and don't let anyone judge your choices.

Consider other sources of texts. It is important not to become attached not only to one genre, but also to one reading medium. There are many different ways to access texts, from books and magazines to tablets and e-readers.

If you don't like reading books, try reading shorter texts in magazines or newspapers. If you can see that you can handle text of a certain size, it will be easier for you to read more.

If you travel a lot, try using an e-reader or tablet. This will allow you to pass the time without having to carry heavy books or magazines with you.

Sign up for a literary club. Reading shouldn't be torture. In the literary club you can get acquainted with interesting books and chat with friends or relatives.

Many people find it easier to read when they start to follow the story and talk about it with others.

Try pairing reading with enjoyable activities.

Keep in mind that you may not like all the books you need to read in a book club. You can always refuse any book or read until something appears in it that interests you.

Listen to audiobooks. If you really dislike the process of reading, listen to audiobooks. As a rule, such books are read by actors, and they sound interesting and exciting. Audiobooks help you enjoy literature without reading it. They are very convenient to listen to on the go.

You may need to listen to several different books to figure out which genre you like. You can always drop a book if you don't like it and try something else.

Public libraries often have free audiobooks. You can also subscribe to special services, which will allow you to receive a new audiobook every month for a small fee.

Studies have proven that the benefits of audio books are no less than reading literature. In addition, some people find it easier to perceive and remember information by ear.

Take your time. If you're reading for pleasure, don't rush yourself. Read thoughtfully and enjoy your chosen book.

Break the book into pages, chapters, or sections. If you feel like you need to make things easier for yourself, break up the text into smaller chunks. For example, decide that today you will read 5 pages. See if you can do it. If it works, keep reading; if not, stop reading.

Don't force yourself. If you force yourself to read due to any personal reasons or social pressure, the process will not be enjoyable. Don't do this and you may find that you enjoy reading and find out what kind of books you enjoy.

Spread various sources of texts around the house. This will help you read more often if you get bored, and you can replace watching TV or other activities with reading.

Take something with you on vacation, to the beach, to the amusement park or on the road. Literature will distract you when you get bored or want to relax.

Read at ease. Do not read if you are very nervous or in a hurry. Reading in a calm state will allow the brain to associate reading with pleasure, not with duty.

Studies have shown that a good mood and a calm environment can motivate people to read.

For example, keep books or magazines on your bedside table. You can always take them out of there and read before bed. It's best to put several different types of text sources in there (like a book and magazines) so you can choose what suits your mood best.

Reading professional or educational literature

Use help aids. If textbooks are difficult for you, use the help guide to help you grasp the key points. This is especially useful when it comes to a complex topic. Perhaps, thanks to the manual, you will even begin to enjoy the book.

Supporting aids are produced for many literary works. They explain the most difficult passages in the book.

If reading is difficult for you, talk to your teacher or supervisor. Perhaps you will be prompted how you can make the task easier.

Think of a plan. If you don't enjoy reading but are required to do so because of school or work, come up with a plan to help you get through the task. Thanks to the plan, you will be able to solve the problem step by step.

Set aside a certain amount of time for each part of the book so you don't spend too much time on one section. For example, you will need more time for the introduction and conclusion than for the main part.

Schedule breaks to let your brain rest and relax.

Start reading as early as possible. The sooner you start reading the assigned literature, the better. So you will be less nervous and will be able to remember information better.

Read for 20-30 minutes a day - this will allow you to work with the text more efficiently.

Break the text into small parts. This will make it easier for you to work through the entire book. You will be able to carefully study each of the parts, even if you do not like this literature.

Look through the entire text first so you know what is going on. Thanks to this, you will not get confused in the text.

Keep track of time. Allow yourself to read each of the parts no longer than planned. This will make it easier for you to deal with all the text.

Learn to grab the main thing from the text. People who have to read a lot (for example, researchers) can quickly find the most important information in the text. This skill will help you read even not the most pleasant literature faster.

The most important parts of the text are the introduction and conclusion. Read these sections carefully and just skim through the rest of the text.

The first and last sentences of a paragraph usually summarize the conclusions of the paragraph.

Read the information in the side columns, in the boxes, and in the conclusions after each section. As a rule, this information is the most important.

Read aloud. Reading aloud is especially helpful if you need to read a play or poetry. Plays are written to be performed on stage, so chances are you'll enjoy hearing rather than reading the words in Shakespeare's drama. Reading prose aloud with the correct emphasis on pauses and punctuation marks will allow you to better feel the text.

Take notes. If you read texts for study and work, you will most likely need to reproduce this information later. If you take notes of what you read, it will be easier for you to remember the material.

When taking notes, it is important to write down not too much and not too little information. You should not write everything in a row - you need only the most important information. For example, if you are in finance, you will need to focus on numbers, not facts. If you need to read a historical text, the meaning of the events will be more important than the small details associated with them.

Outline by hand. As a result of research, scientists came to the conclusion that handwriting is more useful in terms of memorization than working with a voice recorder or computer.

Divide the text into parts and exchange notes. If you are working in a group where everyone needs to read the same text, share it among several people. Have each person take notes and exchange notes at the end. So you don't have to read too much.

If you need to read a large text, working in a group will be very convenient. Everyone is different, and someone can easily be given material that you have difficulty with.

How to develop the habit of reading

Reading is not just an important professional skill, but also an opportunity to enjoy informative, exciting and inspiring literary works that enrich our inner world and experience. Like any skill, the habit of reading will take time and effort. At the same time, reading can become a source of joy and entertainment, a lifelong hobby accessible to anyone who is ready to pick up a book.

How to form a habit

Develop your reading skills. Start developing the right reading skills to build the habit and get the most out of the process. For example:

Follow the content. As you read, try to understand the main idea of each paragraph and the supporting arguments. If you're looking to develop your skills, then try reading with a pencil in your hand and taking notes or underlining key ideas.

Look up the meanings of unfamiliar words. Explanatory dictionaries and encyclopedias on the Internet are convenient tools for searching for definitions of unfamiliar words. Underline or write out unfamiliar words in a notebook. Finish reading the passage, find the meanings of all the words written out and re-read the sentences with them. This will make it easier for you to put words in context and choose the right meaning for polysemantic words.

Learn to use context. If you come across unfamiliar words or ideas, it is not uncommon for the literary, historical, or social context of the work to contain clues. Sometimes a little research is needed outside of the text to better understand the different levels of context in a work.

Familiarize yourself with basic literary devices. If you're crazy about novels and short stories, familiarity with common literary tropes will help you understand the text more deeply. Understand techniques such as metaphor, hyperbole, parallelism, personification, and alliteration to greatly expand your reading arsenal.

Take your time. Reading for learning and pleasure is not a sprint. Try not to rush and develop your skills at a comfortable pace. There is no need to be embarrassed if you are a slow reader, especially at first. Every day, your brain will be more and more effective in using the skills and knowledge previously acquired and applying them in the process of reading.

Texts should always be at hand. A basketball player cannot train without shoes and a ball. Reading is the same story. Here are some ways to always have a number of interesting texts on hand:

Subscriptions: Trade and specialist magazines are a great way to always have reading material on hand.

Library: even small towns have libraries with free book subscriptions. Get a library card and find out what you can find in your local library sooner.

E-books: e-book readers allow you to carry an entire library in your pocket. Manufacturers often offer their own book purchase and rental services.

Internet: Library websites often offer full versions of literary works for review.

Strive to integrate reading and everyday life. Developing skills is much easier if you make reading an integral part of your daily schedule. Consider several ways to implement this idea.

Become a member of a book club. Typically, member meetings take place once a week or twice a month and help you find motivation to read, as well as meet those who share your interests. In the book club, you can discuss the read works and get the opinion of educated and versatile people.

Set aside time and space for reading. Do you have a favorite table in a cafe or a quiet corner of the house where you can sit comfortably and relax? Find a place where you would like to read. Set aside time to read regularly and don't forget to bring books with you.

Set daily and weekly goals. There is no speed at which you need to read a book or a magazine article, but an aspiring reader with a reading list often sets reasonable reading goals for himself in order to enjoy the achievement of intended goals. For example, set a goal to read at least one hour a day, one chapter of the current book, or 10 pages of the latest issue of a magazine.

What to read

Analyze your hobbies and personal interests. Reading will be much more interesting and exciting if you choose topics that interest you.

Find blogs, books, and magazines that relate to your hobbies and passions to keep you motivated and have the most fun.

Listen to recommendations from friends. Word of mouth is often a useful tool in selecting reading materials.

Chat with friends and look for users on the Internet who share your interests. Find out what kind of books they like.

Check out your local bookstore. Most bookstore consultants love to read and will gladly share their preferences with you. It will be even more useful to talk with the owners of small bookstores or secondhand bookshops.

Read the classics. A literate reader should have an idea of good literature. So, it will be useful for you to read books that have become part of our history and culture. Keep the following in mind:

read world classics written by authors from different parts of the world;

notice how different writers evaluate, accept and interpret historical facts that are important for their generation.

Get to know the critics. It can be said that there is no dispute about tastes, and everyone can be a critic, but trends arise as a result of the fact that some representatives of literature and culture affect the mind and soul of many people at once. Some benefits of reading book reviews:

Development of new reading skills. Critical text differs significantly from fiction and non-fiction. Learn to understand the purpose and benefits of literary criticism in order to improve your skills.

Information about the book even before purchase.

Reviews and reviews are a great way to determine if a book is worth buying. In addition, they will allow you to better understand your own reading preferences. Comprehensive discussion of books. Let's say you and other book club members read a book that received mediocre reviews from critics. Analyze some reviews and key messages. Listen to the thoughts of the club members and form your own opinion.

Make a reading list. Start keeping a list of books, magazines, and blogs that interest you so you can jump to them when you're done with your current book.

How to make reading a long-term goal

Become a volunteer. Reading services can be useful in schools, nursing homes, various correctional facilities, and even homeless shelters. The Volunteer Reader brings great benefits:

Not all children are taught to love reading by their parents. Sometimes one person is raising several children on his own and it is difficult for him to individually deal with a child who has difficulty reading. Become a volunteer to help children get an education and become useful members of society.

Not all adults can read. There are many different reasons that prevent a person from learning to read, getting a good job and being independent. A volunteer can become exactly that assistant who will change the lives and self-esteem of other people.

Help older people keep learning. When an older person develops vision problems, reading becomes a problem. If earlier he was very fond of reading, your help will not only be an opportunity to continue self-education, but will allow you to find an interesting interlocutor and even a friend to share knowledge.

You can also voice textbooks and other written materials for people with visual impairments and dyslexia.

Create or participate in a book exchange program. Find various services online and go to local bookstores to become a member.

If you're into popular books, romance novels, or science fiction, the exchange program is a useful and inexpensive way to discover new books.

Attend book festivals. Do you want to learn about new authors or meet those whose books you have already read? Check out the book festival. Such events have many advantages:

Book sales. Publishers and book sellers love to participate in festivals and often give discounts on books by authors who are invited guests of the event.

Autographs of writers. After a book launch, authors often appear at festivals to promote their work. Ask the author to sign the book for you so that after reading it it will become a memorable thing for you.

Listen to other readers. Often at book festivals, guest authors read excerpts from their latest work, or open readings are held to introduce new writers or honor established authors.

Keep a reader's blog. A reader's blog is a great way to remember books you liked, critique books you didn't like, and keep a reading list. In addition, the blog helps:

Meet new people. Make your entries publicly available so that anyone can read and comment on your thoughts.

Practice writing. Reading and writing are two sides of the same coin. Being able to write well and even imitate your favorite styles will be a great exercise. You will learn how to carefully reread and edit your own texts in order to publish only high-quality material.

Learn to read in other languages. If you enjoy reading in your native language, then start learning a foreign language. How to start reading in another language:

Find a foreign language dictionary. Check out the library or bookstore.

Start with children's books. Books for children of primary school age are written in simple language and tell about the usual events of life that are easy to translate. This basic level will prepare you for more complex texts.

Read translations of poems. Choose a famous poet who wrote in the foreign language you are interested in, and find a collection of poems in the original and translation. Read slowly and carefully, compare the original and translated text. Pay attention not only to words, but also to the peculiarities of conveying some ideas and images using the means of your language. This is an effective way to understand a new language and culture.