Oof my bad on the b-roll volume, I was editing this in a rush between classes and the thought "I should lower this before I render" definitely popped into my mind... and then straight out again. Sorry!
Great video as usual 😍 I saw ur list of books to read and as a muslim i was happy that u r planning on reading the quran to know more and increase ur knowledge about muslims. believe me it will change ur life and your prespective on many things, and it will definitely dispel all the rumors and bs u hear alot about islam, but most importantly it will finally answer ur question that concern all the human beings which is "What is the meaning of life " fortunately for us(muslims) we know the answer to that when we were kids ! thats we why dont have this question and concern in our head everyday. and thats really a gift that Allah granted us which is the gift of islam. I cant imagine how painful and disturbing it is to not know the answers to these simple questions that concern us Why we were born ? Who created us ? What comes after death ? etc. Am sorry for writing this much but believe me u will understand after u read the quran. Best of luck.
I would love to know a few things you learned and gathered fro those books that you will take with you for the rest of your life. Would you do it again?
this exact day i was thinking about the books i've read and forgot about (mostly scientific books like Cosmos which filled with a lot of informations) and i saw this comment...
This is so accurate because actually we don't have to remember everything we read neither are we supposed to but what we carry with us is the effect it had on our way of thinking and viewing things.
A 350 page book can be read in 7-10 hours. Audible makes it super easy bc you can listen while doing mundane tasks or when you don’t have your book, on the go!
"Finding an hour every day for reading is more finding an hour every day to become more educated, to broaden my perspectives on life." Well said John. There's so much wisdom and enjoyment to be found in books that it's one of the best investments we can make in life.
Sam Cortana that makes sense. But bookstores need to stop selling new books for $20-30 when I can get the same book for $15 or less on Amazon. What bookstores need to do is expand their used book selection and make it known. I’d rather buy used books so I often look on eBay too.
Sam Cortana thanks I will look into that. I have a bunch of books on Amazon wish list but I don't want to pay $20+ for a book that I will only read once.
@Sam Cortana I normally use bookdepository tbh, or a site called "wook.pt" (a online bookstore very famous here in Portugal), but just for books I don't have on my work (I work in a "bookstore"), my last resort is Amazon for limited editions (used) and stuff
I was kinda like you. Not into reading fiction but I decided to give it a chance and read "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr and read it in 4 days. Can't wait to read more
@@seallofapproval Takes place in WWII. It is a book about a German orphan and a blind french girl. The book tells their story in alternating chapters. It is so beautiful. Pulitzer prize winning as well. You will enjoy it
John I guess you really are a fast reader but if you really read one book per week and you only spend one hour daily to complete each, unless they were too short, I can't help but question how well one can absorb the essence of what one reads. Maybe you're just a very productive person (duh, Harvard) but my point is just be careful not to set as goal mere numbers to the point you read fast just to reach a certain weekly quota.
Yep, though it really depends on how focused you are, I find that after meditating Im super focused and can read faster without compromising comprehension
I completely understand your point because I was asking myself the same question before starting to read one book a week, but as he says in the video, one hour a day is enough to read one book a week. I'm explaining myself: sometimes I read "long books" (450 pages and more) but I don't necessarily read them WITHIN one week, since i also read some shorter books (100 pages), I read a short book in one-two days top, and have more than one week to read a big one On average, I end up reading around 50 pages for a normal day, and around 80 when I have more time or decide to read at an unusual time! You don't need to set mere numbers as goal, it's just about planning and organization!
Yeah for sure, there's definitely a trap in numbers, but I find that I can't only read long + dense books (>400 pgs) or I get sunk in the middle 2-300 pages. As a result, I alternate between various lengths of books. For example, right now I'm reading "Enlightenment Now" by Stephen Pinker, and I'm about halfway through. It's already taken a week--there's a lot to unpack there, and I feel like I can only get through a chapter or two at once. Conversely, I'll blast through some books in one or two days: Shoe Dog I read in a day (although I stayed up until 3 or 4am reading it lol). I find myself ruminating on previous books all the time, so I definitely know it's sinking in. Furthermore, it's not like I'm "skimming" the books--I don't think reading fewer pages a day would help me retain more, though perhaps slowing down and taking notes along the way would. I'll keep modifying what I do though, because the purpose of the goal is to learn, not just to get through the books!
What a great habit reading a book a week! I like how you mentioned many of the auxiliary benefits of the habit of reading in general, despite whether or not a particular book is earth-shattering or enlightening. The ability to process the written word effectively is one the most powerful skills one can develop. Those who made the biggest impacts on history were almost all voracious readers. One conundrum all avid readers must inevitably face is the question of what to actually read. Emerson once said, “There are 850,000 volumes in the Imperial Library at Paris. If a man were to read industriously from dawn to dark for sixty years, he would die in the first alcove. Would that some charitable soul, after losing a great deal of time among the false books and alighting upon a few true ones, which made him happy and wise, would name those which have been bridges or ships to carry him safely over dark morasses and barren oceans, into the heart of sacred cities, into palaces and temples." As Emerson said, it is just impossible to read all that is out there. Further, much of what is written for trade publishing is done so with an eye to make a profit, therefore much of it tends to pander to the appetites of the intended audience-which can often be appallingly fickle. So then, many make a decision based on reference: whether a book is reputed to be worth reading by a trusted opinion. I do agree that there is much to be said about reputation. After all, how can we know the canon of literature without some works having gained a reputation for standing the test of time? If Shakespeare’s works weren’t distinguished by his reputation, hardly any of us would stumble across his works amid the endless works written throughout history. But, does that mean one should only read the canonical books? Not at all. Sometimes one may gain more from reading a blog post by some kid halfway across the world than by reading a Greek tragedy. And so, not all is lost if one reads something that has no reputation for being great. Indeed, when it comes to reading, nothing is really lost, but can contribute to one’s overall perspective. I like what Aristotle once said: “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” They that would be widely read should take care to cultivate a critical mind, and let nothing escape the most rigorous of scrutiny. That way, one could have the confidence to expose themself to as wide an array of reading as desired, while not fearing that one should be swayed by the ideas one is constantly being exposed to. And then there is the topic of the quality of one’s reading. What does it mean to have read a book? If a person has read a book, but after reading it couldn’t tell you anything about the premise, the author’s perspective, or even some of the informative material contained therein, then having read a book means nothing more than having scanned one’s eyes across the page for as long as it took to reach the end. And if a person reads a thousand books simply by doing that, then one has severely deprived themself of valuable time to digest meaningful ideas. Though I’m reluctant to say it will have been a waste of time since we don’t know if the mere exposure to those writings hasn’t left some useful impression on the brain. Clearly, it is desirable to become a more skillful reader. But what do these skills consist of? Unlike physical prowess, a person’s reading skills can’t as tangibly be measured as can, say, a person’s physical strength or endurance. Similarly, developing these skills is not as simple as merely going to the gym and lifting weights. But standardized tests have developed a good way of measuring these skills. The reading comprehension sections of standardized tests effectively measure a person’s ability to do what I call “accountable reading”: reading with the understanding that one should be accountable for what one has read. Reading in the context of one of these sections on a test forces one to do accountable reading instead of merely “reading on faith”: reading freely and trusting that one is retaining and/or comprehending what one is reading. And so, getting one’s hands on these reading comprehension exercises is a great way to force one to do accountable reading, and done enough it will create the habit of accountable reading, which will allow the person to gain much more from even what he/she reads for leisure. Excellent video, and great habit to share with your audience. I’m convinced that those watching your videos will be influenced for the better. Keep it up! Best
Yes its insane that he reads a book in 4.8 hours. I read a book in like 30 hours or more. 12 rules life i think o spend 40 to 50 hours. Every page is like 3-5 minutes. But ofcourse there are small and easy books i read in 5-10 hours.
@@remybuitenhuis2433 For me, knowing it by using the "Pomodoro" technique (in which you read for 25 minutes and take a break for 5 minutes), I read about 8-10 pages in 25 minutes, that translates in 3.12-2.5 minutes/page. Of course, sometimes you come across a more aired-text book with plenty of well-thought whitespace, and you get a better score!
Every page/book has a variance in the number of words per page. He read 4.5m words in 250h, which translates to 18k words per hour, divide that by 60 minutes, you get around 300 words per minute. That's higher than the average population but not as high as the average amongst college students. What is far more impressive is his consistency.
@@techlad935 actually it's just a little above average as a le person reads at a rate of about 250 words per minute.. or like about a page in 2 mins, and considering he's in university 300 words per minute is impressive but not by that much of a margin.😊
I've been taking a dive into making reading a daily habit and I can totally agree in many ways with what you're saying!!! Just having the new perspectives on life that you would not get from doing other things. KNOWLEDGE IS POWEERRRRR
honestly, i feel smarter just by listening to you talk! i need to start reading more because I've noticed I spend waaaay too much time on my phone. this is my motivation!
I've suffered from alcoholism and depression, and reading has helped tremendously! So far this year I've read 33 books, all from my local libraries - all for free.
Ooh my gosh I can’t believe I have found someone who share the same interest as me. I am an avid reader and so far this year I’ve read 30 books and I positively believe that I’ll make it to 52.
Hey John - great work on these videos. I'm a 19 year old university student like yourself, and I decided to commit to setting aside some time for reading after seeing your 6 month update in early December. To see a guy who cares about producing quality content and sharing his experience with building habits.. I must say it's really inspiring. In case you haven't read it yet, my book suggestion to you is this: St. Augustine's Confessions. All the best with your endeavours!
I got inspired by you this year and one of my 2019 new years resolutions was to read a book every two weeks and i've kept it so far! so thank you so much :)
Loved this video! I have a book channel, and I study literature in college so people think that I'm a reading machine. But honestly, I'm finding my way again into reading, cause social media and college drain a lot of my energy. I find myself too tired of so much information and noise, and I slowly drifted away from the thing I love the most (and the reason why I chose my degree): reading. Going back to this habit has been amazing to my lifestyle in general and most of your reflections about reading are similar to how I feel. Love your channel 💙
Nice video, but I found the music while the B-Roll footage to be very loud. But besides of that I totally agree with you. I may not read as much as you, but at least I read too :)). And I when you say that it makes you more rich in perspectives and ways to see living I can totally agree. I definitely recommend the book "Der Bibelraucher" from Wilhelm Buntz. It´s a german book so I don´t know if it´s available in your language... Anyway, have a good time reading and stuying, i´ll follow along!
I am so grateful to have found your channel, it’s truly an inspiration. I love reading, but after having children, going to school and working full time.. it became less of a priority. Since watching your channel I have set the goal of a book per week (52 weeks) and have been doing great thus far! I also ordered your growth book! I love the idea of planning and reflecting on what makes me happy or grateful. Thanks again ❤️
I’m a sophomore in high school right now but I’m thinking about doing something like this for my senior project. Sounds like a really cool experience and a great opportunity for growth! Props to you for sticking to your resolution!
Thanks a lot! This will be my new-years resolution! I read about 20 pages a day; but to read about a book a week, that is 50 pages a day. Should I put in more time (I read slowly; but as much as I can). I usually reserve an hour for reading; and I think I will bump that up to 2-hours.😃
Adnan A hey Adnan! I love your channel! Just curious, do you think it’s possible to achieve this kind of reading goal during med school? Or did you find that you had to greatly reduce your leisure reading?
1234happysmile Hey, thanks! I think it’s definitely possible, especially if you use audiobooks (or even physical copies). You still have free time in med school, but even though it’s limited and goes down each year, if you prioritize reading, you can still do a book a week. I don’t have as much time for leisure reading as I’d like, but I have a lot of other hobbies.
I’m sure you’re going to do wonders in life. You’re such a smart man! I absolutely agree with everything! You could try to read A Prison Doctor by Amanda Brown and Cat O’nine tales by another author. I loved them 😁
People, do not read books for quantity, read for quality. When you finish a book it's always important to meditate, not spiritually, rather to think about key ideas, critically examine, read more a about topic and write a short essay on a book you have read. If you just read books for sake of reading them, then you will quickly loose main concepts and forget a bunch of stuff. Of course that depends on many factors, but it's always better to read few books that will have huge impact on your life, than to read thousands which will be forgotten.
OMG, finally John has another video posted. I really thought that you were snowed in with school and all. I have missed your unique insights on life-- motivational speaker. (I noted to recommended selections to "keychain", I'll look at those. How much time do you spend reading, other than school work? Your really in to Computer Science and never talk about it. Perhaps you can enlighten us with a marriage of both CS and your philosophy, OK? Mark.
Hello Mr.Fish! I'm learning English (now in pre-intermediate level) and trying to read more. I wanted to say Thank you for speaking so understandable! It's very pleasant for me, because I can understand the well-read native speaker!
It changes your way of thingking but it's temporary, But there is an option to making it permanent. When i read books I don't just finish em and put them away. I'd highlight the important stuff and put the page's number at the back of the book (LIKE WHAT MANY SUCCESSFULL PEOPLE DO). So when I go throught it again some day I know where the important messages are. Books are mentors you won't gain anything big from it if you just go through it once and be done with it.
I can't say nothing else instead of thanks, because you introduced me at reading wery well. I liked to read, but never has ended a book, but everything changed when i saw a video of you talking about this topic and you said that you can read a book a week reading 50 pages per day. So I put this goal, and at the time when i saw the video was too close my birthday, so i decided to buy a book. It was "Ardenas 1944" from Antony Beevor, and i loved it, I ended it in a week as i hoped. When i ended the reading i got hooked and keep reading a book per week with this trick. Since then i had learned a lot, and got some new experiences, reading has been so much apacible than it was. Thanks John!
I'm trying to get to the 52/year slowly, after falling out with reading during the highschool years. I've restarted small last year and managed 10 books, and I hope to double (ish) that amount this year!! It's easy to forget how much fun books are, when you get used to the endless scroll
great video. followed along with you and i have to say the best outcome was that i always felt fulfilled. at the end of the day, i always felt like i had done something with myself and when i just wanted to sit and rest, it felt okay because i had already been a bit productive by reading something that day. besides, after some weeks, you start making bridges and conections between the books and the intelectual satisfaction it gives is unique. a great resolution that has become a habit and that i´ll carry on for life.
Good!! Like your channel so much glad you updated it. Just started to read ‘getting things done’ for motivation to be well prepared for my board exam and your making a video abt reading!!! What a coincidence!
Your videos are always useful for me. You was the first yt channel who helped me to get on the path of improving my mindset and you also motivated me to read a lot. I just wanted to say thank you for making videos that are definitely useful to most of the people -Btw I am 18 yr old who is just trying to live happier life. Hope y'all have a wonderful day :)
Thanks for your opinion :) Just a couple of objective questions 1)What's the utility of all the books you've read? 2)What are the top skills you can 100% say you've built up thanks to reading so many books? 3)How do you deal with information overload in a scientifically proven way, which takes into account the information retention, deep understanding, and applied skills? What about articles, news, other sources of written material? 4)What are the top three subjects that interest you the most and the top three 3 that you find useful, they can overlap? I'd appreciate your answer. Peace!
John, what do you think is the difference between reading a book and watching educational content on RUclips or other platforms? Is it the calmness and the quiet? Or is there no difference in your opinion? I'm really curious. Love your content btw; I think that it's of great quality. :)
İnci Analı From my perspective, exposure to written word improves your vocabulary, writing, concentration, and speech. In addition, books allow you to delve far deeper into ideas. Books tend to be more content heavy, thus providing more insight then most RUclips videos. A person usually spends years putting all of their best ideas into a book. RUclips videos, generally, only have quick insights.
@@myjciskate4 Thank you! This made my thoughts a bit clearer. I do think that really well made youtube videos can educate people tremendously, and they do not have to be short or quickly made either, but those kinds of videos are rare. Maybe the process of reading, as you said, is somewhat more rewarding than watching content.
The difference is night and day. Especially if the book is physical, your brain is in a different modus operandi when reading compared to watching moving pictures on a glowing screen. Take any educational video here on RUclips, animated ones in particular, and think about how much information was conveyed. Translated to text it's usually not much. Video can augment education by being able to show you things, but I find that educational videos not always use the possibilites of the medium and are more like polished audio books with drawn out length. Lastly, I second the already voiced notion that RUclips videos have a tight production schedule and therefore represent rarely more than a few weeks worth of work whereas books come to light during a process that often takes years to finish. They can be way more dense in their content.
When I was a boy in France I started on a great read of books and poetry which was inspired by my best friend who was an avid reader and who advised me that my first great book should be a great classic with short chapters so that I could always say to myself - just one more chapter. It changed my life and yes beautiful girls do like well read boys and lines of poetry can do the trick but the real benefits have come now that I am old and still reading and often revisiting old friends.
Glad to hear you did it man, I'm currently on my journey of 52 also. Additionally, I'm doing a gymnastic ring program (Body by Rings) and I recommend you do it too! Nothing compliments a good read better than sweating out some angst!
You're brilliant John. Keep going buddy. I've been reading more as well; not quite the same amount as you, but still going along. You've inspired me to do more with my time and challenge myself and keep up a goal setting, growth mindset.
Reading too many books can yield diminishing returns, I feel. Maybe it is a radical idea from me, but I feel like allowing the book you last read to sit with you, revisiting the concepts and ensuring that it has become an essential part of you also yields results.
I wouldn't say that the our essence nor the point of reading books is gathering and applying information, but creation. Creations always start from our heads. So it's not only acquiring and applying knowledge, but creating, that we are more open to after reading books. Many people correlate intelligence and creativity, but they are not the same, some would even say they are opposite. I just wanted to point that out, even though you didn't say that I feel you didn't leave it out on purpose. As students we are taught that information and intelligence is everything, so it is kinda hard to brake that habit. Love you're videos and how stimulative they are. Keep it up. :)
Reading 4,500,000 words in 250 hours is 300wpm. Average reading speed is 200wpm with 60% comprehension, top readers 1000wpm with 85% comprehension (represents 1% of readers). If you go take a reading speed test, take one with questions at the end to test comprehension too.
I'm really admirative with the fact that you forced yourself to read 1 book a week during the whole year, you're hability to stay focus on an objective is remarkable. It makes me wanting to achieve my own objectives. As those books inspired you, you're inspiring me ! Thanks a lot john
I am turning 20 two days later and although I haven't committed to my new years' resolution I am now fully ready to start reading a book a week after my birthday
Reading daily is one of the best habits one can pick up. My resolution for 2019 is to read an average of 30 pages daily across a week and so far I managed to stick to it. As for broadening horizons, I recommend to read lots of classical novels. They present you with thoughts and perspectives you wouldn't have otherwise encountered in this life and I deem them superior to many if not all works of non-fiction which I often find formulaic and rehashed. Non-fiction often leaves me wondering if the message the author wanted to convey would have fit into a book a tenth of its size or a single A4 page for that matter.
Please keep uploading... you're videos are really inspiring. This year because of you I've already read 36 books. There's only a couple of months left but I think I can get to 45 at least...all thanks to you😍💓 Ps: I live In Nepal, and we have a different calender..
I love your channel man ! Keep going making this type of videos and also challenging yourself with reading. Reading is soooo cool seriously. I've always underestimated reading books. But since I've started, I literraly can't stop. I read almost 1 book every 1 week and a half/2 weeks I hope I can improve to maybe one day, do the as you during a whole Year
Heavy Reading for me was a phase. It just becomes knowledge porn in large amounts. Eventually you will need to focus what you read on things you can directly apply to your life and TAKE ACTION on the knowledge. A perspective is just what it is. A perspective.
i can not actully believe my eyes when I saw you uploaded another video in one week. also can not wait to see your comment on the books you read in 2019!
Great video. I'd be curious to see a more in-depth breakdown of what you read during the year. Things such as dividing by fiction/ non fiction or separating different topics throughout the year etc, in order to see how your reading preferences changed throughout the year!
Our phones are a major attribute to our self biases. As a new generation arising, we should captivate different fields of knowledge. Widening our mind is the only forum on decaying discrimination.
I recommend Smokes Get In Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty who is also youtuber Ask A Mortician. This book and her channel helped me and countless others overcome the fear of death by educating and entertaining us on the subject itself. It’s a bit morbid and taboo but that’s only because we as a society don’t like talking about death. Yet it is a part of life, equally important and sometimes painful.
READING HAS TREMENDOUSLY CHANGED MY LIFE IT HAS GIVING ME MORE FREEDOM IN MY FINANCES AND ALSO PUT MORE MONEY IN MY POCKET TRUST ME PEOPLE DONT UNDERSTAND HOW READING CAN LITERALLY CHANGE THEIR LIFE.
5 hours per book?! I read about 20 pages max an hour. I don't think I could physically read (let alone read, think about and absorb) a 350 page book in 5 hours.
Im in law school and read the same number of pages a year, although the material is extremely dense. The knowledge gained is unparalleled. If i wasn't neck-deep in case law I'd have to pick up a few books here and there.
3 comments on this video. 1 - volume is a bit off but I’m sure it was just a one time thing. 2 - I suggest you use a light to light up your face a bit better. 3 - can you post the list of books you read? Also which ones you would recommend..? Thanks!
Love it, and I've taken up the challenge myself for 2019. I'm trying to make my 52 a variety as I usually read politics and history or books on the financial markets. I think you might be underestimating yourself as to your reading speed, I bet you're above 300 wpm, but that can obviously vary depending on the material.
Oof my bad on the b-roll volume, I was editing this in a rush between classes and the thought "I should lower this before I render" definitely popped into my mind... and then straight out again. Sorry!
No issue Johnny boy
No prob bob
Great video as usual 😍
I saw ur list of books to read
and as a muslim i was happy that u r planning on reading the quran to know more and increase ur knowledge about muslims.
believe me it will change ur life and your prespective on many things, and it will definitely dispel all the rumors and bs u hear alot about islam, but most importantly it will finally answer ur question that concern all the human beings which is
"What is the meaning of life "
fortunately for us(muslims)
we know the answer to that when we were kids !
thats we why dont have this question and concern in our head everyday. and thats really a gift that Allah granted us which is the gift of islam.
I cant imagine how painful and disturbing it is to not know the answers to these simple questions that concern us
Why we were born ?
Who created us ?
What comes after death ?
etc.
Am sorry for writing this much but believe me u will understand after u read the quran.
Best of luck.
I would love to know a few things you learned and gathered fro those books that you will take with you for the rest of your life. Would you do it again?
@johnfish make a video on computer science
“I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”
― Emerson, Ralph Waldo
that's powerful.
this exact day i was thinking about the books i've read and forgot about (mostly scientific books like Cosmos which filled with a lot of informations) and i saw this comment...
This is so accurate because actually we don't have to remember everything we read neither are we supposed to but what we carry with us is the effect it had on our way of thinking and viewing things.
Reminds me of the quote..."An education is what you have when you've forgotten everything you've learned." I, for one, find this encouraging.
I don't know that I want to get to the point in which I forget the books I've read.
Wow this guy commited to his New Year's Resolution. No wonder why he's a Harvard student 👏 his discipline is impressing.
Incredible Discipline
Pal I study at MIT and I don't have discipline
Also, he read each book in 7 hours (reading one hour each day). Wth xD
@@LorettaBangBang Ikr! I wonder how he manages to read that fast, it is unreal
A 350 page book can be read in 7-10 hours. Audible makes it super easy bc you can listen while doing mundane tasks or when you don’t have your book, on the go!
To see that 250 hours of reading is around 52 books is crazy because I spend around 2000 hours a year on RUclips(not kidding)
same here buddy
yeah I'm trying so hard to spend less time on YT
Lmao same
how do you check how many hours you spend on youtube?
@@myrobotisgas go to settings and then time watched
I swear I’ve waited for this video since you uploaded “a book a week for 6 months” ahh finallyyy😍
Satisfying wasn't it.
"Finding an hour every day for reading is more finding an hour every day to become more educated, to broaden my perspectives on life."
Well said John.
There's so much wisdom and enjoyment to be found in books that it's one of the best investments we can make in life.
John has such a great perspective on things.
I am actually doing the 52 book challenge because you inspired me too. I’m on my 6th book this year:) it’s great!
Did you make it?
@@FM95.5 she did ;)
I have read 36 books in the last 6 months :)
I have read 7 in 2 months wow I'm really behind on this trend
Zoxz Gerasimov 7 books in 2 months is not at all bad :)
Goosebumps doesn’t count
Does it make you smarter
@@hammysandmich5252 Why not? :D (BTW it's 250 now :)
John Fish: Read 52 Books in 2018
Me: Added 52 Books to Amazon Wish List in 2018
📚
Sam Cortana why not?
Sam Cortana that makes sense. But bookstores need to stop selling new books for $20-30 when I can get the same book for $15 or less on Amazon. What bookstores need to do is expand their used book selection and make it known. I’d rather buy used books so I often look on eBay too.
Sam Cortana thanks I will look into that. I have a bunch of books on Amazon wish list but I don't want to pay $20+ for a book that I will only read once.
@Sam Cortana I normally use bookdepository tbh, or a site called "wook.pt" (a online bookstore very famous here in Portugal), but just for books I don't have on my work (I work in a "bookstore"), my last resort is Amazon for limited editions (used) and stuff
@Sam Cortana I did not know that, damn, thks for the info
But they have nothing to do with Amazon now right?
I was kinda like you. Not into reading fiction but I decided to give it a chance and read "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr and read it in 4 days. Can't wait to read more
reading is addictive, right? :)
What was it about? I'm currently looking for recommendations 😊
@@seallofapproval Takes place in WWII. It is a book about a German orphan and a blind french girl. The book tells their story in alternating chapters. It is so beautiful. Pulitzer prize winning as well. You will enjoy it
@@ilovemyff Yup. I can read for hours
John I guess you really are a fast reader but if you really read one book per week and you only spend one hour daily to complete each, unless they were too short, I can't help but question how well one can absorb the essence of what one reads. Maybe you're just a very productive person (duh, Harvard) but my point is just be careful not to set as goal mere numbers to the point you read fast just to reach a certain weekly quota.
Bobby Truck I totally agree!
couldn't agree more!!
Yep, though it really depends on how focused you are, I find that after meditating Im super focused and can read faster without compromising comprehension
I completely understand your point because I was asking myself the same question before starting to read one book a week, but as he says in the video, one hour a day is enough to read one book a week. I'm explaining myself:
sometimes I read "long books" (450 pages and more) but I don't necessarily read them WITHIN one week, since i also read some shorter books (100 pages), I read a short book in one-two days top, and have more than one week to read a big one
On average, I end up reading around 50 pages for a normal day, and around 80 when I have more time or decide to read at an unusual time!
You don't need to set mere numbers as goal, it's just about planning and organization!
Yeah for sure, there's definitely a trap in numbers, but I find that I can't only read long + dense books (>400 pgs) or I get sunk in the middle 2-300 pages.
As a result, I alternate between various lengths of books. For example, right now I'm reading "Enlightenment Now" by Stephen Pinker, and I'm about halfway through. It's already taken a week--there's a lot to unpack there, and I feel like I can only get through a chapter or two at once. Conversely, I'll blast through some books in one or two days: Shoe Dog I read in a day (although I stayed up until 3 or 4am reading it lol).
I find myself ruminating on previous books all the time, so I definitely know it's sinking in. Furthermore, it's not like I'm "skimming" the books--I don't think reading fewer pages a day would help me retain more, though perhaps slowing down and taking notes along the way would. I'll keep modifying what I do though, because the purpose of the goal is to learn, not just to get through the books!
I love that you recognize your age and your lack of experience in a way that reflects your wisdom, congrats! great video! :)
What a great habit reading a book a week! I like how you mentioned many of the auxiliary benefits of the habit of reading in general, despite whether or not a particular book is earth-shattering or enlightening. The ability to process the written word effectively is one the most powerful skills one can develop. Those who made the biggest impacts on history were almost all voracious readers.
One conundrum all avid readers must inevitably face is the question of what to actually read. Emerson once said, “There are 850,000 volumes in the Imperial Library at Paris. If a man were to read industriously from dawn to dark for sixty years, he would die in the first alcove. Would that some charitable soul, after losing a great deal of time among the false books and alighting upon a few true ones, which made him happy and wise, would name those which have been bridges or ships to carry him safely over dark morasses and barren oceans, into the heart of sacred cities, into palaces and temples."
As Emerson said, it is just impossible to read all that is out there. Further, much of what is written for trade publishing is done so with an eye to make a profit, therefore much of it tends to pander to the appetites of the intended audience-which can often be appallingly fickle. So then, many make a decision based on reference: whether a book is reputed to be worth reading by a trusted opinion. I do agree that there is much to be said about reputation. After all, how can we know the canon of literature without some works having gained a reputation for standing the test of time? If Shakespeare’s works weren’t distinguished by his reputation, hardly any of us would stumble across his works amid the endless works written throughout history.
But, does that mean one should only read the canonical books? Not at all. Sometimes one may gain more from reading a blog post by some kid halfway across the world than by reading a Greek tragedy. And so, not all is lost if one reads something that has no reputation for being great. Indeed, when it comes to reading, nothing is really lost, but can contribute to one’s overall perspective. I like what Aristotle once said: “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” They that would be widely read should take care to cultivate a critical mind, and let nothing escape the most rigorous of scrutiny. That way, one could have the confidence to expose themself to as wide an array of reading as desired, while not fearing that one should be swayed by the ideas one is constantly being exposed to.
And then there is the topic of the quality of one’s reading. What does it mean to have read a book? If a person has read a book, but after reading it couldn’t tell you anything about the premise, the author’s perspective, or even some of the informative material contained therein, then having read a book means nothing more than having scanned one’s eyes across the page for as long as it took to reach the end. And if a person reads a thousand books simply by doing that, then one has severely deprived themself of valuable time to digest meaningful ideas. Though I’m reluctant to say it will have been a waste of time since we don’t know if the mere exposure to those writings hasn’t left some useful impression on the brain.
Clearly, it is desirable to become a more skillful reader. But what do these skills consist of? Unlike physical prowess, a person’s reading skills can’t as tangibly be measured as can, say, a person’s physical strength or endurance. Similarly, developing these skills is not as simple as merely going to the gym and lifting weights. But standardized tests have developed a good way of measuring these skills. The reading comprehension sections of standardized tests effectively measure a person’s ability to do what I call “accountable reading”: reading with the understanding that one should be accountable for what one has read. Reading in the context of one of these sections on a test forces one to do accountable reading instead of merely “reading on faith”: reading freely and trusting that one is retaining and/or comprehending what one is reading. And so, getting one’s hands on these reading comprehension exercises is a great way to force one to do accountable reading, and done enough it will create the habit of accountable reading, which will allow the person to gain much more from even what he/she reads for leisure.
Excellent video, and great habit to share with your audience. I’m convinced that those watching your videos will be influenced for the better. Keep it up!
Best
0:33 15000 pages / (250 * 60 min) = 15000/15000 = 1 minute/ 1 page => Rapid reader detected!!!
Yes its insane that he reads a book in 4.8 hours. I read a book in like 30 hours or more. 12 rules life i think o spend 40 to 50 hours. Every page is like 3-5 minutes. But ofcourse there are small and easy books i read in 5-10 hours.
@@remybuitenhuis2433 For me, knowing it by using the "Pomodoro" technique (in which you read for 25 minutes and take a break for 5 minutes), I read about 8-10 pages in 25 minutes, that translates in 3.12-2.5 minutes/page. Of course, sometimes you come across a more aired-text book with plenty of well-thought whitespace, and you get a better score!
Every page/book has a variance in the number of words per page. He read 4.5m words in 250h, which translates to 18k words per hour, divide that by 60 minutes, you get around 300 words per minute. That's higher than the average population but not as high as the average amongst college students. What is far more impressive is his consistency.
@@techlad935 actually it's just a little above average as a le person reads at a rate of about 250 words per minute.. or like about a page in 2 mins, and considering he's in university 300 words per minute is impressive but not by that much of a margin.😊
@@rohan5577 That's kind of what I said :)
I've been taking a dive into making reading a daily habit and I can totally agree in many ways with what you're saying!!! Just having the new perspectives on life that you would not get from doing other things. KNOWLEDGE IS POWEERRRRR
honestly, i feel smarter just by listening to you talk! i need to start reading more because I've noticed I spend waaaay too much time on my phone. this is my motivation!
I've suffered from alcoholism and depression, and reading has helped tremendously! So far this year I've read 33 books, all from my local libraries - all for free.
ruclips.net/video/6H52-brhfi4/видео.html I hope this helps also and if you read this have a wonderful day :)
I took the same decision this year, and I really feel that spending time on reading is such an enriching habit
great video as usual
Ooh my gosh
I can’t believe I have found someone who share the same interest as me. I am an avid reader and so far this year I’ve read 30 books and I positively believe that I’ll make it to 52.
Hey John - great work on these videos. I'm a 19 year old university student like yourself, and I decided to commit to setting aside some time for reading after seeing your 6 month update in early December. To see a guy who cares about producing quality content and sharing his experience with building habits.. I must say it's really inspiring. In case you haven't read it yet, my book suggestion to you is this: St. Augustine's Confessions. All the best with your endeavours!
I should add that it's been most fruitful, and rewarding to say the least.
Good morning John from China! It is so fresh to watch your video in the early morning!
How did you get through the firewall?
Danil Thorstensson 1. She uses VPN 2. She is one of the people who created the firewall. 😂
Danil Thorstensson 1.I go to university in Macau 2.our school has free vpn with which I can get access to youtube and ins and etc
Wow nerd
Daniel Friedland ？？
I got inspired by you this year and one of my 2019 new years resolutions was to read a book every two weeks and i've kept it so far! so thank you so much :)
Loved this video! I have a book channel, and I study literature in college so people think that I'm a reading machine. But honestly, I'm finding my way again into reading, cause social media and college drain a lot of my energy. I find myself too tired of so much information and noise, and I slowly drifted away from the thing I love the most (and the reason why I chose my degree): reading. Going back to this habit has been amazing to my lifestyle in general and most of your reflections about reading are similar to how I feel. Love your channel 💙
Nice video, but I found the music while the B-Roll footage to be very loud.
But besides of that I totally agree with you.
I may not read as much as you, but at least I read too :)).
And I when you say that it makes you more rich in perspectives and ways to see living I can totally agree.
I definitely recommend the book "Der Bibelraucher" from Wilhelm Buntz.
It´s a german book so I don´t know if it´s available in your language...
Anyway, have a good time reading and stuying, i´ll follow along!
I am so grateful to have found your channel, it’s truly an inspiration. I love reading, but after having children, going to school and working full time.. it became less of a priority. Since watching your channel I have set the goal of a book per week (52 weeks) and have been doing great thus far! I also ordered your growth book! I love the idea of planning and reflecting on what makes me happy or grateful. Thanks again ❤️
Im a 41 year old stay at home mom from Korea and i get so inspired by your videos.
Ahhh, John, thank you so much! Good to see you back with great content! Keep it up!
In 2018, I read 28 books.
In 2019, my target is 100 books and I know, I can do it.
Thanks for sharing, John. You are awesome!
What's up
I’m a sophomore in high school right now but I’m thinking about doing something like this for my senior project. Sounds like a really cool experience and a great opportunity for growth! Props to you for sticking to your resolution!
Thanks a lot! This will be my new-years resolution! I read about 20 pages a day; but to read about a book a week, that is 50 pages a day. Should I put in more time (I read slowly; but as much as I can). I usually reserve an hour for reading; and I think I will bump that up to 2-hours.😃
All that knaw-ledge
Adnan A hey Adnan! I love your channel! Just curious, do you think it’s possible to achieve this kind of reading goal during med school? Or did you find that you had to greatly reduce your leisure reading?
1234happysmile Hey, thanks! I think it’s definitely possible, especially if you use audiobooks (or even physical copies). You still have free time in med school, but even though it’s limited and goes down each year, if you prioritize reading, you can still do a book a week. I don’t have as much time for leisure reading as I’d like, but I have a lot of other hobbies.
I’m sure you’re going to do wonders in life. You’re such a smart man! I absolutely agree with everything!
You could try to read A Prison Doctor by Amanda Brown and Cat O’nine tales by another author. I loved them 😁
I love how self-conscious and society-conscious you are in your age, there is a increasing need for RUclipsrs like you so don't ever stop please
Lenka Hašová that’s how I aim to be on my channel, I’m a high school sophomore vlogging my path from PreMed to becoming a Licensed Physician!!
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos John, I really enjoy them!
People, do not read books for quantity, read for quality. When you finish a book it's always important to meditate, not spiritually, rather to think about key ideas, critically examine, read more a about topic and write a short essay on a book you have read. If you just read books for sake of reading them, then you will quickly loose main concepts and forget a bunch of stuff. Of course that depends on many factors, but it's always better to read few books that will have huge impact on your life, than to read thousands which will be forgotten.
OMG, finally John has another video posted. I really thought that you were snowed in with school and all. I have missed your unique insights on life-- motivational speaker. (I noted to recommended selections to "keychain", I'll look at those. How much time do you spend reading, other than school work? Your really in to Computer Science and never talk about it. Perhaps you can enlighten us with a marriage of both CS and your philosophy, OK? Mark.
I would love to watch what John thinks about CS. I'll start my CS course in 3 weeks.
Hello Mr.Fish! I'm learning English (now in pre-intermediate level) and trying to read more. I wanted to say Thank you for speaking so understandable! It's very pleasant for me, because I can understand the well-read native speaker!
It changes your way of thingking but it's temporary, But there is an option to making it permanent. When i read books I don't just finish em and put them away. I'd highlight the important stuff and put the page's number at the back of the book (LIKE WHAT MANY SUCCESSFULL PEOPLE DO). So when I go throught it again some day I know where the important messages are. Books are mentors you won't gain anything big from it if you just go through it once and be done with it.
I love your videos John. You have no idea how much you have helped me over the past year.
just watched your video 11 months ago. Sound improved a lot and you look a lot cooler! Hope you succeed in your RUclips career!!
I can't say nothing else instead of thanks, because you introduced me at reading wery well. I liked to read, but never has ended a book, but everything changed when i saw a video of you talking about this topic and you said that you can read a book a week reading 50 pages per day. So I put this goal, and at the time when i saw the video was too close my birthday, so i decided to buy a book. It was "Ardenas 1944" from Antony Beevor, and i loved it, I ended it in a week as i hoped.
When i ended the reading i got hooked and keep reading a book per week with this trick. Since then i had learned a lot, and got some new experiences, reading has been so much apacible than it was.
Thanks John!
Thank you John for your reading tips! Your videos are amazing, keep filming them, you are such an inspiration! Thank you so much!
Your spot on with the idea that reading develops our human essence: you have gotten deeper since this challenge
I'm trying to get to the 52/year slowly, after falling out with reading during the highschool years. I've restarted small last year and managed 10 books, and I hope to double (ish) that amount this year!!
It's easy to forget how much fun books are, when you get used to the endless scroll
great video. followed along with you and i have to say the best outcome was that i always felt fulfilled. at the end of the day, i always felt like i had done something with myself and when i just wanted to sit and rest, it felt okay because i had already been a bit productive by reading something that day. besides, after some weeks, you start making bridges and conections between the books and the intelectual satisfaction it gives is unique. a great resolution that has become a habit and that i´ll carry on for life.
Good!! Like your channel so much glad you updated it. Just started to read ‘getting things done’ for motivation to be well prepared for my board exam and your making a video abt reading!!! What a coincidence!
Your videos are always useful for me. You was the first yt channel who helped me to get on the path of improving my mindset and you also motivated me to read a lot. I just wanted to say thank you for making videos that are definitely useful to most of the people
-Btw I am 18 yr old who is just trying to live happier life.
Hope y'all have a wonderful day :)
Yes if it makes you happy! Whatever makes you happy!
Dude, i would buy your enthusiasm. i need that more than books
Thanks for your opinion :)
Just a couple of objective questions
1)What's the utility of all the books you've read?
2)What are the top skills you can 100% say you've built up thanks to reading so many books?
3)How do you deal with information overload in a scientifically proven way, which takes into account the information retention, deep understanding, and applied skills? What about articles, news, other sources of written material?
4)What are the top three subjects that interest you the most and the top three 3 that you find useful, they can overlap?
I'd appreciate your answer.
Peace!
John, what do you think is the difference between reading a book and watching educational content on RUclips or other platforms? Is it the calmness and the quiet? Or is there no difference in your opinion? I'm really curious. Love your content btw; I think that it's of great quality. :)
İnci Analı From my perspective, exposure to written word improves your vocabulary, writing, concentration, and speech. In addition, books allow you to delve far deeper into ideas. Books tend to be more content heavy, thus providing more insight then most RUclips videos. A person usually spends years putting all of their best ideas into a book. RUclips videos, generally, only have quick insights.
One is made in a day or two, the other took years to be made, I’ll let you think about which one will be better
@@myjciskate4 Thank you! This made my thoughts a bit clearer. I do think that really well made youtube videos can educate people tremendously, and they do not have to be short or quickly made either, but those kinds of videos are rare. Maybe the process of reading, as you said, is somewhat more rewarding than watching content.
There is much more information in a book than a yt video, i think
The difference is night and day. Especially if the book is physical, your brain is in a different modus operandi when reading compared to watching moving pictures on a glowing screen. Take any educational video here on RUclips, animated ones in particular, and think about how much information was conveyed. Translated to text it's usually not much. Video can augment education by being able to show you things, but I find that educational videos not always use the possibilites of the medium and are more like polished audio books with drawn out length. Lastly, I second the already voiced notion that RUclips videos have a tight production schedule and therefore represent rarely more than a few weeks worth of work whereas books come to light during a process that often takes years to finish. They can be way more dense in their content.
Just finished Shoe Dog last week, I’m trying your style. What other books do you reccomend?
Check out the list in my description. Loved man’s search for meaning and flow. Just read the happiness hypothesis and really enjoyed that too.
John Fish thanks man I’ll check it out. Great video once again
i finished shoe dog last week as well.
When I was a boy in France I started on a great read of books and poetry which was inspired by my best friend who was an avid reader and who advised me that my first great book should be a great classic with short chapters so that I could always say to myself - just one more chapter. It changed my life and yes beautiful girls do like well read boys and lines of poetry can do the trick but the real benefits have come now that I am old and still reading and often revisiting old friends.
Glad to hear you did it man, I'm currently on my journey of 52 also. Additionally, I'm doing a gymnastic ring program (Body by Rings) and I recommend you do it too! Nothing compliments a good read better than sweating out some angst!
You're brilliant John. Keep going buddy. I've been reading more as well; not quite the same amount as you, but still going along. You've inspired me to do more with my time and challenge myself and keep up a goal setting, growth mindset.
Hey John, really loved this video and happy to hear you kept it up!! Totally agree on everything you said. Keep up the great work John!
Loved the editing in the last 2 videos, great content too. ✌
This is so nicely put. I'm going to share this video with everyone that asks me why I like to read. Thank you
I am going to read more when I go to college. John fish thank you For making this video
Nicolas Mogollon Read more now
MR. Tuts I agree.
Nicolas Mogollon nice bro
MR. Tuts recommendations of what books to read.
sapiens: a brief history of humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
already posted another video. I enjoyed that. And I'll mention the fact that you made me read again. You inspire me :)
I love that you've put one of your eyes just in the middle of the frame, just like in the movies
Reading too many books can yield diminishing returns, I feel. Maybe it is a radical idea from me, but I feel like allowing the book you last read to sit with you, revisiting the concepts and ensuring that it has become an essential part of you also yields results.
That's some serious dedication my dude! You absolutely inspire!
Just information to the intellect. Wisdom come when you master what you learn 20 30 years from now.
I've really anticipated for this video, much love from me, love ur videos man
I read one book in like 2 weeks, thanks to Warren Buffet i got into reading alot of books for the past few months
Are you going to keep reading a book a week this year in 2019? If you do New Years resolutions, what are yours? :) Love your videos!
I wouldn't say that the our essence nor the point of reading books is gathering and applying information, but creation. Creations always start from our heads. So it's not only acquiring and applying knowledge, but creating, that we are more open to after reading books. Many people correlate intelligence and creativity, but they are not the same, some would even say they are opposite. I just wanted to point that out, even though you didn't say that I feel you didn't leave it out on purpose. As students we are taught that information and intelligence is everything, so it is kinda hard to brake that habit. Love you're videos and how stimulative they are. Keep it up. :)
Great to see you finding your own style
Reading 4,500,000 words in 250 hours is 300wpm. Average reading speed is 200wpm with 60% comprehension, top readers 1000wpm with 85% comprehension (represents 1% of readers). If you go take a reading speed test, take one with questions at the end to test comprehension too.
I'm really admirative with the fact that you forced yourself to read 1 book a week during the whole year, you're hability to stay focus on an objective is remarkable. It makes me wanting to achieve my own objectives. As those books inspired you, you're inspiring me ! Thanks a lot john
I read 73 books in 2018, including ASOIF complete series. Totally worth it, i just can't stop reading now, better decision of my life.
I am turning 20 two days later and although I haven't committed to my new years' resolution I am now fully ready to start reading a book a week after my birthday
Reading daily is one of the best habits one can pick up. My resolution for 2019 is to read an average of 30 pages daily across a week and so far I managed to stick to it. As for broadening horizons, I recommend to read lots of classical novels. They present you with thoughts and perspectives you wouldn't have otherwise encountered in this life and I deem them superior to many if not all works of non-fiction which I often find formulaic and rehashed. Non-fiction often leaves me wondering if the message the author wanted to convey would have fit into a book a tenth of its size or a single A4 page for that matter.
Truly Motivating, John. Now we need a book recommendation video to help us get started on a commitment to read!
Please keep uploading... you're videos are really inspiring. This year because of you I've already read 36 books. There's only a couple of months left but I think I can get to 45 at least...all thanks to you😍💓
Ps: I live In Nepal, and we have a different calender..
The bubble you talked about is so true.
I love your channel man ! Keep going making this type of videos and also challenging yourself with reading.
Reading is soooo cool seriously.
I've always underestimated reading books. But since I've started, I literraly can't stop.
I read almost 1 book every 1 week and a half/2 weeks
I hope I can improve to maybe one day, do the as you during a whole Year
Thank you for this video. I have been feeling unmotivated but now I’m ready to start again
Heavy Reading for me was a phase. It just becomes knowledge porn in large amounts. Eventually you will need to focus what you read on things you can directly apply to your life and TAKE ACTION on the knowledge. A perspective is just what it is. A perspective.
Keep the good work John! We want more!
i can not actully believe my eyes when I saw you uploaded another video in one week. also can not wait to see your comment on the books you read in 2019!
Great video. I'd be curious to see a more in-depth breakdown of what you read during the year. Things such as dividing by fiction/ non fiction or separating different topics throughout the year etc, in order to see how your reading preferences changed throughout the year!
Love the structure in your videos!
I don't think I could stay as committed to reading every day as you, but I'll give this Audible thing a go. Thanks for the books
Our phones are a major attribute to our self biases. As a new generation arising, we should captivate different fields of knowledge. Widening our mind is the only forum on decaying discrimination.
you're so inspirational!!
I recommend Smokes Get In Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty who is also youtuber Ask A Mortician. This book and her channel helped me and countless others overcome the fear of death by educating and entertaining us on the subject itself. It’s a bit morbid and taboo but that’s only because we as a society don’t like talking about death. Yet it is a part of life, equally important and sometimes painful.
READING HAS TREMENDOUSLY CHANGED MY LIFE IT HAS GIVING ME MORE FREEDOM IN MY FINANCES AND ALSO PUT MORE MONEY IN MY POCKET TRUST ME PEOPLE DONT UNDERSTAND HOW READING CAN LITERALLY CHANGE THEIR LIFE.
I like ur way of presenting ur video just like a book with chapters and Section
Love this style!!!! Keep going on !!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts after reading so many great works!
I have a hard time even reading one book. Probs to you
Another great video!! Not surprised at all.. keep up the great content!
you gave me the inspo it took to make me read a book a week, bLESS you - i'm 4 in and learned so much already
5 hours per book?!
I read about 20 pages max an hour. I don't think I could physically read (let alone read, think about and absorb) a 350 page book in 5 hours.
Im in law school and read the same number of pages a year, although the material is extremely dense. The knowledge gained is unparalleled. If i wasn't neck-deep in case law I'd have to pick up a few books here and there.
3 comments on this video.
1 - volume is a bit off but I’m sure it was just a one time thing.
2 - I suggest you use a light to light up your face a bit better.
3 - can you post the list of books you read? Also which ones you would recommend..? Thanks!
I read way less than one book per week but I was so surprised to find out that I’ve read many books in common with your latest book list.
wuhuuu so so so so happy you are back!! I absolutely love your content.
Love it, and I've taken up the challenge myself for 2019. I'm trying to make my 52 a variety as I usually read politics and history or books on the financial markets. I think you might be underestimating yourself as to your reading speed, I bet you're above 300 wpm, but that can obviously vary depending on the material.