I almost skipped this cause I’ve seen a lot of “how to read more books” videos, but this was great because you gave such good examples of how you fit reading into your life!
I am so glad you mentioned audio and physical books simultaneously! I did this last night for the first time and I read like 4 hours straight after a 12 hour work day. I can only read about an hour after work before I fall asleep so immersion reading helped!
Something helps me is embracing DNFing. Life is too short to read books you’re not enjoying and DNFing helps me from getting into reading slumps as well. Also, I discovered immersion reading this year and it’s been a total game changer. I love your idea of a burner phone to keep from distractions, too. Great video!
Can't thank you enough for this "immersion reading" idea. The reason I don't finish books, is because my lack of focus pulls me other places. This has been incredibly helpful. I found you through IG and Roman Republic recommendations (excellent choice - I'm a quarter way through The Storm before the Storm) and I've already read more than I had in previous 5 years. I've already teed up history of England for next set of recommendations. Maybe come back to Roman Empire after that. But I'm really in Irish history. Either way - thanks again!!
Man, I follow you on Instagram, and the moment you shared a bit about your routine, I had to check it out in detail. You’re exactly where I aspire to be with my reading goals-an absolute machine! Unstoppable! Every time I see those giant books, I’m like, “Holy sh**, this guy is crushing it!” Cheers from Uruguay.
People often thing a routine and scheduling your hobbies ties you down but it in fact keeps me engaged in what I’m doing. One thing I’ve done is tandem read a fantasy and non fiction book. It helps me stay interested. The biggest thing is getting off social media besides RUclips
I think what gets me the worst is the sleeping part, because thanks to being a nurse by profession (meaning three shifts and even 2-3 24 hour-shifts per month) and being blessed with three kids, I have completely lost any semblance of a sleeping routine over the years. And I can attest that it severely messes with your energy levels, and as much as I love reading, it is an activity that costs energy (compared to tv or doomscrolling where I basically shut off my brain and become a complete zombie) that I don't always have, So my experience completely mirrors yours, only that I'm still in the process of turning things around which will hopefully improve a lot of things, one being my ability to read more. Still, also thanks for reminding me that reading 2-3 books per month on average actually isn't that bad.
Great video and great advice. My biggest tip can tack onto the mood reading tip, and that's to put down a book if you're not enjoying it. Maybe it's just not the mood at the time and you can try again at a different time, or maybe it's just not for you, even if it comes highly recommended.
I already do the before bed one but im going to audit my day, thanks for this. I also work from home and I need to be better. I also worked in sports media, still in media but yeah you make great points.
Ive always wished i could read alot of books. Every time i finish a book i feel exhausted almost. I read 7 books in 2024 and i wanna at least double that this year.
Biggest one for me is reading when I am excited to read. If I’m forcing myself to sit down and read a book when I’d rather be doing something else then I’m more prone to falling asleep or being on my phone.
Some really good tips!! I def am wanting to exercise more so, ordering a smaller sized treadmill soon to walk in the morning before work (I work from home too at the moment) and listen to an audiobook.
The biggest one for me has been a combination: 1) A kindle 2) My work breaks. I walk along the same little trek of road each break while reading. If a particular book REALLY snags my attention, I'll take time to visit my little corner at the library, or read at my desk between MMORPG dungeon queues, or in bed to steal some hours for reading from sleeping. The Kindle was the only thing that got me back into reading, though. EDIT: Also, I will only ever have TWO books designated as TBR on my device at a time. Preferably ONE, but sometimes I see a deal for another big one coming up. This better helps me focus on the primary book, as I get decision fatigue and burn out like no other.
Great advice, as always! I see you have Hiroshima by Sheftall on the shelf. Have you read it? Just picked it up! It's probably pretty important to start reading it now, given everything going on in the world 😅
“that is between you and GOD” 💚💚💚I KNOW THAT’S RIGHT!!! lol… I’m new here- avid reader and you have inspired me to audit my day and get more reading in cause I know that I can do better/more!!! Do you use and apps to track your reading or is that what these videos do for you- just curious?
Thank you for the tips, Michael. I have a deep passion for the intellectual life, and reading is at the heart of it. I’m often amazed by how much I’ve learned over the past few years. I work from home and have a structured reading schedule. On weekdays, I read The Iliad in Spanish from 5:00 to 6:30 PM and The Power Broker by Robert Caro (which I noticed on your shelf) from 9:00 to 10:30 PM. On weekends, I dedicate 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM to reading Ulysses (The Gabler Edition) alongside Ulysses Annotated Notes for James Joyce's Ulysses and Ulises in Spanish. Lastly, in the bathroom, I keep Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter, a profoundly challenging book that has transformed my perspective. Its complexity allows me to digest 4-6 pages per session, making it ideal for bathroom reading.
When discussing immersion reading, you mentioned getting your “book burner.” Did I hear that correctly? Is that an app? Thanks for sharing the great tips!
This is probably not a unique problem, but if anyone has any ideas how to resolve it, I'd like to hear them. I get distracted easily and go off on tangents. I have a stack of TBRs on my bedside table, books I really want to read (or reread). I read a book about cybersecurity and I get really interested in learning more so I search for more books on the subject, order a few, and add them on top of the TBR stack. I read another maybe, but in the meantime, the world has moved on. A news item about bird flu sends me off on a tangent looking for in-depth reading about viruses, which leads me to history books about the Black Plague or how medieval knights catapulted diseased bodies into castles to contaminate the inhabitants, which leads me to Leonardo da Vinci who designed catapults during the Renaissance which leads me to Italy and the history of Popery. Meanwhile, the stack of TBRs grows. This is a slight exaggeration but not by much. Anyone have this problem who has been able to resolve it, or at least learn to live with the anxiety? 😊😊
I found that when I find something interesting and will go on a tangent I try to borrow books from the library instead of buying it. Only, if I don’t end up reading I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my money. I have Great Courses subscription which I listen to on my walks which has helped or I use my library’S audiobooks and listen to them.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Definitely going to start referring to reading as “ripping through some pages” lmao what a dope thing to say
I almost skipped this cause I’ve seen a lot of “how to read more books” videos, but this was great because you gave such good examples of how you fit reading into your life!
Appreciate that, glad it helped!
I am so glad you mentioned audio and physical books simultaneously! I did this last night for the first time and I read like 4 hours straight after a 12 hour work day. I can only read about an hour after work before I fall asleep so immersion reading helped!
Game changer!
Starting getting up earlier in the mornings just to get an hour reading in before work...and it's worked like a charm!
Something helps me is embracing DNFing. Life is too short to read books you’re not enjoying and DNFing helps me from getting into reading slumps as well.
Also, I discovered immersion reading this year and it’s been a total game changer. I love your idea of a burner phone to keep from distractions, too. Great video!
I have to learn to DNF without feeling like the teacher is going to find out and give me an F. 😂😂
Can't thank you enough for this "immersion reading" idea. The reason I don't finish books, is because my lack of focus pulls me other places. This has been incredibly helpful. I found you through IG and Roman Republic recommendations (excellent choice - I'm a quarter way through The Storm before the Storm) and I've already read more than I had in previous 5 years. I've already teed up history of England for next set of recommendations. Maybe come back to Roman Empire after that. But I'm really in Irish history. Either way - thanks again!!
Hey thank you for the kind words, I'm thrilled my recs and tips are helping you!
Man, I follow you on Instagram, and the moment you shared a bit about your routine, I had to check it out in detail. You’re exactly where I aspire to be with my reading goals-an absolute machine! Unstoppable! Every time I see those giant books, I’m like, “Holy sh**, this guy is crushing it!” Cheers from Uruguay.
People often thing a routine and scheduling your hobbies ties you down but it in fact keeps me engaged in what I’m doing. One thing I’ve done is tandem read a fantasy and non fiction book. It helps me stay interested. The biggest thing is getting off social media besides RUclips
So true. We needed a comment like this one.
I think what gets me the worst is the sleeping part, because thanks to being a nurse by profession (meaning three shifts and even 2-3 24 hour-shifts per month) and being blessed with three kids, I have completely lost any semblance of a sleeping routine over the years. And I can attest that it severely messes with your energy levels, and as much as I love reading, it is an activity that costs energy (compared to tv or doomscrolling where I basically shut off my brain and become a complete zombie) that I don't always have, So my experience completely mirrors yours, only that I'm still in the process of turning things around which will hopefully improve a lot of things, one being my ability to read more.
Still, also thanks for reminding me that reading 2-3 books per month on average actually isn't that bad.
Great video and great advice. My biggest tip can tack onto the mood reading tip, and that's to put down a book if you're not enjoying it. Maybe it's just not the mood at the time and you can try again at a different time, or maybe it's just not for you, even if it comes highly recommended.
Normalize DNF'ing
This is a great video. Next, let's see a "Full Day of Reading" video, vlog style.
I already do the before bed one but im going to audit my day, thanks for this. I also work from home and I need to be better.
I also worked in sports media, still in media but yeah you make great points.
🤜🤛
Ive always wished i could read alot of books. Every time i finish a book i feel exhausted almost. I read 7 books in 2024 and i wanna at least double that this year.
I’m finding so many booktok creators here on yt so I’m happy I found you. I want to read more without it feeling like a chore so thanks!!
Love your content, thank you
Biggest one for me is reading when I am excited to read. If I’m forcing myself to sit down and read a book when I’d rather be doing something else then I’m more prone to falling asleep or being on my phone.
Some really good tips!! I def am wanting to exercise more so, ordering a smaller sized treadmill soon to walk in the morning before work (I work from home too at the moment) and listen to an audiobook.
Personally I try to just read 50 pages per day which, comes to around 45 books per year
Completely agree with all of these tips!
Super helpful tips, much appreciated!
Great tips! I will read Lies as soon as I have completed my Abercrombie era
Teach us your ways 😊
The biggest one for me has been a combination:
1) A kindle
2) My work breaks.
I walk along the same little trek of road each break while reading. If a particular book REALLY snags my attention, I'll take time to visit my little corner at the library, or read at my desk between MMORPG dungeon queues, or in bed to steal some hours for reading from sleeping. The Kindle was the only thing that got me back into reading, though.
EDIT: Also, I will only ever have TWO books designated as TBR on my device at a time. Preferably ONE, but sometimes I see a deal for another big one coming up. This better helps me focus on the primary book, as I get decision fatigue and burn out like no other.
Great advice, as always! I see you have Hiroshima by Sheftall on the shelf. Have you read it? Just picked it up! It's probably pretty important to start reading it now, given everything going on in the world 😅
“that is between you and GOD” 💚💚💚I KNOW THAT’S RIGHT!!! lol… I’m new here- avid reader and you have inspired me to audit my day and get more reading in cause I know that I can do better/more!!! Do you use and apps to track your reading or is that what these videos do for you- just curious?
Welcome! I have a spreadsheet but also use Goodreads and just started trying out StoryGraph yesterday
I’d be curious to know what sport books you like
Another great video! im curious, what do you do for work?
Thank you for the tips, Michael. I have a deep passion for the intellectual life, and reading is at the heart of it. I’m often amazed by how much I’ve learned over the past few years. I work from home and have a structured reading schedule. On weekdays, I read The Iliad in Spanish from 5:00 to 6:30 PM and The Power Broker by Robert Caro (which I noticed on your shelf) from 9:00 to 10:30 PM. On weekends, I dedicate 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM to reading Ulysses (The Gabler Edition) alongside Ulysses Annotated Notes for James Joyce's Ulysses and Ulises in Spanish. Lastly, in the bathroom, I keep Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter, a profoundly challenging book that has transformed my perspective. Its complexity allows me to digest 4-6 pages per session, making it ideal for bathroom reading.
ok
When discussing immersion reading, you mentioned getting your “book burner.” Did I hear that correctly? Is that an app? Thanks for sharing the great tips!
Oh it's just my second phone that has nothing but audiobook apps (and a notes app) on it, and you're welcome!
What audiobook speed do you default to when immersion reading?
Usually 1.5x, sometimes faster depending on the narrator
This is probably not a unique problem, but if anyone has any ideas how to resolve it, I'd like to hear them. I get distracted easily and go off on tangents. I have a stack of TBRs on my bedside table, books I really want to read (or reread). I read a book about cybersecurity and I get really interested in learning more so I search for more books on the subject, order a few, and add them on top of the TBR stack. I read another maybe, but in the meantime, the world has moved on. A news item about bird flu sends me off on a tangent looking for in-depth reading about viruses, which leads me to history books about the Black Plague or how medieval knights catapulted diseased bodies into castles to contaminate the inhabitants, which leads me to Leonardo da Vinci who designed catapults during the Renaissance which leads me to Italy and the history of Popery. Meanwhile, the stack of TBRs grows. This is a slight exaggeration but not by much. Anyone have this problem who has been able to resolve it, or at least learn to live with the anxiety? 😊😊
I found that when I find something interesting and will go on a tangent I try to borrow books from the library instead of buying it. Only, if I don’t end up reading I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my money. I have Great Courses subscription which I listen to on my walks which has helped or I use my library’S audiobooks and listen to them.
@@happyreally90 That sounds like something that might work for me. I'll have less anxiety and save money at the same time! Thanks for the feedback.
How do you include playing Fallout games into your routine? lol
I still get a couple hours here and there to play, I'm not a robot
Is that Gunther behind you? 🤨
Der Ringgeneral!