3 Things I Learnt from Reading Biographies

I run a company helping students get into top universities, but you don’t need to go to university to get a great education.

One of the best resources I’ve found is from autobiographies of some of the most successful people in history.

The top 0.001%. And many of them are available online for free.

Learning from these people gives such an interesting perspective and lessons that are universally true beyond geographies and time periods.

What led to their huge success? Here are 3 themes that many of them had in common:

1) Reading

Reading - this is a theme that keeps coming up again and again and again.

They nearly all had periods of their life where they just read and read as much as they could. They had an insatiable need to read.

Ben Franklin

?“From a Child, I was fond of Reading, and all the little Money that came into my Hands was ever laid out in Books. Pleased with the Pilgrim’s Progress, my first Collection was of John Bunyan’s Works in separate little Volumes.”

?“Reading was the only amusement I allow’d myself. I spent no time in taverns, games, or frolics of any kind; and my industry in my business continu’d as indefatigable as it was necessary.”

Franklin also founded the Junto Club in 1727, a group of like-minded individuals who met weekly to discuss mutual improvement, science, business, and philosophy.

Warren Buffet

“I just sit in my office and read all day.” ? “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”

Napoleon - many of the greatest generals in history studied all the famous battles of the greats before them.

“Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.”

One of the reasons reading is so powerful because it helps to understand reality, and it helps to zoom out and think on a much bigger level, across space and time, rather than the narrowness of our daily concerns. It also gives inspiration and fuel to be more ambitious. It makes you think - if they managed to do all those amazing things, why do I care so much about this trivial daily thing?

It also helps to improve their ability to write, which is another core skill that keeps coming up again and again.

2) Writing

Many of these people developed their minds through writing, and it was also an important way for them to share their ideas and perspective and build influence. They probably wouldn't have been able to shape the world or be so well known today if they didn't write.

Franklin developed his writing skills through deliberate practice. He used a method of summarizing articles and then reconstructing them in his own words to improve his style.

He started as a writer and publisher, and founded the Pennsylvania Gazette, a newspaper that Franklin used to express his thoughts and influence public opinion.

?“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

Much of Ceaser’s success comes from his ability to write. He was one of the greatest speakers, and writing is one of the keys to being able to give great speeches. He wrote about his conquests which helped people understand and built up his name while he was away from Rome conquering.

Napoleon Bonaparte was an exceptionally prolific letter-writer. It is estimated that Napoleon wrote approximately 33,000 letters during his lifetime.

3) Visualisation

Visualisation is necessary because things don’t just happen by accident, they must first begin in someones mind.

Nikola Tesla’s visualisation is well worth reading

“My method is different. I do not rush into actual work. When I get an idea, I start at once building it up in my imagination. I change the construction, make improvements, and operate the device in my mind.”

“The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born.”

Einstein

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

These three things all tie in together and are connected as they feed and develop the mind. Reading helps to become a better writer, and it provides inspiration to visualise. Writing helps to think more clearly, and can help to develop the imagination, and every great achievement begins with visualisation.

Reading autobiographies is so powerful, because they summarise some of the most important lessons of their lives into an easy to read book that takes a few hours.

Many of these are free online , I also found Founders podcast to be an interesting podcast that talks through interesting people from history.