How to enjoy and benefit reading when you are a highly distractible person.

Six simple techniques that allow me to consume 20 books a year with no regrets.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” George R.R. Martin

Books have always been touted as gateways to other worlds, offering a superpower that is within the grasp of anyone who dares to explore. Indeed, through reading, we can experience lives we’ll never live, learn lessons without facing the consequences, and travel to places that don’t exist outside the realm of imagination. This transformative power of books enriches our lives, making them an invaluable resource in our quest for knowledge, entertainment, and emotional fulfilment.

Yet, with the immersion into each new story or subject comes a certain dilemma: the challenge of retention. Consuming one-two books a month, as I often do, bombards the brain with a plethora of information, emotions, and thoughts. For the longest time, I grappled with the fear that I wasn’t making the most of my reading. Was I just skimming the surface, wasting time and missing the essence of these literary journeys?

Comparatively, I have a friend, a paragon of organization, who embodies a methodical approach to reading. He dives into each book with a strategy — taking notes, synthesizing learnings, and methodically storing insights. His discipline and efficiency are admirable, yet, despite my envy, I’ve come to realize that my chaotic reading style has its own set of virtues.

Currently, my reading list is a testament to my eclectic approach: six books “in progress,” a mix of audio for my commutes and print for quiet evenings. They range from self-development to humor at work, non-profit activities, and musings on joy — each selected for a specific mood or moment in my day.

Do I remember everything I read? Far from it. On a good day, maybe 15% of a particularly riveting book stays with me, and less for those that don’t capture my interest as much. But over the last decade, I’ve developed a method that suits my seemingly disorganized reading habits.

Read and Listen on a Whim: Whether it’s a chapter of a novel, a podcast episode, or an article, I engage with content that matches my mood, ensuring that my engagement is genuine and spontaneous. I still do a preparation work for this. I collect all the book recomendations in one place. I think what non-fiction topics or fiction autors and novels I like to read in the next 6–12 months. But as a result I have not just a single book to read but a few books and podcasts to choose from.

Incorporate It Into Daily Habits: I strive to make reading — and learning — a seamless part of my everyday life, embedding the pursuit of knowledge into my routine. I read at least two pages before going to bed. I have bookmarks in my Audible and Spotify apps to make it very easy to start listening once I get in the car. I keep books on the desk and try to allocate some time for reading during the day. But this particular one doesn’t work very well for me.

Take Immediate Notes: Anything that strikes me as valuable gets noted down. Whether through a quick jot in a notebook, a digital note, or a voice memo, capturing these insights ensures they don’t get lost in the ether. I’ve noticed that even if I don’t review my notes regularly, the moment when you stop for. second to write the idea down significantly increases the chance of processing and remembering.

SHARE RELENTLESSLY (This is my personal best. A kind of superpower of the whole thing): I discuss what I’ve read with anyone willing to listen: friends, colleagues, family, at the business meetings, over the dinner, on the phone. This repetition not only helps cement my own understanding but also if done well, makes me a more interesting person. Have to admit, however: my wife is the one who struggles the most. I’m willing to share every idea I find interesting with her. So when I come the third time during the day saying: you know, I’ve just read that…. She at least takes a deep breath.

Apply Learnings Promptly: Especially with non-fiction, I try to implement new knowledge or techniques as soon as possible. Whether it’s experimenting with a new productivity hack or testing out a communication strategy, real-world application is key. I think the only one thing of every ten that I try stays with me and becomes a new habit or helps to form a new skill. And it is totally fine. It is not about numbers. It is really about ongoing small improvements.

Let Your Mind Wander: Often, while listening to audiobooks or podcasts, my thoughts drift, inspired by the narrative but not confined to it. I’ve learned not to see this as a failing but as a creative process spurred by what I’m listening to. This might happen witha printed book as well. I read, I get an idea that is inspired by reading. The best thing to do is to stop reading and do something. Write an email and share it with the team, make a post it note or go to my wife and share the idea with her :)

This approach, though far from the meticulous strategies of some, works for me. It acknowledges that the value of reading isn’t solely in retention but in the inspiration, conversations, and actions it sparks. As I navigate through my chaotic library, I’m reminded that there’s no one “right” way to read. The real superpower lies in finding joy in the pages, learning from them in ways that enrich not just our knowledge, but our lives and the lives of those around us. So, whether you’re a note-taker, a speed-reader, or someone who thrives in the delightful disorder of multiple books at once, remember: the journey through words is yours to shape.