What I’ve learned from reading books over the last 15 years (+ my reading list)

My reading list

Here’s my current reading list.?

I use a framework to manage my book-reading process.

• Yet to Purchase: Books I plan to buy but haven’t acquired yet.
• Purchased: Books I’ve bought but haven’t started reading.
• Reading: Books I’m actively reading at the moment.
• Read: Books I’ve finished reading.
• Taking Book Notes: Books I’ve read and am currently summarizing or taking notes on.
• Notes Complete: Books whose notes are fully written and ready for review.
• Notes Published: Book notes that have been finalized and shared publicly.
• Blocked: Books I can’t progress with due to specific challenges (e.g., lack of interest, time, or resources).

How I’ve read books in the past

There’s a little backstory to how I have read books in the past.

The Bible was the first major book I remember reading. I read it cover to cover four times in four years, mostly because I had a few incentives.

First, my parents are Christians, and quite religious. In fact, they are pastors.

At 13, I joined the Teenage Bible Club in MFM (Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries). It was a group where members studied all the books in the Bible and participated in Bible quiz competitions at various levels each year—branch level, zonal level, regional level, and then the national level. There was cash and other prizes to be won.

I am naturally competitive, so I took up the challenge to study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation each year in preparation for the Annual Bible Quiz Competition at the MFM International Headquarters.

In four years, I qualified through all the stages to represent my region at the national finals and achieved the following:

• 4th position nationally in the first year
• Not in the top 5 in the second year
• 2nd place in the third year
• 1st place in the fourth year

It took me four years of intense Bible study and more than 20 different stages of competition to win the trophy.

In fact, I got a 60-leaf notebook to take notes on each book of the Bible I had studied. This evolved into writing Bible notes on Microsoft Word and saving them in both DOC and TXT formats, which I could read on my phone.

In secondary school, I competed in Spellbound Africa, a spelling competition similar to "Akeelah and the Bee", where I had to study a 3,000-word dictionary. Here’s how I performed:

• I emerged as the Lagos State Champion
• I was the 1st runner-up at the national finals

In the university, I bought a lot of books by Dr D.K. Olukoya (MFM Founder) in 2016/17 and participated in the monthly book quiz. There was a financial incentive to read these books:

• The first position would win $100 (this was N30,000 back in 2016/17).
• The second position would win N10,000.
• The third position would win N5,000.

I never won first prize, but I did win second prize, third prize, and sometimes no prize at all during the times I participated.

I also did a lot of studying at university. I almost graduated with a first-class CGPA, finishing from the Department of Biochemistry UNILAG with a 4.48 CGPA (on a 5-point scale).

I used to tutor students across all levels of my department, simplifying challenging courses into relatable and understandable concepts. I developed a lot of notes on various courses and gave them out for free.

From this backstory, it’s clear that I have only ever read (or studied) for these reasons:

• To meet personal goals and challenges, such as mastering the Bible or excelling in competitions.
• To earn rewards or incentives, like cash prizes or recognition in academic or religious settings.
• To deepen my understanding of a subject, particularly in school or competitions.
• To help others, by sharing knowledge, tutoring, or simplifying concepts for peers.
• To prepare for life milestones and responsibilities, like excelling academically or growing intellectually.

How to read books effectively

There is no point in reading without an objective. There are also different types of reading. According to Cambrilearn, there are four types of reading:

1—Skim Reading

Skim reading is a quick technique for gaining a general understanding of a text by focusing on headings, bolded text, and visuals without delving into details. It’s useful for previewing material, determining relevance, or refreshing knowledge before exams, but it may overlook finer points and is not ideal for in-depth comprehension.

2—Scan Reading

Scan reading targets specific information within a text, such as keywords, dates, or data, by actively searching rather than reading the entire content. It’s time-efficient for locating answers or details but does not provide a thorough understanding of the broader context or concepts.

3—Active and Intensive Reading

Active reading involves engaging deeply with a text by asking questions, making connections, and taking notes to enhance comprehension and retention. This approach is ideal for studying complex material and encourages critical thinking and long-term understanding.

4—Analytical Reading

Analytical reading focuses on evaluating and critiquing a text by identifying arguments, assessing credibility, recognizing biases, and comparing it to other sources. This method is suited for academics or researchers who require a comprehensive and critical understanding of complex content.

Most of the reading I do is active and intensive—it’s the only way it sticks. I annotate text, underline, highlight key points, jot down questions, and summarize the material in my own words.

Fiction or non-fiction?

I used to find it difficult to read non-fiction books and have only managed to finish a few, such as Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus, both by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I think I’d rather watch non-fiction movies than non-fiction books.

Now, because I value intellectual growth, I read a lot more non-fiction.

I’ve come to appreciate the value of long-form content, especially in a world saturated with short-form content that often lacks depth and full context.

I believe in three fundamental truths about (non-fiction) books:

• Books are timeless reservoirs of knowledge: Unlike fleeting digital content, books preserve wisdom, insights, and ideas that can remain relevant for generations.
• Books promote focus and deep thinking: Engaging with a book requires sustained attention, which fosters better comprehension, reflection, and retention of information.
• Books challenge your perspective: They expose you to new ways of thinking, helping you expand your understanding of the world and question your assumptions.

My book review, rating & recommendation system

I have developed a system to dive deep into the knowledge of books and share the highlights, lessons, takeaways, and my review in my book notes here.?

I also rate the books on a scale of 1 to 5:

1?? “Burn it.” — Forgettable, regrettable, and not worth a second thought.

2?? “Eh, maybe.” — A couple of good ideas, but overall underwhelming.

3?? “Not bad!” — Some solid value here—good for the right reader or mood.

4?? “Add to your shelf.” — A strong, insightful read. You’ll come back to it often.

5?? “A must-read classic!” — Pure gold. This one deserves a spotlight in every library.

?? See my book summaries and reviews here.?