Summary

In 2023, the author found that reading more significantly improved their writing and provided a calming, focused experience, leading to a deeper understanding of new topics and a wealth of ideas.

Abstract

The author reflects on the transformative impact of reading in 2023, a year that allowed for more leisurely reading due to a new job with better time control. Previously struggling with reading for pleasure, the author now experiences a sense of calm and focus while reading, particularly with noise-canceling headphones and lo-fi music. Each non-fiction book is likened to a college course, offering comprehensive knowledge and insights. Despite the convenience of audio books, the author concludes that they cannot replace the immersive experience of reading a physical book. The act of reading has not only enhanced the author's writing skills but also serves as a catalyst for generating new ideas, effectively combating writer's block.

Opinions

Reading for pleasure was once a challenge due to a short attention span, but it has now become a source of peace and focus.
The author equates reading non-fiction books to taking a college course, emphasizing the depth of learning and understanding they provide.
Audio books are seen as less effective due to the potential for distraction and the lack of visual accompaniments.
The author believes that multitasking while "reading" (e.g., listening to audio books while driving) is not truly possible, supporting this view with a reference to a Forbes article.
Reading is considered an essential part of the writing process, as it helps overcome writer's block and stimulates the generation of new ideas.
The author values the structure and craft of well-written books and acknowledges that reading helps improve their own writing by providing insight into authors' thought processes.
The author encourages readers to share books that have profoundly impacted them, suggesting an ongoing interest in discovering new perspectives through reading.

Why Reading More Changed Me in 2023

It made me a better writer, that is for sure

2023 was an important year for me in many ways. I started a new job at the end of 2022 which finally allowed me to have some control of my time. Not only did this allow me to write more, but it made me read more.

In the past, I was always a bad reader. Sure I could read medical textbooks and retain what I needed for my exams, but reading for pleasure was never something I was good at.

My mind would wander. I found myself re-reading often, becoming disinterested after putting down a book for a few days, and forgetting what I had read. I would often juggle multiple books at once because of my short attention span. This made each individual read even less valuable as my attention could not be focused.

But now I read differently and the lessons I learned from reading made me better.

Calmer

When I had a hard time focusing on reading for pleasure, I always wondered to myself: “Why do people love reading so much?”

The reason I asked this was because to me reading was a slog. Hours and hours of reading, often which was assigned books in school, meant less time doing something more fun, like playing video games or tennis.

But now I get it. I am at peace when I read. My brain cannot take in the external world if I want to understand each word entering my brain. I must stay focused to truly get the most out of my reading, especially non-fiction. And that focus slows everything else around me.

My favorite reading setup for ultimate absorption and calm is a pair of noise-canceling headphones set to a lo-fi music channel. I could never stand complete silence (as if there was such a thing). Music always helped me study and in medical school, I would often listen to techno/trance when learning. Wordless music is the only kind I can read or study. What is your favorite reading setup?

Each Book is a Course

When it comes to non-fiction books, I feel like each new one is a college course. Seriously though, how much more do you get out of a really good book compared to a course you took in the past?

Now that I am able to read more, I can choose which topics I have always wanted to learn.

My most recent completed book was The End of the World is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan. It is about de-globalization and what that will mean for the world. It helped me understand topics I had never broached before and now I just want to learn more.

Some will say “Everything you need to learn is on YouTube or free on the internet, you don’t need to spend money on books.” But there is something completely different about the structure of a well-written book. It’s not just the information gained, but the journey that leads you to new knowledge.

After doing a lot of reading here as well, it is truly a craft to be able to put words together into something unique and beautiful. I am still learning and likely will never get anywhere near the level of the authors I read. But only by reading their work can I understand their thought processes which will help me improve, regardless of how “good” I can become. I want to focus on “better.”

Audio Books Aren’t the Same

I tried doing Audible and listening to books back when I had a long commute to work. I did not want to waste time so I used it as a way to learn something new. What I found was the same thing that happened to me in the past when I tried to read. I would be easily distracted (well yeah I had to drive on I95 to and from work) and forget details. Also, a lot of the visuals that accompany books just do not feel the same when you have to click on a separate PDF in order to see what the author is referring to.

I also now understand that the reason Audible did not work for me is that multi-tasking is not real. We think it is. We want it to be. That is why AI will be a tool in the future to give people more free time to do more things. But for now, trying to “read” while driving or jogging just does not work for me. What are your experiences with listening to books while doing other activities?

Reading = More Ideas = More Writing

Have writer’s block? Try reading.

That is what I do a lot of the time when I do not feel like writing. This morning I read 10 articles on Medium and generated some new ideas. This story was one of them. I immediately started writing after I read all of the articles.

I keep a running list on my iPhone titled “Medium article ideas” where I just keep adding things that interest me, which usually come from something I read.

Because of this long list of things I plan to write about, I will focus 2024 more on writing than on reading (to the best of my ability). But every time I need to slow my brain down, learn something new, or generate some ideas, I know what I need to do.

Do not feel guilty about “wasting time” reading. It is just as important to the process as writing consistently.

If you want to share some books that changed your mind or taught you something you never considered before, please feel free to mention them in the comments.