Last month I created a new rule for myself: the 80/20 Rule of Reading. Now, 80% of my reading time is to be spent on books with only 20% left over for the internet and other sources.
It’s been a difficult transition. But, the results have been tremendous.
Here’s why I’m focusing 4x as much on books, and why you may want to give the reading rule a try.
The Quick “Wow” vs. Depth of Understanding
“A book is incredibly powerful because it gives you leverage. The author could have spent years of his or her life studying a subject, reading everything that had already been written, learning from the best, summarizing different theories, and simplifying complex ideas. After ten years of research, thousands of hours and millions of pages can be condensed into a concise little 200 page novel, and little old you comes along to get it for $10.” –Brian Armstrong, Lifehack
Reading on the internet has a way of sucking up time. Without self-monitoring, a few more minutes on the web can easily turn into several hours. Follow where the links lead, and you’ll find thousands of very interesting and very short articles. Often, you’ll come across web writing that gives you a “wow” moment. Unfortunately, learning often ends after the “wow.” You read about a new idea and the discussion is over after 500 words.
Books, on the other hand, give you a greater depth of understanding. Traditional authors don’t have to worry about shrinking their ideas down into web-digestible nuggets, using lists and bullet points to please the eye, or saying the same word over and over with the hopes of being picked up on Google. They have hundreds of pages to give readers a more thorough understanding.
Online articles are designed to be quick reads, often written in less than an hour. Books can offer an immense amount of knowledge, gathered by the author over a lifetime of learning.
The Value of Concentration
Reading books also helps you focus your concentration on a particular subject. An average-sized book will take me 4-6 hours to read, compared with a web article that takes about 2 minutes. There’s something inherently valuable about considering an idea for an extended period of time, letting thoughts about the book brew in your mind, and returning to its pages once again.
Concentrating on the ideas in a book over a longer period is a process that allows readers to develop their own thoughts, cultivate critical thinking skills, and see beyond the superficial.
Have Something Insightful to Discuss
“My experience has shown me that the real benefit comes not from what you read but rather from the habit of reading. When you read a new book every week, you condition your mind to keep taking in new knowledge. Your thinking remains fresh and sharp. Your brain is always churning on new ideas, looking for new distinctions it can make. Every day you pour in more ideas, which your brain must find a way to integrate into your existing knowledge base.” – Steve Pavlina
When I’m reading books, I never run out of things to say. That’s because my mind is full of ideas – theories from authors and possibilities I’m considering. I’m dying to hear what other people have to say about them.
Consider these two scenarios:
Scene A: I read online news blogs about the latest happenings in the Middle East. I spend 30 minutes or so each night checking out the latest, then browsing though the comments section. Some people have a brief insightful tidbit to add. Most are repetitive or unintelligible. What do I have to add to a discussion? “Did, you hear what’s going on in the Middle East this week,” someone asks. “Yeah, I can’t believe that’s happening,” I respond.
Scene 2: I spend 30 minutes each night reading The Shia Revival: How the Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future (an interesting book, by the way). Now, when the discussion begins, I have a lot to add. Maybe we can talk about the religious differences of clashing groups, the way the economy is affecting conflict, or how these issues will play out in the future. Much more interesting.
Creating a Web / Book Balance
I’m not cancelling my internet connection (perish the thought!). I’m just going for a conscious division of time, giving more attention to actual books.
On this subject, the web has two strengths: its ability to introduce readers to new subjects and to inspire them with new ideas. When I come across a “wow” article, I now make a note of the topic and look for a book to continue my learning.
Further Reading
If you’re interested in giving more time to books, take a look at some of these resources. (Yes, I realize the irony of linking to even more web writing…)
Challenge: Read One Book a Week - A light-hearted look at the benefits of books and tips for reading them more frequently.
How to Automatically Read a Book Per Week Without Taking any Additional Time Out of Your Day – If you’re not up for spending so much time on bound volumes, consider audio books.
Read a Book a Week - Steve Pavlina discusses how reading a book every week has impacted his life.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Morning Jamie I thinkg you make a mistake here “or saying the same (world ) over and over with the hopes of being picked up on Google”. I t hink is should be word instead of world. Aslo that’s an interesting Idea am thinking about giving it a try.
“When I come across a “wow” article, I now make a note of the topic and look for a book to continue my learning.”
The hard part is there are so many interesting subjects!
Thank you very much for your website. The past few months I have veered back into reading books, starting with a few novels that have new-to-me authors.
I also like non-fiction, but I want to make good choices. The last NF book that changed my thinking was “It’s All Too Much” by Peter Walsh. Actually just the first part of the book was effective - where he explains the mental attitude that is necessary to unclutter one’s home. The second half he devotes to hands-on ideas, most of which I had seen other places (prob online). It’s the mind-changing part that was so valuable.
I’ve been seriously considering the Great Books. Thank you for your information and encouragement.
“Reading on the internet has a way of sucking up time. Without self-monitoring, a few more minutes on the web can easily turn into several hours. ”
In my experience, you can remove “on the internet” and just leave it at “Reading”.
In fact much about what you say about printed vs. online may not really apply in the future. To some extent it doesn’t always apply today.
The real divide isn’t the delivery system but the content of it; the timely vs. the timeless. Currently the web is mostly defined by timely content, but it doesn’t have to be. As technology begins to blur the line between the web and print, with devices such as the Kindle and iPhone, that distinction needs to be kept in mind.
Which does present a challenge to most people writing online. What is going to hold up in the long run. What are you writing that will be worth reading in a few years time?
I think that amateur online writing is beginning to bridge that gap, with the harbinger of this being National Novel Writing Month.
Pardon my meandering musings here, as I’ve drifted off topic.
Thanks for catching my typo Savant; I fixed it.
You’re right about the fact that there are too many interesting subjects, Debbie. The great thing about living in the information age is that we have so many choices. The downside is that we often become so overwhelmed by these choices that we paralyze ourselves and become unable to make a decision.
Shawn, very interesting thoughts. You’re definitely right that the content is more important than the delivery system. Web writing is generally considered temporary and so many sites pump out cheap content to boost their page views. Even today, writers take books more seriously (maybe because they’re getting paid for writing them and there’s no way to delete their typos). Many traditional books are available in virtual format, and it is definitely possible that serious writers will begin switching to online publishing in the future. Some professional musicians are offering their work primarily through the internet, writers could follow suit.
Whether web learning or book learning, one really needs to focus. Books make this easier
at the moment, since it’s too easy to surf without study.