Should you be reading the best-selling books?

Last year I made reading a priority and wound up reading a little over 100 books cover-to-cover.

What I learned from reading those books surprised me and it wasn’t any knowledge that I gleaned from the pages. The biggest lesson I learned was to avoid reading best-selling books. These books are not fertile ground for learning and acquiring knowledge.

You know you want to read. You know you should read. But often, you have no idea what to read. If you read what everyone else is reading, it’s going to feel good. By reading what everyone else is reading, you are going to start thinking like everyone else.

Another big problem. Most of the books on the bestseller list expire quickly. They have a half-life. Spending your time learning this stuff is like walking on a treadmill, you put in a lot of effort and find yourself in the same place you were when you started. To get out of this rut, I may have a few suggestions for you.

Read what you like.

By reading something that interests you, you will find it more fulfilling and learn much more than if you only read what is popular.

Read the obscure.

Everyone’s read Asimov, Dan Brown, and other popular authors. Read someone new and upcoming in your favorite genre. You will find something fresh and exciting this way and if you really like it, you can recommend it to your friends and family.

Step out of your comfort zone.

If normally all you read is fiction, see if there is a book that would help you learn more about something job-related or a hobby you enjoy. These are more likely to give you a sense of gaining something from what you have read. It is rewarding to learn new things.

Sample the best sellers.

Lastly, I’m not saying avoid the best sellers altogether, instead make them only about a quarter of what you read. You will be able to talk to people about what you are reading, just not trapped in absorbing what everyone else is.

Reading should always be something fun and enjoyable, never dull and humdrum. Keep it exciting and read only that which you will gain from.
Happy Reading…

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