📚 Reading

So many books, so little time.

🍀 Benefits of Reading

(if you don't know already)

🍀 Reading for Study

Article

It's getting harder to find decent article in the deep sea of internet, thanks to the witches and wizards of SEO. Can't blame them though, it's an occupation born from demands + marketing strategy for the sake of appearing in search engines' top pages.

My favorite sources to read new articles:

Many people like Pocket. I don't frequently visit the websites above, I use the email newsletter to pick whatever articles that looks interesting. 

Nonfiction

I suggest to be extremely selective on the self-help and entrepreneur book types, especially those written by author with dubious background (doesn't possess decent real life experience and or degree of study related to the book topic — thus compromising credibility of their writings).

Academic Journals

Journals and other study publications have a different target reader "market". I assume researchers and students know how to read a journal article because they are obligated to stay updated on their relevant fields.

For general public, I suggest to first and foremost read the abstract and conclusion(s). Academic article is already formatted in such a way to help finding the main ideas in those two parts. Then if necessary, proceed to read the method and discussion for detailed context.

Textbook

Don't read your textbooks like a novel. Be careful of falling into the illusion of competence (tricks your mind into believing you understand the material, such as highlighting and re-reading texts, which in reality does nothing much).

How to retain information

🍀 Reading for Pleasure

Manga

As for manga, to say that I'm passionate about it is an understatement. Aside from personal to-read list, I also use the 1001 Comics to Read Before You Die when I feel up to something new. 

Below are some manga recommendations:

Fiction

I highly enjoy series like Animorphs and The Saga of Darren Shan (Cirque du Freak), though I don't read young adult fiction as first picks. Unlike manga, with novels I mostly read slow or awfully slow. It could take me either one-sitting or months to finish one book (Solo Leveling took me four years).

When in doubt, I go for the old masters, for example this 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list.

🍀 The Art of Skimming

Some references put a distinction between skimming and scanning (and not to be mistaken with speed reading). In brief, skimming is reading rapidly to get general overview of a certain content. Helpful to determine important / highlight parts of the text.

Further:

🍀 The Art of Deep Reading

I call it deep reading to make it sound cool and elite. Taken from Mortimer Adler, in brief this is where we do more than just read (finishing the book and move on). We digest the book for comprehension, to dissect the book's topic thoroughly for a certain goal.

🍀 Reading Notes

🍀 Start a Reading Habit

Anyone who calls herself or himself a reader can tell you that it starts with encountering great books, heartfelt recommendations, and a community of readers who share this passion. -Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer

I think all it takes is just one book. That one book, that fits and engages you so well that you got hooked and left craving and keep looking to repeat the same enjoyable reading experience.

🍀 Re-starting Reading Habit

Used to be voracious reader then real life takes over and now you feel like you don't have time for it anymore? I get it. In high school I was in the go-home club, I got a lot of free time to pick up any title I wanted and read them in my own pace. After entering the working society, I barely squeezed in reading manga in my spare time.

💡 Small steps. Don't re-start with a complex book right away. Find one that suit your energy level.

💡 Re-read your favorite book. This always works for me, especially when I'm in reading slump. Since I already know what happened in the story, I read again just to re-ignite the excitement. Most of the time I become able to recognize easter-egg details I previously missed.

🍀 Digital or Physical

Choosing suitable reading platforms

Physical is always my first pick, it helps me focus. I try to borrow it from public libraries or book rental. If it's something that I really want to read and can't be obtained anywhere else, I'll rent or purchase the digital version. If it's a really really must-showoff must-have, I consider buying the physical. 

✅ Digital - Pros

〽️ Digital - Cons

✅ Physical - Pros

〽️ Physical - Cons

My Reading Platforms

Physical

Digital