I Read 600 Books in 5 Years… I QUIT
Why it’s okay to quit books
Outline — why it’s okay to quite books
- New books are like a picture frames
- Why we obsess over the latest release
- Save time with this vetted list of authors
- My process to read more in less time
Most books say the same shit
My Audible has 342 titles in it.
I have three bookshelves of books that I’ve finished — And another bookshelf that I haven’t started yet.
Not to mention the 300 books on my Kindle, or the hundred of books I sold after reading them.
And I can tell you…
After you’ve read 3-4 books on a subject, EVERY OTHER BOOK has the same message.
It’s all repeated information.
It’s the same painting, just with a different frame.
And to be fair — sometimes the new frame helps us see the painting in a new light.
But most often, we use the new frame a distraction.
A distraction from seeing what the painting really is.
And the painting is usually a roadmap on how to achieve something.
It points to the work that needs to be done, consistently, in order to achieve the result.
But instead of acknowledging the painting and doing the work, we admire the frame.
And then search for a new frame.
The Intake of information distracts from implementation
Once you’ve read the handful of books on a given subject, you will have a solid understanding of the basics.
Enough to get you started.
If you keep reading on the subject, you are using information as a distraction from implementation.
Remember, this is coming from the guy who read 600 books in 5 years. I’m just as guilty as you.
It’s better to read 3 books on a subject and then spend the next year implementing everything you read, then it is to read 30 books in that year and do nothing with it.
Implementing what you read will make you a subject-matter-expert faster then reading will.
If you’re a writer who’s struggling to make money doing what you love, I gottchu.
I send out a daily 500 character, 3 bullet point email with business instructions and tips for writers.
What should you read
Instead of reading everything on a topic, find an author whose writing resonates with you. Pick a couple of their books, and just read those.
Then implimemt what those books teach.
Here are some suggestions:
Marketing
- Russel Brunson
- Seth Godin
- Dan Kennedy
- Robert Cialdini
- Donald Miller
- Michael Hauge
Personal Development
- Tony Robbin’s
- Anothont Trucks
- Giovanni Dienstmann
- Jocko Willink
- Michael Singer
- Ryan Holiday
- Dr Joe Dispenza
Business Growth
- Alex Hormozi
- Michael Masterson
- Mike Michalowicz
- Jim Collins
Leadership
- John Maxwell
- Dale Carnegie
- Patrick Lencioni
- Daniel Coyle
If there’s a category you’d like me to add, let me know in the comments and I’ll add it. It’s likely that I have multiple recommended authors in that category
How you should read
This is why I don’t believe in reading every book you start.
It’s true, every book has a slightly different perspective in there is likely a few golden nuggets of unique truth in each book.
However, reading an entire book, in order to find those few nuggets of truth is a waste of time.
Here is the strategy I use:
1. Read the Index
The index is the outline of ideas.
It walks you through, step-by-step, what the book will teach you.
Most books teach the same principles under a different frame, so reading the index will give you an idea for the concepts that book will teach.
Pick a Chapter that sounds interesting, unique, or valuable, and start reading there.
2. Read the first sentence of each paragraph
Once you’ve identified a unique chapter, there is no need to read the whole thing. Read the first sentence of each paragraph.
9 times out of 10, the first sentence will encapsulate what the rest of the paragraph will go on to explain.
If the first sentence isn’t unique in some way, move on to the next paragraph. Continue this until you’ve completed the chapter.
If you find multiple paragraphs and/or chapters interesting or unique, it is worth considering reading the whole book.
But I don’t start with the assumption that you should read the whole book.
If you’re a writer who’s struggling to make money doing what you love, I gottchu.
I send out a daily 500 character, 3 bullet point email with business instructions and tips for writers.
