?The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you?ll go.? ~ Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut
Most of my life, I have had trouble with reading comprehension.? I was a slow reader and would have to re-read passages several times to fully understand them.? Because of this struggle, reading was not exactly a hobby of mine or something I chose to do in my spare time.? I owned very few, if any, books.? All I ever read was an occasional fitness or health magazine.? I mean, I was a math girl, so I typically preferred numbers to words.? Although, strangely enough, I did always like English and liked to write.? I just didn?t like to read.
At the age of 26, I decided to attend law school at night and for the next 4 years, all I ever did was?you guessed it, READ.? I read case after case after case and then had to take what I had read and summarize it into what we call in law school IRAC.? We had to determine the Issue, state the Rationale or the Rule of Law, write an Analysis, and state our Conclusion.? For the first year or two, I seriously struggled.? I would often have to read the cases multiple times to draw out such information.? It literally took me forever!? I didn?t have much of a life there for a while.? But eventually, with enough reading and practice, it became so much easier.? I began to breeze through cases and quickly pull out the pertinent information.? My reading comprehension drastically improved.? I even began to enjoy reading the cases.? In fact, I began to enjoy reading so much that 4 years later, when law school was over, I started reading actual books (not law school books) all the time.
Being a big fan of the genre of books I call ?self-help?, I grew and nurtured my knowledge in and desire for continuous self-improvement.? I?m not really a fan of fiction.? In fact, I never read anything made up.? I prefer to read stories and information that are real; that teach me something practical and help me understand, appreciate, and live my life.? I have fallen in love with books and with reading.? The opportunity and ability to read is such a gift; a gift of knowledge.? Reading has changed me and changed my life, literally.? If I didn?t try to keep these posts short enough that you?ll actually read all of it, I would describe to you which books have shaped or changed my life and in what way.? Maybe I?ll do that in another post.? But it astounds me the impact books and reading have had on my life.? It makes me almost speed read through some books because I can?t wait to see what I?m going to learn from the next one.? It has become such a passion.? And it is one of the only things I do in my downtime that actually holds my attention for any length of time; unlike television that rarely holds my attention for even 5 minutes. Television is garbage by the way.
So today, I want to be an advocate for reading; to encourage you to fall in love with books and with the beauty of the written word.? If you struggle like I used to with reading comprehension, please don?t let that discourage you from reading.? Just like anything else, all it takes is a little practice.? And before you know it, you will be flying through pages and fully understanding what you just read.? Choose to read things that are interesting to you, but at least from time to time, read something that helps you learn and grow; something that helps you become a better version of yourself.? When a book has the power to so positively influence your life, ideas, and beliefs, you will find yourself craving that precious time, when it?s just you and the book, when nothing short of magic happens.
Just for fun, and in case you?re interested, here?s a list of some of my favorite books by some of my favorite authors!
The Female Brain ? Louann Brizendine, M.D. (must read for men and women)
Perfectly Yourself ? Matthew Kelly
Rhythm of Life ? Matthew Kelly (life changing book)
The Dream Manager ? Matthew Kelley (just wow, you have to read it to see)
Captivating ? John and Stasi Eldredge (must read for men and women.? Wild at Heart is the companion book and also phenomenal)
Epic ? John Eldredge (absolutely beautiful)
Desire ? John Eldredge (life changing book)
Outliers ? Malcolm Gladwell (phenomenally insightful and interesting book!)
How to Win Friends and Influence People ? Dale Carnegie (the basis ? where it all starts)
Good to Great ? Jim Collins (excellent business book)
The Happiness Project ? Grethen Rubin (fun, entertaining, and thought-provoking)
The Five Love Languages ? Gary Chapman (must read for everyone)
I?m currently reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and it?s likely to be on my favorites list as well.? Next up is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and I can?t wait to get to it.
HAPPY READING!
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