The Dying Art of Reading & Why It’s a Real Life Superpower

Okay, I know what you’re thinking, the title of this blog is a tad dramatic and I wouldn’t blame you if you are. I can guarantee though, you’re only considering the statement at face value. Granted, in its most literal sense the statement “reading is dying out” is, of course, ridiculous. Frankly we read everyday; social media, the news, signs by the side of the road on your morning communicate, so reading is very much alive… at least in this sense.

What I’m going to discuss, however, is a little more niche than that. If you hadn’t guessed already, I’m referring to the art of reading books. Take a moment to reflect, when was the last time you read a book? For most people, it is not unlikely that the answer to this question is a year or two ago. Why is that? Is it because you view reading as inherently boring? Perhaps books are too expensive? Or perhaps the education system convinced you that reading is useful for nothing more than studying for exams. Whatever the root cause, I am here to convince you otherwise. That books other than “Of Mice and Men” really do exist, whatever your GCSE English teacher may say. By the end of this blog, I hope you’ll be running to your nearest book store or opening the Amazon app of your phone.

Reading Books is a Real-Life Superpower

You may have read an earlier blog where I discussed my experience with 75 hard, which, if you know anything about the challenge, mandates reading 10 pages of non-fiction per day. Since then, I’ve been in love with books. Now, there are many reasons why, in fact I could spend all day reeling them off, but I want to focus on just one — I discovered that reading is a real-life superpower.

Picture this. You’re sat at home, reflecting on your upcoming 2022 New Year’s resolutions and you’re crafting a vision of the “future you”. I can promise that any idea you conceive in that moment, any goal or objective that you set yourself, there is a book out there, waiting to guide you, written by an expert in that field. All you have to do is locate it.

Don’t get me wrong, there is no shame is taking the more difficult route and forging your own path forward. In a number of circumstances, I would implore you to do so. However, in situations like this, the path has often been paved for you. In this context, books are essentially a cheat code. They are a playbook, a step-by-step guide to winning the game that we all call life, enabling you to become the most complete version of yourself. I assure you, there is very little that you can imagine that hasn’t been imagined before. So why not draw on the wisdom of those who came before, take their teachings for everything they are and elevate yourself above the crowd.

Books to Change Your Life

But how to navigate the millions of books out there and recognise which of them contains the answers you’re looking for? Luckily for you, these definitive lists already exist. Below, you will find a few books that I would recommend as a starter-for-ten if you’re considering taking the first step.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Written by Eric Jorgenson, the almanack is composed of Naval’s greatest writing, speeches and notes. It is a book full of invaluable wisdom that has shaped the foundations of my own path. It is a must read for anyone interested in self-development.

Sapiens — A Brief History of Humankind

Written by Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens is a journey of history and realisation. Taking you through the evolution of Homo sapiens, this book will transform your view of the world and open your eyes to a new perspective. I recently wrote about some of my own learnings in another blog, which can be read here.

Living the 80/20 Way

You may have heard of the 80/20 rule at some point in your life. It isn’t a foreign concept by any means. However, in this book, Richard Koch explains in Leyman’s terms how you can adopt and implement the 80/20 rule into your every day life. In you have any interest in working less and enjoying life more, this book is for your.