Reading, to me, is the best investment of my time.
I started tracking the books I read from 2018. Back then, I was always with friends and colleagues who love to read. This encouraged me to read more, read faster, share what I read and ask for book recommendations.
I don't get to spend time with them anymore since I started working remotely, but my love for reading didn't change.
My friend Paul, co-founder of Thrive Themes, and creator of Warrior Habits inspired this list.
Here's my BOOK LIST from 2017. Enjoy!
If you're not a big reader, these are my tips if you want to ease into reading gradually.
1. Ask for recommendations from friends who read A LOT. In most cases, a wide reader has come across books - easy to read, short ones - that he or she can suggest.
2. Join a community of readers. Join one or two Facebook groups of bookworms and observe. Read the conversations they're having. Check the books they recommend. Be careful not to get overwhelmed. Bookworms have a tendency to get excited about books they love and recommend them all at the same time.
3. Have a mentor. Choose one or two people online - may be an entrepreneur or an author that you really like and trust - become your trusted source of book recommendations. I enjoy looking at books that these people recommend: Tom Bilyeu, Ryan Holiday, Austin Kleon, Maria Popova, Tim Ferriss and Elizabeth Gilbert.
Come to think of it...my friends and colleagues recommended these people to me as well!
4. Start small. You don't have to be fast and read 3 books in 1 month right away. You just have to read. Read 10 pages or 1 chapter per day. Reading is an experience that you should enjoy.
5. Make it easy. If you want to make reading a habit, make reading an easy activity. Don't place your book or your e-book reader somewhere hard to reach. Don't pressure yourself to finish a book in a week. If you don't enjoy the book, drop it and choose another one. Choose a topic that you really, really like.
James Clear shared his 4 Laws of Behavior Change in Atomic Habits: Make it obvious. Make it attractive. Make it easy. Make it satisfying.
5. Subscribe to my newsletter. I send out book recommendations every month to my online friends. #shamelessplug
Remember what James Clear says, 'The quality of our lives depends on the quality of our habits.' Reading is a great habit to develop and I encourage you to begin today.