Reading as a tool for training the mind

Let me share with you some stories from my childhood related to books. These stories fill me with warmth every time I recall them. Мemories related to books and many bookshelves. There is an air of coziness that books create that any piece of furniture can't created it.

I enjoyed reading. I rarely left a book for long. I often wrote homework for the next day during breaks at school. In this way I had more time to read extracurricular literature at home.

At home my parents monitored me. I'd grab the book as soon as my parents went to work. Whenever they were home, I hid another book to read under the textbook.

I had no problems with school. I was among the excellent students. Still, my parents were furious to see me read. The bookstores didn't have many books I liked, so I wandered around the libraries. I had signed up for all the libraries in the city and would sometimes return home with dozens of books.

As a result, my father could not bear to see me with so many books at home. He began touring libraries and pleading with them not to give me more books. But, this did not have a big impact on my reading activity.

Wondering what I read so much? I liked Agatha Christie's crime novels, stories about artists, poets and writers. I enjoyed reading a lot of poetry, especially Russian in the original. I loved also reading travelogues, serious writers. I once decided that I needed to understand more about society, and I decided to study Balzac's volumes to do so.

Later, it's likely I'll tell you more about my reading adventures. But for now, I wanted to share that this habit of reading - making reading meaningful - has made me a better person.

Adding meaning to reading

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why did I start this book and do I need to read it?"? And if it makes sense to keep reading it, how can I do it with greater effectiveness?

We cannot read without choice. No, not that we can't, but it's very expensive! We pay with expensive currency - the time.

What is the reason for dissatisfaction with our development? It often lies in the lack of specification of goals. We put a lot of effort into nothing. Because we fail to point them in the right direction

It is important to crystallize meaning while reading. This meaning should be clear and fixed. It has a big value and should kept it in notes or in a diary. The meaning of reading is as training and growth of thought. It fill our existence with important things.

What you can do to turn any good book into a growth tool

I don't like science fiction. Оnce a science fiction writer contacted me on Twitter. He offered me a series of three of his autographed books for a reasonable price.

Such temptations usually do not sway me. This time I was tempted - he's been making a lot of noise outside of Italy, so he might have something to say. It was a great disappointment. There was not a single line in these books to say anything important to the world. I didn't finish reading them.

I limited my reading over the years to books that can help me grow.

When I start reading a book, I immediately ask myself these questions:

What new will I learn?

Could I apply it in my life so that it would benefit me?

What can I do better?

If it's a novel and a character fills me with admiration - can I become like him, rise to his level?

What result do I want to get from this book?

What can I learn from author's beautiful means of expression?

In what way can I improve my attitude toward reading?