How To Read One Book Per Week (Yes, it's possible!)

All the great people I know have one thing in common: they never stop learning. Bill Gates for example, reads 50 books per year, which translates to one book per week, while Mark Zuckerberg averages 2 books in a month. And if you think that their reading habits are sort of an overkill, Warren Buffet reads 500 pages a day. 

Well then, how is it possible to read one book per week? Jim Kwik, one of the world's leading brain trainers hacked those billionaire's technique, and shared it to the rest of the world for free. 

1. Keep an active book list.

Every time you receive a book recommendation, write or note it down on your smartphone. Keep a regularly updated list of books you’re excited to read. This works for me, and I’m telling you that my TBR (to-be-read) pile could last me five more years. Don’t worry if you’re listing down too many because there’s no such thing as “reading too much” anyway. The more pressing question is, what kind of books should you read? If you love fiction, then you're lucky because most people could give you recommendations with stellar plots. However, the problem arises among those who have no time for vampire falling in love or witchers protecting a child they barely know. that's for TV. Most of these people have given up on reading becaue of the false notion that most books are fictional and escapist. Nonetheless, I have found one effective uestion to ask people and get good book recommendations. "What book change your life?" If it changes their lives, then it's going to be somewhat a great read for you as well. You'll also get detailed and concise book reviews!

Furthermore, don't be pressured if everyone is reading the same books. Remember, you will miss the chance to think differently if you only read that books everyone else is reading.

2. Test your reading speed.

Time yourself while reading a book at a normal speed for 60 sec. Count the number of lines you have read per minute (LPM) when you finish, and then tally the average number of words per line (most books have 10 words per line). Afterward, multiply your LPM by the number of average words to know your reading speed in words per minute (WPM). Most people read roughly 200–250 WPM. 

Don't be discouraged if your WPM is less than average because reading is a progressive skill. This only means that your reading speed will improve as you spend more time reading!

3. Calculate how long it takes to read a book.

According to Amazon, the average number of words per book is approximately 64,000. If you read 200 WPM, you can finish a book in 320 min. Divide that by 7, and that’s roughly 45 minutes of reading in a day! Isn’t that less than you thought?

4. Schedule your reading. 

Modern lifestyles take a toll on our health, yet people don't set aside enough time to exercise their brain muscles. In short, we take care of our bodies but not out minds. Reading is self-care, and self-care is not selfish. Schedule your reading time and treat it like a sacred time. Set an alarm, and never attempt to schedule it mentally. Moreover, choose a time when your brain is most active to absorb a book's essence. The saying that reading is best before bedtime is a myth, except if you are a night owl.

5. Invest in speed-reading courses. 

This one is optional. Yes, there are online speed-reading courses. The brain-training industry is real and bigger than you think. If you are serious and willing to spend money on improving your reading speed, then you should go for it by all means! We squander our money on stuff that won’t last a lifetime, such as fashion, cosmetics, or liabilities like cars and gadgets. While our outward appearances may draw attention to us, it’s our intelligence that makes people stay.

"But I'm not as intelligent as Bill Gates. I still couldn't find motivation to read!"

You’re probably thinking this now, so let me tell you a story. Have you ever heard of a man named Malcolm X?

Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was well known during the civil rights movement. However, he was known as Malcolm Little before he became Malcolm X. In 1946, he was arrested for trying to fence an expensive watch he’d stolen. In his apartment, the police found jewelry, furs, an arsenal of guns, and all of his burglary tools. He was then sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He could have served his time by simply counting the days or planning his next crime. Instead, he started reading and copied the dictionary word for word. Every minute he wasn’t in his bunk, he was in the library. That was how Malcolm Little became Malcolm X. When he was asked about his education, he answered, “books.” 

Why did Malcolm X wear glasses? It’s because he wore his eyes out when he was reading in prison. However, the trade-off was worth it, as those years became the most productive of his life. He breathed in knowledge, while the other prisoners rotted away.

You don’t have to be in prison to read like Malcolm X, and you also don’t have to read as much as he did.

You only need to read for 45 minutes every day. Remember: if knowledge is power, then reading is your superpower!