It has changed my thinking”, that was the answer my sister gave when I asked what she had gained from a certain book. That is the answer most Nigerians give, can we for once go beyond just thoughts and actually put what we read to practise, I mean, what is the essence of reading a self help book for instance, if not to change your approach to life practically. I am happy to be a Port Harcourt boy, considering it was a book capital; there are book shops littered here and there. Book stands on every intercession, books on religion, finance, relationships and what not. If people are reading, where are the fruits? How many books do we have to read before we get things right; One, Two, Three…a Hundred? Oh dear! One book can change your life, if only you know how to use books.
A book is a prescription; it’s a drug to prevent or cure a disease; a kind of ignorance, like when you lack knowledge about financial intelligence or emotional intelligence, or when you don’t seem to understand relationships and you have to read to fix that deficit in knowledge. As you know, books can help prevent disastrous investments or help fix failing marriages. The best thing about a book is the minds we get to reach; the minds of great men from old, all dead now and those in our generation that are miles away. We never met or may never meet these men; the only way to rub minds with them is through what they have written.
Are you giving up on books? They no longer help or never helped, perhaps you don’t even read at all, your street smartness will see you through the hurdles of life. Haba! You have dropped the Bible and Quran too. May be it’s not the books, maybe you are reading them all wrong. You can’t go beyond what you know, street smartness is not enough. Gain more knowledge from books by following these steps
- Have A Purpose: During my first year in the university, I read Kevin Paul’s “Study Smarter not harder”; I made a 3.94 GPA that semester. Before I did my Industrial training defence and final year project defence, I read Dale Carnegie’s “How To develop self confidence and influence people with public speaking, I made a B and A in those courses respectively. I was depressed for two years, from 2014 to 2015, my relationship with friends was in jeopardy. They all thought I had lost it. I did too. Then in 2016, while in recovery from acute depression, a minister suggested I read Dale Carnegie’s “How to win Friends and Influence people”. Today, I have new friends and I am back in touch with the old ones. In 2013, I had a crush on Amaka, the then princess of Ofrima in University of Port Harcourt. A female friend recommended Robert Green’s “Art of Seduction”. I remember walking in the rain to find that book because I wanted to win the heart of a princess.
- I don’t know if you have gotten the message of this point? Have you? Before you pick a book to read, I hope you have a problem you need to fix or one you foresee and hope to prevent in your life or it’s just a good waste of time, rather watch TV or like pictures on Social Media. Before you get married, read a book, after the wedding, read a book. Before you invest, read a book, while investing, read a book.
- Own A Copy: We love to borrow books; it seems we could just get that good stuff without paying a dime but it doesn’t work that way. This step is important if you are going to carry out the steps that follow. A hard copy is compulsory but you can also acquire the e-book or audio versions so you can read or listen at anytime.
- Keep Books Where You Can See Them: There is a reason why I always had an eagerness to read at Dappa’s room, it’s probably the same reason why he made a second class upper degree. Dappa kept his books in open shelves. Yes: the book shelve was designed for a reason. It is like the frame that goes with a picture or painting. Books are beautiful and attractive when arranged in shelves. I wonder why Nigerians keep books in travelling boxes, old cartons or “Ghana must go” bags.
- Just as our eyes go round the Kitchen Island or cabinet seeking a snack when we are hungry; so they do in our homes seeking entertainment when we are bored. So the TV, game and android device is all that catches our eyes, we will never read that way. If you are serious about reading a particular book, you must have it by the bedside, the coffee table and anyway you go. It has to go with you so you can see it and get reminded to read.
- Use a Highlighter: Jotting when reading is slow and hectic, aside for academic purposes, highlighting is the fastest most effective way to study. Reading is not enough, we have to study. This is why you need to own a copy; you cannot use a highlighter in a borrowed book. The author has his main points which he wants to share with you but you will end up adopting your own main points that may even be different from what the author considers important. What we choose to highlight is very personal, differs from person to person because we have different needs and are all in unique situations. For the purpose of revision, highlight those points that just blow your mind.
- Follow My Five Steps To Effective Learning:
- Accumulate the facts: Get the important points that are personal to you and the ones the author proposes as important.
- Investigate the facts: By consulting other materials, the internet, other readers and what not. Discuss these points and criticise them.
- Contribute to the subject matter: From your own point of view, proffer practical solutions to problems raised in study material, Validate points that have been proven plausible from your investigation
- Demonstrate to and empower others: Live by the principles you read and teach others about them.
- These four to five steps shouldn’t be too hard to follow; by associating with people who love to read, joining book clubs and chat groups. It shouldn’t be too hard at all.
Learning Never Ends: I believe success in any venture at all demands a great deal of consistency. We are forgetful beings. Never imagine you can remember what you read all the time. Induct reading as a lifestyle and revisit that book every now and then. To truly get the best, the new principles must be inducted into your lifestyle
