The Top 10 Reading Tips from Ryan Holiday

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Learning is a part of our life. As we move through different stages, the books we read play a significant role in shaping our understanding, enhancing our thinking abilities, and contributing to both our personal and professional growth. Ryan Holiday, a renowned author and self-proclaimed “professional reader,” offers 38 insightful pieces of reading advice that can serve as a roadmap for anyone committed to lifelong learning. These principles are particularly valuable for members of the UpskillShare.com community, where we focus on developing soft skills, enhancing thinking abilities, and practicing value-based thinking.

1. Do It All the Time

Holiday emphasizes that reading should be an integral part of your daily routine. Whether you’re waiting for an appointment, traveling, or simply taking a break, always have a book with you. This habit of constant reading aligns perfectly with the philosophy of UpskillShare.com, where continuous learning is encouraged as a means to stay ahead and remain adaptable.

2. Physical Books Over Digital

Holiday advocates for the use of physical books over digital formats, citing the unique experience and focus they offer. Engaging deeply with physical books can enhance retention and understanding, making this an essential practice for anyone looking to master soft skills and value-based thinking.

3. Bring a Pen, Take Notes

Holiday suggests always having a pen on hand to take notes while reading. This active engagement with the material helps solidify your understanding and makes it easier to apply the lessons to your life, which is key to developing the practical, real-world skills emphasized at UpskillShare.com.

4. Keep a Commonplace Book

A commonplace book is a collection of quotes, ideas, and lessons that resonate with you. Holiday recommends maintaining one as a way to capture and revisit valuable insights. This method is particularly useful for tracking your growth in soft skills, allowing you to reflect on and apply what you’ve learned over time.

5. Re-Read Books

Revisiting books you’ve read before is crucial, according to Holiday. As you grow and gain new experiences, the same book can offer different insights, making re-reading a powerful tool for continuous learning. This approach mirrors the concept of conscious learning that we advocate at UpskillShare.com.

6. Err on the Side of Age

Holiday suggests favoring older, classic books, as they have stood the test of time. These books often contain timeless wisdom that is just as relevant today as it was when first written. For anyone looking to build a strong foundation in soft skills, starting with the classics is a wise choice.

7. Find Your Next Book in the Footnotes

Holiday advises readers to explore the footnotes and bibliographies of the books they read. This practice can help you build a deep, interconnected knowledge base on a particular subject, which is essential for anyone committed to mastering value-based thinking.

8. Don’t Just Build a Library—Build an Anti-Library

An anti-library is a collection of books you haven’t read yet. Holiday believes that this stack of unread books serves as a reminder of how much there is still to learn, keeping you humble and motivated. At UpskillShare.com, we encourage this mindset as it fosters a growth-oriented approach to learning.

9. Read Widely and from Different Perspectives

Holiday’s advice to read broadly, including books by authors you may disagree with, is vital for developing critical thinking and adaptability. These are key components of the soft skills that are highly valued in today’s dynamic work environment and are central to the learning approach at UpskillShare.com.

10. Ask What to Do with the Information

Holiday emphasizes that reading should lead to actionable insights. As you read, continually ask yourself how you can apply the information in your life. This principle is perfectly aligned with the mission of UpskillShare.com, where learning is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about applying it effectively to create value and impact in your personal and professional life.

A few more important reading tips from Ryan Holiday

Here are the remaining 28 tips that Ryan Holiday offers, each valuable in its own right:

11. Hardcover over paperback.
12. Beat up your books—they’re meant to be used, not kept pristine.
13. If you see a book you want, buy it without hesitation.
14. Don’t just read books; re-read them to gain new insights.
15. Speed reading is a scam—take your time with books.
16. If a book sucks, stop reading it—life’s too short for bad books.
17. The “100 pages minus your age” rule for quitting books.
18. Embrace serendipity—some of the best books are found by chance.
19. Build a library and an anti-library of unread books.
20. Ask successful people what books changed their lives and read them.
21. Follow Emerson’s rules for reading: don’t read books that aren’t at least a year old.
22. Get out of reading funks by revisiting favorite novels.
23. Don’t dismiss popular bestsellers—there’s a reason they’re successful.
24. Cut down on screen time and find more time to read.
25. Understand current events by reading history and psychology, not just breaking news.
26. Spoil the ending—focus on understanding why, not just what happens.
27. Don’t skip prefaces and forewords—they often contain valuable insights.
28. Look for wisdom, not just facts, when you read.
29. Engage deeply with the books you read to fully understand the material.
30. When reading, always ask yourself what you plan to do with the information.
31. Read widely, even from those you disagree with.
32. Avoid pretentiousness—focus on the content, not the complexity.
33. Seek wisdom over useless knowledge.
34. If a book is good, recommend it and pass it along.
35. Reading is essential to leadership.
36. Don’t just get the ‘gist’ of things—aim for a deep understanding.
37. Read to get better at life, not just to win mental gymnastics.
38. Share valuable books with others to spread knowledge.

By following these reading principles from Ryan Holiday, you can enhance your learning journey, develop critical soft skills, and cultivate a mindset of continuous growth. Whether you’re reading to improve your career, personal life, or overall understanding of the world, these tips provide a solid foundation for success. At UpskillShare.com, we encourage you to adopt these practices to maximize the value you get from every book you read.

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