J,
I only resumed the habit of reading daily after tenth grade last year. I also started reading in Tamil through ‘Aram’ only last year. This year I decided to start reading Venmurasu. I will set aside a specific time every day to read. Now Ambica and Vichitraveeryan’s friendship is blossoming at Mutharkanal of Venmurasu.
I calculated how much I can read in my lifetime. Google says that by 2023, there will be approximately 150 million books in the world. According to my calculations—one book a week—that’s 2600 books in 50 years. 0.00001 %.
Due to their written language, I won’t be able to access many of these books, and some may not be to my taste. However, it appears that our knowledge of the written word is surprisingly limited. Until last year, I thought that creating a reading habit was important, but now, I think that choosing what to read is even more important.
Even if you develop a habit of reading continuously, it is easy to fall into the 0.00001% that is wrong, unnecessary, or irrelevant in this ocean.
My question is: How much time does it take to learn how to read effectively? Beyond personal preference, how do you choose what to read? I look forward to your opinion and guidance.
With love
Vivek Kannan
Dear Vivek,
Some brief explanations
A. One cannot read ‘all’ good books. Can you eat all the food sold in Chennai? You can only eat according to your hunger and taste. Read according to your quest and taste.
B. Not all books that one reads can be useful. Some books may be useful later. Some books may complement each other when read together. Therefore, it is better to read good books as much as possible.
C. Your choice of a book should be based on your taste and search. You should not choose because of what someone else says or because it is famous.
E. You should read only books that are at least a little better than your current level; that can take you a little further.
E. Such books should be given some attention and effort. You should not give up reading without reading at least one-fifth of any book you choose.
F. Read a serious book and a book that makes you read quickly at the same time. Reading in turns will keep the act of reading going without stopping. If you lose interest in a serious book and stop reading for days, your reading mood may diminish.
You read for your growth. For your life to be fulfilled. That is the ‘goal’ of reading. The goal is not how many books you have read.
Even the greatest reader in the world is just a drop in the ocean of books. Even the greatest creator in the world is just a tiny speck in the infinity of human wisdom. Our duty is only to take what we can have from this vast abundance. All we can do is create it ourselves and add our drop-backs to it.
Millions of people have built this ocean over thousands of years.
Jeyamohan
