6 Mistakes DESTROYING Your Reading

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[@patrickweller5254]

That calendar you have, can you get that anywhere?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I bought mine from these guys www.etsy.com/listing/865601518/stoic-life-calendar-motivational-wall?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=stoic+calendar&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&etp=1&organic_search_click=1

[@patrickweller5254]

@@BetterThanFoodBookReviews thanks mate! I'd like to note that i've read a lot of Mishima thanks to your reviews so appreciate you doing these. Reading The Temple of Dawn now!

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Not from a Jedi....

[@Gruso57]

I have one as well. It's a company called 4k weeks. It hangs on my wall and actually is a great motivator for me.

[@pepperwings]

90 years is a little unrealistic, the *average* lifespan for men is about 72, you could bump it up a little if you have healthy habits and the men in your family tend to live longer. Not to be pessimistic, it should just probably go with 80 and over that is "extra credit."

[@alexhaslam3550]

1. Reading the book upside down 2. Reading the book in the dark 3. Eating the book before you finish reading it 4. Reading the book in a language you don't understand 5. Hiding the book and forgetting where you hid it 6. Setting the book on fire when you get frustrated

[@polyglotreading]

😂 this list is great

[@mikeb.7722]

KZbin DESTROYS reading habit with videos and logic (WARNING, not suitable for books)

[@shitmandood]

Saved me a minute.

[@Retrostar619]

Thank you, will try to avoid these behaviours.

[@jackiew6598]

I've definitely done #5

[@stardresser1]

My #1 that keeps me from reading more - KZbin.

[@deadlightlabyrinth]

😂 While I feel the same, YT has been an invaluable resource for finding most of my favorite books.

[@user-os9oy3wm9f]

Me too

[@kanelowrey5172]

Same.

[@rodneyadderton1077]

Me as well.

[@farawayeye8423]

Yup

[@JBreedloaf]

On the boredom of reading, my third type of boredom usually only happens while I’m reading something that is really engaging me. After a particularly great passage, paragraph or part my mind will wander and feel inspired to the point that I feel bored with the text, when it seems like I’m just not ready to move on and I need to put the book down and just write or keep thinking before I move on. I dunno maybe that’s just inspiration unless boredom can feel electric, like a ball on the edge of rolling down a hill that’s tempting you to leave the path and kick it. Great list and video!

[@TheLighIOANA]

That s exactly how I feel when I read mind changing books. I pause and interrupt the reading continuously not to saturate the electricity

[@user-bz9xd4ss7p]

Or read the passage again!

[@raimondspauls]

Isn't it funny how reading the introduction after is almost common knowledge? I mean, if I've decided to read the book in the first place, chances are I won't need further convincing to do so. At which point the only thing most intros of today do is ruin the surprise.

[@RotneybotOfficial]

Good thing I jump right into the story first.

[@taambangerz]

Should be called commentary instead and be at the end

[@raimondspauls]

@@taambangerzI'd love to see more in-depth afterwords, especially in complex works that require learned commentary.

[@TheQueenCityPsycho]

This is definitely not always best practice. Introductions inevitably will color and affect your absorbtion of the material, but that's not always bad. There are plenty of examples where introductions enhance your reading experience. My favorite (although admittedly a unique and extreme) example is the inclusion of a 30-odd page journal article by a black metal theorist as the introduction to Amygdalatropolis, but there also plenty of less radical examples, primarily with translated works, where some background on the translator and translation might be very important (especially in cases where there are numerous translations like with comparing Lowe-Porter to Woods translations of Mann or with artists like Dostoevsky where there's a half-dozen versions of every book floating about in English). You're almost certainly only going to read one unless you're a massive book nerd, so getting some background on what makes the version you find in your hands unique is going to help you as you read.

[@luizappicanco]

If the introduction spoils the book, it was badly written. They can be great assets when it comes to placing the book in time and space (specially for classic or historical texts) and, when it comes to translations, present to the reader the strategies used to approach the original text, reasons why those strategies were chosen instead of others etc. The problem is that the people who ara invited to write introductions very often, not always, don’t know how to do it.

[@edifiedreader]

Great list! One thing to add (big thing for me) - read what's already sitting on your bookshelf! I say that because I often have a habit of just collecting a lot of books without devoting enough time to the ones I've already purchased and have sitting on my shelf. Having a big personal library is great and all, but I know I need to discipline myself to invest time in the books I've already (literally) invested in. That's what can lead to a lot of "book-hopping" - not enough discipline to stick with one book and finish it out properly.

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

Very relatable. Can be nice to just add more books sometimes tho bc your trends and desires will change by moment and you can select from your constantly evolving shelf. But also that’s expensive and you never end up reading as much as you want…

[@helvetesmakt1]

​@@gavinyoung-philosophycan't overdo it though. make sure you've read 70 or 80% of what you already have before you allow yourself to buy more. you need to earn it. if you've only read 5 or 10% of what you have, but you keeping buying more and more.. you're not reading; you're just collecting. choose carefully when purchasing and then read what you have. and reread the best ones.

[@kbzurkn]

Funny because I would disagree entirely. There are too many books to suffer through anything. Get a library card and be ruthless. If a person is trying to build a stronger habit, maybe focus on lighter engaging books and start adding the meatier material as their reading practice develops. And what’s awesome is the harder reads will become engaging and the fluffier reads will become predictable and boring. 😂

[@s2lech86]

Yes, I agree. I have been guilty of purposely adding to my TBR without making a dent on my overflowing shelves. I have made it my goal this year to not spend money on books and reading at least a quarter or my TBR before I attempt to buy a "new" book.

[@AnUncreativePerson]

Most of the time I like to to buy books around when I'll read them

[@smokinmystic7363]

I’m totally with you on introductions to books, especially “classics”. I like to go into a book cold and read the introductions after that. Then I’ll go on KZbin and see what those like yourself have to say about it. I find that helps my appreciation (or disdain) of a book tremendously!

[@alanamccool7409]

Want to say, if you read difficult books for entertainment and nothing more than to enjoy it and feel in the words and pictures, that is fine too. You don't have to get anything more from reading than that, if you want. Don't let anyone tell you how you have to do your hobbies.

[@gabrielalfaia8154]

My tip is: Take notes dude. Write on your book.. Write names of characters, who they are, what they do, phrases, quotes, possible meanings, etc. Classics, especially true ones like Blood meridian, Don Quixote, Crime and punishment, those have meanings, subtext, things from the beggining that can be connected to the end, etc. Write on your books, otherwise you won't remember or even catch somethings with a simple read. It's ok to read like that with a stephen king book. But if you read Don quixote like that you are missing out on a lot of things,

[@marysalmon2367]

Yes, and if you don't want to mark up the book, use post it notes. One reader I know researches characters and places in her non fiction reads and inserts cards in the book. When reading a really dense book, you can write a brief chapter summary to help solidify plot and timelines in your head.

[@CarrotConsumer]

Taking notes just kills my flow. If it's that important to me I'll reread parts, or the whole thing if necessary.

[@gustavoquadros9266]

That was the best reading related list I've ever seen here. Thank you man. This channel always gives me the inspiration I seek, as a reader and writer. Greetings from Brazil!

[@carolinekovtun2463]

I'm thoroughly enjoying my multi-year project of reading Proust all the way to the finish. In French. I dip in and out of it and i'm about half way done. A few more years, and finit! No regrets on reading him at a escargot's pace.

[@and_such]

I am also reading Proust, but in my native language. I was looking for someone to have conversations with, and practice my French. If you would be interested, please let me know :)

[@hasan898]

@@and_suchHi. I have read Proust. All of it, in the translation of my native language. I wonder if you would have a conversation about it. Thank you.

[@carolinekovtun2463]

Sure! Pourquoi pas :-)@@and_such

[@shitmandood]

Sounds better than the best sleep aid…

[@barrymoore4470]

I am happily immune to all so-called spoilers. I always try to learn as much as I can about a creative work that interests me, whether before or after my direct encounter with it, and in literature I am more interested in distinctive style and beauty of language than narrative. Being prejudiced by prior critical assessments is a fair concern, but we never approach anything as a tabula rasa, always bringing an accumulation of others' opinions in our own personal discovery of a work of art, at least one that has existed as part of the wider culture for a long time.

[@Thetrilingualreader]

Same. Spoilers don't ruin my experience of a work i am enjoying

[@brightmooninthenight2111]

I have OCD, and at one point I could not read books because of it, when I did force myself to read it was actually a physically painful experience. I mostly overcame that, but I still find this great reluctance to read, I'm always fighting it, despite the desire to read. I think I know why, reading is intense. I had in my mind it was a leisurely activity, and it can be, many books are quite lovely, but many books are challenging, provoking, disturbing, wild or passionate.. like dude someone gets his hand hacked off wirh an axe or some demon is coming out of the wall or you're transported to the holocaust or anything could happen.. I find my beleaguered mind craving a vegetative state. Your advice is really great dude, very honest, I almost blushed when you said Wanting to Have Read instead of reading (I've forced myself to read shit I didn't want to like this). And the idea of boredom as the strengthening of muscle, who was it that said it is only idiots or animals that never feel bored. Boredom has a sobering quality, this is not my strong suit to say the least.. I would put a #7 on this list and just play that Shia Labuff video of him yelling at you to Just DO IT!!! Cmon, admit it, legendary stuff. DONT LET YOUR DREAMS BE DREAMS, JUST DOOO IT!!!!! flexes.

[@gabrielseanwallace3979]

As someone who has also struggled with OCD, I can completely relate to this. I think another major reason your OCD flares up when you begin to read is to do with the very fact that you desire to do it. Mine has always tried most to get my attention once I'm done with all mundane or undesirable tasks and I sit down to enjoy myself, as if to say, 'You're not done yet, what about this?' ... Not so much anymore, thank goodness, but when I was younger it would be when I sat down to food I loved to eat, or to watch a movie, or yes, to read a book... There are times when you just have to push through the OCD as best as you can. Funnily enough though, it was mainly through writing that I (mostly) conquered the OCD. Words can be such a savior!

[@feanorian21maglor38]

Introductions REALLY annoy me. I like it when they're called Afterwords and stuck at the end of a book, exactly where they should be. I have had a few classic novels ruined for me by stupidly reading the introductions containing spoilers. Just because a book is famous doesn't mean everyone necessarily know what happens, and its magical when I am surprised by a novel. I now read introductions afterwards, and it helps to inform what I read.

[@NeonRadarMusic]

I learned #5 when I finished Ulysses. The only thing I got out of that book was getting to say I'd read it, and I persevered purely to be able to brag about it... to... myself. Not one thing about the book moved me, and when I was done, I decided to read books that were worth the effort. There's nothing in wrong in being momentarily lost and getting curious about what you missed, and in fact that can keep you on the edge of your seat. But with Ulysses, I... just... didn't... care. I'm sure people genuinely love the book but I felt absolutely nothing besides wanting to get it overwith. And life's too short for that, especially when you have a living to make.

[@ryanand154]

Joyce is boring AF but he invented the notion that you need other books to read his books.

[@BenNelsonillegalnumbers]

One of the worst things to happen to me (spine surgery) left me bedridden for weeks. During this time i was in extreme pain and unable to move my neck at all. Because i had to lie in bed all day i took an audible credit and put on Thr Brother's Karamazov which i heard from multiple famous people that it was the best book they read in their life. It also was a tome. Something like 70 hours of listening. Because if circumstance i read the whole thing and saw immense beauty in it and it staggered many things i thought possible with a novel. I had always read from a young age but never a real assortment of classics. I became a fan of Doestoevsky and read Crime and Punishment later in life. I read Tolstoy. I read history's of Russia, a place so foreign to me it almost seemed a caricature. I'm grateful for that pain and perspective. But i will say i do not read like i used to. Part of it is ill health and trying to recover which takes lots of time. But some of it is priorities. I appreciate a video like this (and all your reviews) because i know and i hope i can continue to read and learn and expand my understanding of reality. Because without that life is empty. James Mattis once said if you've read less than 100 books you are functionality illiterate. I think I've hit that but i need to make time and continue. Thank you for making this, it's motivating and i live your videos. Better than food.

[@jezykjezowski7417]

I love the way you talk about books and reading. Your passion keeps me motivated. Sincere thanks.

[@ino7604]

Reading consistently definitely does make you smarter. Can't beat constantly taking in new information, exploring new worlds and coming to know characters through their stories and actions. Reading consistently is something that all people can and should benefit from. Your vocabulary grows. Your ability to articulate your thoughts increases. Nothing but benefits to reap

[@Birmanncat]

Very inspirational speech at the end, man. And I don't say that lightly.

[@jakealden2517]

I work a lot so I came up with a system. Each month, I pick 2 books off the shelf and read 10 pages of one in the morning and 10 pages of other in the evening. This allows me to read 2, 300-page books per month. Of course, sometimes I can read more, but it's better than setting an unrealistic goal of reading 10 books per month and then it never happens. This system also allows for slower, close reading so I get more out of the books.

[@gavinyoung-philosophy]

Your thoughts on the gift of boredom I found very profound. There’s a constant insistence today to be optimally stimulated, but reading often leaves us with the banality of our own minds, and you’re right, it’s profoundly interesting and stimulating (paradoxically)!

[@themojocorpse1290]

Wise words my friend, at almost 57 I have just made a list of important books to me to read I’m afraid it’s quite long but realistic I think. As I’m an avid reader I definitely feel it-can be done unless I get run over tomorrow 🥴

[@eidjought]

You are my favorite book channel! You said a lot of things which could seem (and only seem) obvious but yet so important! Thank you a lot!

[@Cooooookiiiieeee]

Thank you, sir. You've said some very insightful things that I want to take to heart. Especially the part about how important the list is how important you make it. That really, really spoke to me. Hope you have as good a day as you have gifted me.

[@barrymoore4470]

Virginia Woolf, an admirer of Proust, once wondered if anyone had ever read every word of his magnum opus.

[@ryanand154]

Orlando is their best.

[@notaprob4rob970]

Three ways have been great for me. I have fiction, nonfiction and poetry in rotation at all times. Nice to start with nonfiction since I’m not as concerned with the prose but am still engaged. Then I feel ready for fiction, read until I near a climatic feeling, and finish with a poem, where the work ends with a dense, contemplative silence. That’s the idea, and though it doesn’t always go that way it’s still pretty good. Anyway, that’s why I recommend having a three way

[@christopherpaul7588]

I studied Don Quixote at the university in both English and Spanish. But in both classes we read maybe 8 to 10 chapters. Now I'm attempting to read the entire book in English and it's not easy. I love it but it's still hard to get through. Maybe I should look for supplementary material. Thanks! I would also say that it has helped me in general reading books that are broken into parts, chapters, etc. A short book with no chapters or paragraph breaks could be more difficult for me to read than a long novel that has "footholds" as I would call them. If you approach a long novel one part or chapter at a time it will be easier to get through.

[@Sachie465]

A great list, but the problem for me is that most of the classics fall into the category of 'want to have read' rather than 'want to read'.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

This is the perfect video for me picking up an easy enough digestible paperback of Fellowship of the Rings and being an aspiring completist, bogged down in the preface, intro, foreword, preamble, prologue before even any story proper that naturally begins with a slow paced pastoral village milieu setup in the first chapter!! Oh my lord!! Then comes along Wheel of Time, and I am promptly wonderfully blown away! Hope I didn't spoil too much! 🎉 📖 📚 ✍️ !!

[@Crimmando]

I keep revisiting this video in my mind, felt the need to come back to it and share a thought. I agree that reading is vital to a life well lived. And there is a reason that Masterpieces are held in such high regard. They speak to human truths that can be incredibly impactful. And even help reshape your life. However, remember that there’s an infinite sea of books and should only really exist in your life for one reason. To serve you. You don’t owe them anything. The masterpiece that clicks with you today may have fallen flat a decade ago. And that’s okay. Concentrate on enjoying the journey through literature wherever it takes you. You’ll read and learn more than the purists who claim they read only the greats. I’d avoid getting into a death calendar for books. The more you read, the faster you’ll be able enjoy more and cut bait on books that are wrong for you. Having a fatalistic view will only make the reading harder. Anyway, I love the channel and appreciate the chance to share my thoughts. Reading can stress me out, until I remember how wonderful it can be if I let it be.

[@donovanblock5182]

On my way through Against the Day by Pynchon, so happy to see this video pop up and know I’m already following some of these rules. So helpful! I would love to see another list eventually!

[@desgrazi]

Thanks for the great tips, Cliff! I have to say that your videos have stimulated me on getting into some of the best readings I've had in the past few years, such as The Tartar Steppe and As I Lay Dying. It also makes me very glad to see how much you appreciate Brazilian literature ❤

[@quickbrowndoglazyfox]

Great video! It made me reflect on my current reading habits as I don't see myself as a conscious reader. I especially liked the ideas of reading as a dialog, finding your reading level and the "10 books to read before you die" list. Like others suggested, taking notes might further add to the dialog.

[@butterflycucumbers6279]

Have you ever wondered under what context we choose what we want to read and what we actually enjoy about the reading experience? Because influencers online praise a lot of books that suit them and their moods. But what the hell do I want? Why do I like fantasy? I don’t know. People have a passion for books and a huge curiosity. It’s about our internal mental creativity. So are movies and all entertainment. It’s kind of like an emotional or sentimental education. It can be enriching. Maybe sometimes quite personally significant. But it’s just for fun. So you got to work with your own mind and you really feel also how much spare time you have and how long you live. So be true to yourself and don’t be over ambitious because it’s easier that way if you get overwhelmed, some people may just enjoy the abundance of possibilities without needing to read all the books worth reading. Love it thank you 🤩

[@carlswenson5403]

Criminally under-subbed channel

[@MagnumInnominandum]

Left stalking quietly in the back of my mind I have understood the limitations of mortal life as far as reading is concerned. Your three shelf rule hurts me to the core. (I own 5 and they can't hold all I possess. I would say less than 1% are fiction.) Around 2000-2001 I decided I wanted to know more about Lovecraft. I collected and started reading everything I could find online. I started reading His material chronologically, oldest to newest. I research nonfiction topics this way and I am glad that I did. It's interesting to see how his writing process grew and matured, such as it is. I then started looking to his influencers and peers. Though I had read for school and a little on my own, I had left my fiction to film and television as a time saving measure. I might have never learned the joys of weird fiction had I left it to visual media. As I am sure you well know, these works rarely work well in film. Thank you for your enthusiasm, erudition and humor in exposing and exploring this nonfactual realm. ⚡✨👾🔥

[@angusorvid8840]

A great video and a very important subject. We have to prioritize reading. So many people who say they don't have enough time to read have all the time in the world to watch movies, endless series, and don't make an effort. I'd also suggest bringing books with you to work so you can read on your lunch break if you're not lunching with coworkers. And this just goes for those who don't have family obligations. It's a matter of priorities. Even in my most socially active years from high school through college I still found the time to read, and I mean read for pleasure, not simply the assigned books I had to tackle.

[@doomscribe]

Man such a great video. As someone whose love of reading has always clashed with my glacial speed (not to mention bad, time wasting habits), hearing these points you've made puts stuff in perspective and also takes some of the pressure off. And even though I know it's unreasonable, I've always had a neurotic tendency to expect myself to understand everything that I read on the first go-around, and countless times it has caused stupors of great frustration and insecurity. So hearing you say that that is to be expected and even embraced takes a load off the shoulders. Currently trudging (with relish) through Herodotus' The Histories. For something like that and most other classics where supplementary material is pretty much mandatory, I always tend to go for Penguin editions. Their stuff usually has a good amount of notes that provide enough guard rails so that I don't get completely lost. Thanks again for the great advice and all the solid reviews.

[@felixkkorir3358]

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

[@vinceven]

one little thing i found helpful was to use a piece of paper as a bookmark - and write down who the characters are in relation to the protagonist. it works really well when i'm reading classics and the prose is difficult to get through. "Sarah Reed: Jane's aunt"

[@ponc2284]

I need to write a TBReReadBD. I don’t have issues reading what I want to read. I struggle to re-read books I want to re-read since the opportunity cost is potentially finding a new book I love. Same issue with films.

[@luisaguilar4286]

I deleted Instagram on my phone to stop the doom scroll and commit more time perusing the Dead Sea Scrolls (among other works of the written art.)

[@ryanand154]

Congrats.

[@ryanand154]

You should stay on Instagram.

[@luisaguilar4286]

@ryangullage410 why for?

[@ryanand154]

The Dead Sea Scrolls command you.

[@RonaIdRayGun]

That TBRBD list is an excellent idea. Making mine ASAP! Thanks a bunch Cliff, keep up the great work.

[@zchawk]

The 3 book rule is an essential one, and something I would add to it is what type of prose you are reading for your circumstances at any given moment. For me, its a case of two books at a time with maybe a third (usually poetry or a stage play) for 'light reading'. One for the commute (I use public transport, again this is personal circumstances so not indicative of how everyone should apply their time and habits) usually on the slighter side which you can chip away at over the course of the week, and one by my reading chair for the allocated one hour prior to bed. Like clockwork, treat it as a ritual or something, just investing in the structure does wonders.

[@anarchoautism]

this feels personal though is absolutely welcome advice lol great content as always Cliff

[@igormarques3992]

Thank you so much for this video. I am a programmer and my mind is often full of all kinds of stuff (mostly due to social media), but even though I like to read a lot I've strayed away from books for the last year or so. I want and I will get back to it this year, so this video helps me visualize how I should do it. Thanks again.

[@ryanand154]

I can’t read, Tori Amos.

[@_Mike.85]

Jesus, I thought I could be morbid at times, but you have an actual death calendar... hahaha, grim.

[@sleepysheep_4046]

I used to read a lot, but I’ve gotten slow at it lately and I didn’t know why until I watched your video. I started making a list of books to read before I die, and have come to realize that most of the books I’ve been trying to read fall under the “to have read” category. I think it’s been a long time since I’ve tried reading something that I found both meaningful and enjoyable to me. Thank you for the perspective!

[@tanrdz]

Lovely video, very timely 👌. I've been trying to create a reading habit (goal of 4 hrs/day, not sure how realistic that is yet) and I was surprised to see a lot of the issues I've been experiencing here. At the moment, I am book hopping (profession, literature and development) and def experiencing the delay. I'm reading 4 books, but I think as soon as I'm done with at least 1 of them, I'll keep it at 3 from now on, as suggested. Great video and advice here, thanks!

[@justwonder1404]

Third point hit close to home. I often get bored when reading long descriptions of nature or house interior with no dialogue, but when I force myself to focus it really adds to my understanding of the story and the descriptions can be interesting to visualize. Boredom can be very beneficial.

[@KyleMcT]

I Love the reviews but I love the idea of you curating lists like this together as well. It will generate more traffic as well. Win win.

[@gravymuztache8108]

I love your reviews, but I gotta say, your think-pieces are just as good. More of these, please!

[@sugarfalls1]

If you get something out from the library and you have a "due date" there might be more of an incentive to get through the book. Not always true, but helps. And hey, you don't have to buy every book you want to read!

[@gennaroconnors9304]

Hey man....i really enjoyed this a lot, and you've inspired me to make a TBRBD list. I will subscribe because of this, keep up the good work.

[@anbuchelvan]

The video is so practical and i needed this so much in my life rn.. ♥️🔥

[@aklcraigc]

You transitively touch on this subject in this video, one of the problems with reading is the generally accepted canon of 'classics' are mostly boring and unrewarding. Swann's Way, Middlemarch, Ulysses, Moby Dick...I could go on...all bored me to tears. I read *all* of Proust and it's a lot to get through to find out time changes things and senses can trigger memories. duh. Yet I can re-read Lolita about once a year and never tire of it. So half the battle is actually getting to the good stuff.

[@harrisonmccartney4878]

I think that my personal biggest mistake was expecting the actual reading experience to be the best part, which it can be if the writing is good or the story intriguing, but I found that a lot of books I really like were things that I had to slog through while reading, but really enjoyed reflecting upon after having read them. Sometimes it really does take until you get to the very end to have a good idea of whether you liked the book or not. That might sound crazy to a generation of people who are raised on the scroll-format of sifting through content, where if something doesn't grab you right away you can safely discard it, but books are a mixed bag. Some books are difficult to read through, but by the end you have an overall appreciation of the experience you just went through (looking at you Gravity's Rainbow), while other books are maybe thrilling to read in the moment, but by their end their summary just isn't as fulfilling. You kind of realize that the point was to enjoy the reading experience, not that you would take away anything valuable after reading. This has been my impetus to struggle through the harder books and some of the books that maybe I find my attention slinking from, because although they're maybe not immediately satisfying, I've often found that by their end they have actually given me a profound vision of another life and I can become attached to the story even if it wasn't necessarily well-written. It's weird. Obviously the best of all worlds is a well-written story that tells me something compelling about life and the world, and leaves me with powerful memories of my time spent in that world, but not everyone can be John Steinbeck.

[@hereandnowiseverything]

those are all great tips, thanks for this video! especially the last one has motivated me very much :)

[@Sherlika_Gregori]

I arrive at my work everyday at 7 am to read until 8:15 am. My work starts at 8:30am. When I leave, I read for 30 mins on the bus home.

[@globalgulag5586]

Thanks, this is the best relationship advice I ever heard.

[@s2lech86]

This is an amazing list. This is why I carefully curate my bookshelf. I only have two bookshelves (four shelve spaces) full of my books that I absolutely cherish. I would hate to waste time reading "junk" or something I am not interested in (no matter how esteemed or popular). I also value my time as well. I also have stopped mindlessly shopping for books as I cherish my TBR. I also am guilty of exhaustively researching prereqs before I attempt to understand a difficult book (ex: Napoleonic history for War and Peace or early Greek myths and Christiantity history for Dante's Divine Comedy). Great job with this video.

[@sugarfalls1]

I think in terms of reading things like texts or work emails, sometimes you gloss over details or things people say that if re-worded could be easier to understand. Getting clarification is key!

[@billyhale7450]

Grateful for your videos Cliff, loved this one!

[@shrewnaldo]

You're so right about the spoilers in Introductions. I was reading Graham Greene's End of the Affair and accidentally opened it at the Intro. The first sentence of the Introduction was a spoiler. I hadn't even meant to read the sodding thing. Infuriating.

[@alm5851]

Love it! Ty for the upload

[@louisstorey3241]

Always love your channel. You always eloquently capture what everyone wants/ needs to hear. I study English Literature at University (college in US) and I have to read such a wide variety of texts but I am still yet to tackle Ulysses. It is just too daunting 🤣

[@Sirzacharia]

I’ve watched a lot of these reading tips videos and yours is by far the best advice imo

[@SleepingCatCafe]

I felt called out on 3 and 2 😂. This made me realize I’m very much doing 2 & 3. I now understand my reading slump. Thank you for the list/advice.

[@knitty781]

WOW! What an insightful list of ways to improve your reading. The TBRBD list sounds like a great idea. There are always books I hear about that I want to read, and classics that I want to revisit or visit. I did not realize how important history was in literature until I got a degree in English Literature. I really NEEDED to know the time period being viewed in the book as well as the time period the book was written. Huckleberry Finn was a fun adventure as a teen. As a parent, it was a terrifying book about a young person making their way on their own. I cried myself to sleep considering Huck on his own with no one to protect and love him. Oh, and I loved my Norton's British Literature book, however my husky did not. It was the only book he would get from the bookshelf and chew on. I put it on the top shelf and he managed to get it down by climbing on a rocking horse to reach it. I don't know what that was about!

[@hendrixman121]

I got a new puppy about 2 months ago. I love her to death but it's destroyed my after work reading for now and I can't seem to keep my eyes open if I try to read after about 9pm once she's asleep on the couch. I finished the first 200 pages of the Count of Monte Cristo in 2 days, got the puppy, and 2 months later I'm only about half way through the novel 😅 I'm sure I'll re-develop my reading patterns, and the puppy phase only lasts so long so I'm trying to savor that. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't mourn all my pre-puppy reading time a bit!

[@Cakewalkingbaby]

Trust me, after the puppy fase she’ll snuggle up next to you or at your feet and get a good sleep while you’ll be able to get into those books again.😊

[@hendrixman121]

@@Cakewalkingbaby The good news is she already does that quite a bit when I'm working from home during the day! But once the day is done she is fully ready to play and I can't blame her at all hah

[@ryanand154]

My dog enjoyed Nabokov.

[@ryanand154]

Her jam was Ada, or Ardor.

[@ryanand154]

She was not sure about Lolita.

[@r.s.9861]

Great stuff, Cliff!

[@TheKargini]

#4 I read Moby Dick some years ago,simultaneously using two different editions. One book had extensive footnotes and diagrams,the other was a lovely facsimile 1920’s Norton edition,that had larger print I could more easily see.

[@adehope]

Ok I'm full of anxiety now 😂

[@athousandgreatbooks]

This touched me.

[@1siddynickhead]

I'm an avid rabbit holer and I find that helps me understand every book better

[@ryanand154]

Six books at a time: Horror novel, book about language; ART book; Romance novel; book about books; something by Walter Benjamin; George’s Bataille.

[@MichaelMYouTube]

Beautifully honest and helpful advice.

[@WillGraham-uv1ol]

Please make a list next on advice how to annotate and take notes off your books to retain them better

[@kevindonovan1194]

Your TBRBD idea is spot on. One of these days, I'll finally read Walden.

[@viddyvids4379]

I’m reading wheel of time for the first time. It’s 15 books. It’s a lot. But it’s helped me develop into a disciplined reader! Enjoying the journey!

[@nisanyetkin]

Most helpful advice for a reader stuck in reader’s block. Thanks for the reminders!

[@NTNG13]

I like thinking of reading as exercise because it's a skill that's objectively good for your health and which develops just like you get stronger in the gym. I've experienced that scheduled daily reading has over time helped me stay focused for a longer time, have a better memory, read more and comprehend better and faster the things I'm reading. It also enhances the capacity for self-expression.

[@jakesadowski6838]

Lately I like to supplement audio books with what im reading or read. Its interesting to me atleast to get a different take on how the narrator makes the characters sound like when they talk.

[@ryancolvin6007]

Cliff, I love your videos. Truly wonderful and always informative. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I humbly suggest that you adjust your lighting. For a little while now, since you last adjusted your frame, your videos have been overexposed. You've lost the beautiful detail in your face and skin. This is not a result of pale skin, pale colored clothing, or poor editing, but an actual lighting problem. I would suggest starting with dimming your key light or diffusing it a bit more, rather than adjusting your camera. Please ignore this if you disagree. Again, love your work.

[@utschb18]

I love reading and I started to take it serious when I was around 15yo. The rule #6 is pure gold. It was the one that triggered all the process for me.

[@guidedexplosiveprojectileg9943]

I am 15 right now and I started reading for serious this year. Honestly I should take these tips and use them to my advantage.

[@utschb18]

@@guidedexplosiveprojectileg9943 i am 39 now and I dare to add my 2c to the list: do not be afraid to drop a book that doesn't talk to you. There's a lot of good life-changing books to be read.

[@dakotahrivers6640]

You’ve inspired me to stop limiting myself to reading a single book at a time. I’m going to start doing 3 at a time in rotation!

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

#5 Yesssss!! I’m totally guilty of book hopping. 😊💙

[@nobbproductions]

It’s funny, maybe this isn’t related, but i think the thoughts i’ve had that have been the most cataclysmic to my old selves and worldviews have been in convo with friends about the specific stakes in a book. getting to the stakes requires a deeper reading. everytime i read to finish the convos end up like “oh yeah i’ve read that too” and then it’s over! so, not worth it

[@philipwedekind8138]

A very engaging talk, as always, but it did strike me that deciding on the 10 most important books (for oneself) to read before The End might be more complicated than actually reading them. For example, lately I've been thinking about reading St. Augustine's 'Confessions.' Why? I have a hunch it may be 'important' for me. But that's just a hunch until I've read it, since it might end up leaving me cold. Perhaps the best way to do this is to decide what are the 10 most important books (in the personal sense) you've read already, and then use those as a map for what the next ten might be. Just a thought....

[@liamtaylor4955]

Love your suggestion for mistake #1. I'm in my 60s now and in addition to a number of books I still want to read, unfortunately I have a TBRRBD list (to be re-read). Sigh.

[@joserogan7794]

Partial TBRBD: Plato's Republic Sexual Personae The Civil War Trilogy by Shelby Foote The USA Trilogy by Dos Passos Atlas Shrugged The Conquest of Mexico and Peru by William Prescott Main Street Sinclair Lewis by Mark Schorer Tom Jones The American Language by HL Mencken David Copperfield A Glastonbury Romance The Bible I checked off a few last year (Don Quixote, The Fountainhead and The Scarlet Letter) and there actually is a real gasp of mental relief when you lighten the load of this mocking behemoth. Books seem less important in the sense that you cease racing against time-at least to a smaller degree-to finish them as quick as possible and begin to feel as if there is less emphasis on reading major canonial works and instead pursuing whatever interests you in the moment since the shadow has been diminshed a bit. Basically, it's like learning to live in the present, but for reading. But that list, which may honestly change in the future, could encompass 3 years of reading at least if I read them in that order.

[@ryanand154]

That’s a great list! You should be proud!

[@Fullbatteri]

The hardest part of Gravitys Rainbow was the first 10 pages… because after them I took a two months break from the book 😂 (and I had prepared by reading an essay about Maximalist Novels, got two companion books and a book with an illustration for each page of GR).

[@RasmusKarlJensen]

I'm currently reading 2666 for the first time (just finished the part about the critics), and that was one of the ones I would likely put on a TBRBD list. The other nine? Let's see... - Notre-Dame de Paris (Hunchback of Notre Dame in its original French) - The Brothers Karamazov - Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid - Voyage au bout de la nuit (Journey to the Edge of Night) - The World as Will and Representation (both volumes) - House of Leaves - Anna Karenina - The entirety of Knausgård's My Struggle series - A Deepness in the Sky

[@Tetsujin-28]

Most books I now read are recommendations from BookTuber's. Inside the flap/Back page synopsis all have *huge spoilers*. I never read them. Not sure why most find this acceptable. TBR/TBRBD: I like it. Someone else mentioned TBO (To Be Ogled). I'll try the "List 10 books TBRBD" (I'm actually reading one now with The Count of Monte Cristo). Great content.

[@kasianfranmitja5298]

One thing i find weird is that if i put together readinglist of ten books, it suddenly becomes alot easier to just sit down and read. Before you know it, for me its usually like 4-5 mounths, you will find yourself browsing for new books.

[@twynstyck7807]

20:30 when the existential dread kicks in

[@carpetjuise]

I've been postponing myself of watching this video for 2 weeks now. Thank you for making this video!

[@ArchitectdaSilva]

This video should have come with a warning to all book lovers/readers...after seeing this I looked with shock/horror at 2 tomes that sit half read on my working table, as I try to get inspired to do my architectural work. After seeing this and momentarily staring proverbial death in the face with your wake up call. I will certainly take action to get through my Robert Musil and Tolstoy. I know it will be a war with very little peace, but I don't want to end up a man without qualities. Thank you for this list!

[@susanna2888]

I've followed this channel since the very first video. My jaw dropped when you said you are approaching your 35th birthday. For some reason in my mind I thought you were older. I think it's because I was a kid when you started and as a kid you assume that every adult is 30 something. I went back to watch your first video right now and I'm finding it so funny that I am now older than you were when you made that first video. Where has the decade gone? Glad that you're still making videos and glad that I'm still here watching.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thank you so much for watching over the years!

[@latetotheparty4785]

Funny how many times I’ve perused a book in the bookstore, bought it, and everything I found notable I gleaned before its purchase.

[@kve5520]

got a third of the way through the brothers karamazov in a month and a half, then realized i was guilty of #5 and wasnt appreciating the time i spent reading the book. after that i tried to actively read, taking pleasure in the reading instead of the thought that "once im done slobbing through this ill be able to say ive read it", and doing that has allowed me to read the book *much* faster, and to actually *really enjoy it*, because its a great book! 3/4ths through it now.

[@ryanand154]

My bro in law says he read this.