The Power of Reading

Since we were small children, our parents and teachers began the important task of teaching us to read. The reason they did this is because they understood the power that would come from our ability to read…both personally and professionally.

I did not develop an appreciation for reading until the age of 21. As a door-to-door salesman, my sales trainer gave me the book Life is Tremendous. It was a quote in that book that changed my life.

“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” (Charles Tremendous Jones)

Wow! I did not want to be the same person in 5 years that I was. I wanted to be better, smarter, wiser, closer to God, more wealthy. That book created in me a hunger for reading. I saw books in a new light, and that day launched me onto a new path of personal development through books that I have never regretted.

How exactly do books change your life for the better?

1. Reading changes your perspective.

A few years ago, I read an incredible book titled, The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday. The title itself explains the premise of the book…the problem I’m experiencing is actually the path forward. In his book, Holiday explains that there is a difference between what happens to us and our feelings about what happens to us. We have the power to give meaning to events, and the meaning we attach to events will determine our emotional state.

Because of what I learned in The Obstacle is the Way, it has changed my perspective on how I navigate problems or negative circumstances that come across my path.

2. Reading increases your knowledge.

Jordan Peterson said, “With reading, you have this opportunity to learn whatever you want from the greatest people who ever lived along that dimension.” The more books we read, the more knowledge we will glean and a better understanding we will have of humanity and the world we live in. Through its pages, a book will transport us to a different time and a different location, and, as Peterson said, “…we will learn whatever we want from the greatest of people…”

3. Reading increases your wisdom.

I view wisdom as being different from knowledge. Wisdom is the application of the knowledge. Wisdom is knowledge that works itself out in my life. Just as I seek out advice from people in my life who are successful in a certain area, books will expose me to people I’ve never met and give me a front-row seat to how they responded to their life situation or their business opportunities.

My wife and I read 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, and it transformed our marriage. Practically speaking, I wouldn’t call up Gary Chapman and ask him to grab lunch with me and talk, yet I could grab his book and read it and get the same wisdom from him…all for around $10. A book is a small investment for gaining information that could potentially change your life.

4. Reading gives you inspiration.

Inspire means to stimulate, to motivate, to stir, to rouse. I think we could all use that, don’t you? Life is hard and can be very discouraging at times. Just think about this…at any time, you can pick up a book and read a story that will inspire you. It’s right at your fingertips.

As you can see–we really can’t afford NOT to read, yet I know that right now, you may be arguing with me in your head. Here are some things you may be saying to yourself:

I’m too busy to read.

This is a common argument. I personally read early in the morning because the day hasn’t stated yet, and there are minimal distractions and a greater ability to focus. I can focus more clearly. The important thing to remember is that it doesn’t take 45 minutes. I usually read for no longer than 20 minutes at a time.

I once read that when I devote just 20 minutes a day to reading, it will expose me to 1.8 million words a year. That’s pretty compelling data. What about you? Are there things filling your day (social media, tv) that you could give up in order to replace them with 20 minutes of reading instead?

I don’t like to read.

If this is the category you fall into, I would suggest at a minimum to listen to audio books. Although I personally use the Audible app, there are other apps you can choose from. Mark Twain once said, “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” Let that quote sink in. If you do, I think you will begin to realize the power of a good book.

For a list of some great books to get you started, check out my “Recommended Resources” section. If you’d like to go deeper on the topic, be sure to subscribe to my Breakthrough Podcast. In EP031, we talk more about the power of reading.