How To Read Your Way To Success - A No Bullsh*t Guide
The day I realized I was reading all wrong. It turns out, reading 30 books in a month was the worst thing I could've done for my intellectual growth.
Please hit the ❤️ “Like” button at the top or bottom of this article if you enjoy it. It helps others find this article.
Dear Unlearners,
A decade ago, I found myself in an unexpected situation. After some of my work went viral overnight, an editor from a prestigious newspaper reached out. He wanted me to become a contributor for them. In a moment of cockiness, I pitched an article idea, "How to read 30 books in a month and retain them."
It had everything needed to be another viral post:
People love reading guides they'll never follow.
A shock factor
Personal experience (I had actually done it)
Back then, I did read over 30 books in a month. This was around the time I wrote "Don't Date A Man Who Reads." Don't ask me how I managed it – I have no clue, just as I don't remember most of those 30 books.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
— C.S. Lewis
Now, a decade later and with a few more gray hairs, I'm grateful I never wrote that essay. I would have made a fool of myself. It's one of the few times my procrastination paid off.
I still love reading just like when I was young. However, the way I read has changed significantly over the years.
Here's how I read now:
—
Why I Read?
The older I get, the more I dislike people. I think most people are idiots and a waste of my time. People are disappointing. Instead of wasting time on unfulfilling interactions, I now spend more time flipping through pages where I can find deeper, more meaningful connections.
Think about it: a writer often dedicates years, sometimes their entire life (at least in the olden days) to writing a book. And all I need to access their wisdom is a library card. It's an incredible bargain when you consider the return on investment.
People often talk about the importance of networking, meeting the right individuals, and finding mentors. While these can be valuable, they're not always feasible or fruitful. Great books and podcasts are great substitutes for real-life mentors. They're like having smart friends who can teach you about life without all the drama that comes with actual relationships. You can learn a lot from these "virtual mentors" without dealing with the hassles of meeting people in person.
Reading allows you to master the best of what other people have already figured out, at a remarkably low cost.
It's like having a conversation with the brightest minds throughout history, all from the comfort of your home. You get to cherry-pick the insights that resonate with you, apply them to your life, and grow in ways that might not be possible through everyday interactions alone.
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”
— Walt Disney
Over the years, I've developed some strategies that have transformed my reading experience. They might seem counterintuitive at first, but trust me, they work.
1. Quit Reading (Yes, Really)
To be a great reader you need to learn to quit first.
Technology and the internet make it easier for amazing talent to have the chance to be discovered and published. But they also help increase tenfold the number of untalented writers pushing their work. I know this well, as I am one of them.
More than ever in history, we have an enormous amount of bad books and work. That includes Substack.
We're living in an era of information overload. More than ever in history, we're drowning in a sea of bad books, articles, and posts. This includes everything from traditional publishing to platforms like Substack and beyond.
Let's break it down:
About 90% of what you encounter is, frankly, trash.
Less than 10% might be considered semi-decent.
Only a tiny fraction – we're talking single-digit percentages – is truly great, life-changing stuff.
Great readers are usually great quitters. They often have more unfinished books than finished ones.
Remember, every mediocre book you force yourself to finish is stealing time from a potentially life-changing read. Every boring article you skim through is time you could have spent on inspiring, thought-provoking content.
Quitting isn't failure – it's a strategic decision to allocate your resources (time and attention) more effectively. It's about respecting yourself enough to say, "This isn't worth my time right now."
Sometimes, the book is great but you still need to quit. Maybe you're not ready for it. It might be a good book at the wrong time, and you won't be able to fully understand or consume it.
Here's the beauty of quitting books: it's not forever. Books don't run away from you. They don't break up with you. They don't go and marry someone else. You can always come back to them when you're ready.
And if you're really bad at quitting : Read really old books, the ones that have stood the test of time. If the author is dead, you're less likely to be reading a bad book. Why? Because truly great literature often survives. The mediocre stuff tends to fade away over decades or centuries.
And if you are really bad at quitting. Read really old books, the books that stand the test of time. If the author is dead, you are less likely to read a bad book.
These time-tested books have survived countless critics, changing tastes, and shifting cultural norms. They've been read, reread, analyzed, and cherished by generations. That's not to say every old book is a masterpiece, but the odds are certainly in your favor.
As I often say, I find myself 'busy having affairs with dead men, occasionally searching for my next love.' It's my way of describing my relationship with books and their authors. These 'affairs' with long-gone writers provide intellectual stimulation, emotional resonance, and wisdom that often surpass what contemporary works offer.
2. Read Slow….Really Slow
There are countless articles about how to read faster. I almost wrote one myself. But here's the truth: that's horrible advice.
I used to hate audiobooks, except for biographies or fiction. It wasn't until later in life that I realized why. Sure, I could listen to the book faster, but I couldn't think faster. I needed time to reflect on the content. With audiobooks, I couldn't keep pausing every other minute to think. Now I use audiobooks to recall what I have read.
A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.”
— George R.R. Martin
Reading speed is nothing but a vanity metric. Nobody cares about how many books you read this year or how fast you read them. Unless, of course, you're writing an essay about speed reading or pushing affiliate links for the books you've supposedly read.
Reading slowly allows you to ask questions, take notes, and build new ideas based on what you've just learned. If you don't walk away with at least one new idea after reading a book, you're probably reading the wrong things.
It's far better to read a great book very slowly than to skim through the entire New York Times bestselling list just to brag about it on social media.
Slow reading is about quality over quantity. It's about giving your brain the time it needs to process, question, and internalize the material. When you read slowly, you're not just consuming information. You're engaging in a dialogue with the author, challenging your own assumptions, and potentially reshaping your worldview.
That's where the real value of reading lies.
2. Read Over and Over
Quit reading bad books.
Skim over good books.
Read, reread, and reread again great books.
If a book is truly great, you should consider rereading it every year. Each time, you'll learn something new.
Why? Because every time you read a book, it's a new experience. You're not the same person you were the last time you read it.
Think about it: since your last read, you've lived more life. You've had new experiences, learned new things, and maybe even changed some of your views. All of this affects how you understand and relate to the book.
When you reread, you'll notice things you missed before. Old ideas can look different in this new light. You might read the same book at different points in your life and walk away with completely different lessons each time.
Rereading’s about growing with the book, letting it reveal new layers of meaning as you change and grow yourself.
So, don't be afraid to revisit your favorite books. They're like old friends – familiar and comfortable, but always with the potential to surprise you and teach you something new.
The point of reading is not to read a lot but to read the right thing.
Skim many books. Read a few. Reread the gems yearly.
3. Read with AI
Every day, I hear people complaining about how AI is ruining everything just like everyone complained about social media 10 years ago. As someone who's building an AI marketing consulting agency and constantly testing various AI apps, I couldn't disagree more. AI isn't ruining life - it's revolutionizing how we read and process information.
Here's how AI can enhance your reading experience:
Quality Filter: AI is great at helping you filter out bad books. You can use tools like ChatGPT to get a quick summary or analysis of a book before you invest your time in reading it. This can save you from wasting time on mediocre content.
Virtual Book Club: Imagine turning ChatGPT into a virtual version of your favorite author, ready to discuss ideas from their books with you. You can have in-depth conversations about complex concepts, getting new perspectives and insights.
Memory Aid: AI excels at finding ideas you can't quite recall and reviewing old books to discover what you might have missed. After reading a book, I often ask AI to give me a summary. I used to pay for Blinkist, the paid app for book summaries, now I get it for free with ChatGPT.
Post-Reading Reflection: One of my favorite uses of AI is to have it ask me questions after I've read a book. This helps me reflect on what I've read and solidify my understanding. I often use it to create a list discussion questions for my monthly book club.
If you're interested in learning more about how to use AI to become a better reader, let me know in the comments. I'd be happy to share some of my favorite prompts.
Other apps that can enhance your reading experience :
Readwise: For highlighting and organizing your reading notes. It is like cue cards for great thoughts. It helps with retention. Their new reader looks interesting.
Notion AI: For creating detailed book summaries and connecting ideas across different books. I use it to organize my notes and link them. One of a few apps that I have a paid version.
Claude AI: I use it more than GPT and made my entire team using it. Another app that I am paying for.
Speechify: An AI-powered text-to-speech app that can read any text aloud, helping with comprehension and multitasking.
Remember, technology is meant to improve your life if you embrace it. AI isn't here to replace us - it's here to enhance our lives. With AI as your reading companion, you can explore ideas more deeply, retain information better, and ultimately become a more engaged and insightful reader.
4. Read More
Nobody can become a good reader without reading a lot. The more you read, the better you read.
Start with 10 pages a day: It might not sound like much, but it's 10 pages more than most people read. Over a year, that's 3,650 pages - equivalent to about 12 average-sized books!
Make it a daily habit: Try to read at the same time each day. Maybe it's with your morning coffee, during your lunch break, or before bed. Consistency is key.
Always have a book with you: Whether it's a physical book, an e-reader, or an app on your phone, make sure you always have something to read. Those spare minutes waiting in line or on your commute can add up.
Mix it up: Don't stick to just one book. I always read at least 3 books at a time. You want to have a book for every mood.
Join a book club: This can keep you accountable and introduce you to books you might not have chosen on your own.
The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can’t.
— Mark Twain
So start with 10 pages a day. Before you know it, you might find yourself eagerly turning to page 11, then 20, then finishing the whole book in one sitting. The journey of a thousand books begins with a single page.
—
I don't know a single successful person who isn't an avid reader. Look at some of the world's most successful billionaires:
Warren Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha," spends about 80% of his day reading. He estimates he reads 500 pages daily.
Bill Gates reads about 50 books per year and regularly shares his book recommendations.
Elon Musk, when asked how he learned to build rockets, simply said, "I read books."
Mark Cuban dedicates three hours a day to reading.
Oprah Winfrey credits books for much of her success and has inspired millions through her book club.
Reading isn't about impressing others, it's about impressing yourself.
Pick up a book today. Give it a chance to surprise you, to teach you, to inspire you. Who knows? Your future self will thank you. The next page you turn could be the one that changes your life. After all, it worked for Buffett, Gates, Musk, and countless others. Why not you?
Happy reading, fellow book lovers.
Don’t know where to start, here are some of my favorite books.
Until tomorrow.
Love,
Cammi
Please hit the ❤️ “Like” button below if you enjoyed this post, it helps others find this article. If you’re a Substack writer and have been enjoying Daily Unlearner, consider adding it to your recommendations. Your support means the world.
More to Unlearn
8 Life Lessons I Wish I Knew in My 20s
Why I Stopped Helping People and You Should Too
The Modern School System: The Biggest Lie We've All Been Sold
Another great read from you! I consider myself a “reader” and there’s so much of this that resonated with me
Couldn’t love this post more.