The Journey to Better Reading: A Path to Enlightenment

As a child, the transition from mere storytelling to the act of reading was a fascinating one. This experience began with my older brother, who was born months before me. We were both enrolled in different shows on TV, and eventually, our mother sat us down to read to us. These early years laid a foundation that would influence my reading habits and knowledge for years to come.

Virtuous Cycle of Reading

The only way to improve your reading is by reading more regularly. The more you read, the better you read, and the more you desire to read. This cycle is virtuous and can be stimulated by a driving passion.

Every few years, I find myself interested in new subjects or topics, which reinvigorates my love for reading. For example, when I read Fooled by Randomness: The Black Swan, my interest in the philosophers and philosophies mentioned led me to explore an introductory text on the history of Western philosophy. This journey introduced me to Plato, a philosopher I had already read, and many others I had not even heard of before. Over weeks, I delved into introductions to the philosophy of figures such as Wittgenstein, Schopenhauer, and Heidegger.

The Power of Reading Passions

Passion is essential for a fulfilling reading experience. Each journey is unique and tailored to your individual interests. When I revisited The Black Swan, I was captivated by the discussions on fallacies, biases, and logical reasoning. This led me to discover The Art of Thinking Clearly, which offers an engaging introduction to each bias, heuristic, or fallacy. As a result, I embarked on a series of adventures through various philosophical texts and articles, each one deepening my understanding and enthusiasm for reading.

Building a Reading Routine

To enhance your reading, it's crucial to set a consistent routine. Reading daily, even for a short period, can significantly improve your skills. Start by setting aside at least 30 minutes per day to read. This can be books, newspapers, articles, or any material that interests you.

If you encounter unfamiliar words, don’t hesitate to look them up. Use tools like Google to quickly understand the meaning and pronunciation. This practice will expand your vocabulary and comprehension. Additionally, consider learning a new word every day. This not only enriches your language skills but also keeps you engaged and motivated.

Consistency and patience are critical. Reading is a skill that requires time to develop. By maintaining a regular reading routine, you will gradually see improvements in your reading comprehension and fluency.

A Personal Experience

My personal journey to reading began when I was just five years old, with the help of a private tutor. She would hold my index finger and guide me to point at each letter or letter combination. We would say them out loud together. This method was simple but effective, laying the groundwork for my reading journey. Here's a small indicative exercise we used:

Working with a combination of letters:

a B and an A: BA a B and an E: BE a B and an I: BI a B and an O: BO a B and a U: BU

This hands-on approach helped me associate sounds with letters, which is a fundamental step in learning to read.

By nurturing a passion for learning and maintaining a consistent reading habit, you too can enhance your reading skills and journey into a world of knowledge and enlightenment.