Until the age of 20, I had only read one book outside of school. But in 2024, I decided to change that and turned reading into a regular habit. My lifetime reading list of one has quickly grown, with about a book a month now under my belt. It’s been one of the best investments I've made in myself, and it’s already improving my life in meaningful ways.
So, why should you start reading books in 2024? In this post, I’ll break it down and give you a clear answer.
The Digital Detox
I love physical paper books. They are beautiful, feel good in the hand, and most importantly, they give me a break from digital screens.
I love everything digital, and even though computers and video games have been a major hobby for the throughout my life, I have always liked the idea of becoming a reader.
I imagined picking up books, learning new things, and acquiring skills that would help me navigate life.
Over the years, I’ve made several attempts to become a reader. I’d rent a book from the public library, eager to finally transform into a "reading person." But each time, I failed. I’d give the book a few chapters (or just a few pages) before setting it aside and returning to video games—they were simply more entertaining.
This year, however, I’ve actually picked up a few books and enjoyed the experience of sitting down to read. Sure, it’s sometimes challenging to focus on the book when my brain wants something more stimulating, but I’m getting better at taking the time to disconnect and enjoy the simple pleasure of a good book.
I find it especially relaxing to read physical books and appreciate that it allows me to disconnect from digital screens.
While some people enjoy reading on digital devices like an iPad or Kindle, I believe there’s a certain magic in a physical paper book. The way it feels, looks, and even smells makes reading feel like a special experience.
Since I already spend plenty of time in front of screens, sitting down with a paper book is refreshing.
If you’re looking to invest your time in something that can help you grow and provide a break from your phone, TV, or other habits, consider picking up a physical book and setting aside time to enjoy it.
For example, I recently bought and read The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness, and really enjoyed it. The book itself is beautiful, and the stories offered me valuable new insights about money.
I strongly recommend it, a easy read even for beginners : Buy it here
Learn To Focus & Relax
I’ve been a YouTube consumer for most of my life. Whether I want to learn something, be entertained, or just kill time, YouTube has me covered. The problem is, it’s killed my attention span, making it harder to focus on a single task.
You know what I’m talking about—the endless stream of suggested videos. Often, we don’t even finish one video before moving on to the next.
—Oops, are you looking at the comments instead of watching the video again?...
Our attention spans are being broken into smaller and smaller amounts in the modern age of social media, but reading books can be an antidote.
Reading books regularly will train your focus and attention span. By dedicating periods of time to simply read a book and do only that, we exercise a muscle that is often overlooked these days. Monotasking.
Multitasking might sound like a useful skill—managing multiple things at once should get everything done faster, right? Unfortunately, no.
Multitasking is also a reason our attention spans are worsening, and focusing on just one thing is becoming a rare skill. Monotasking is the art of doing one thing at a time.
Focusing on one task from start to finish will always accomplish more than juggling many tasks and not completing any of them.
The good news is that making reading a habit is a great way to practice monotasking in everyday life. Just reading for 15 minutes before bed regularly will eventually become a habit.
Reading 15 minutes before bed adds up to 91 hours in a year. That’s definitely enough to get through a couple of books, and one of those books might give you the keys and ideas to make life better.
Learn To Speak Better
Growing up, I was always good at English for my age (in Sweden, we study English in school), but now that school is over, my English-speaking skills have plateaued. However, since I started reading English books, I’ve noticed my speech and vocabulary improving.
Reading books is a lot like having a conversation with the author, which is why we improve our speech and vocabulary when reading different kinds of books. We might encounter words, sentences, or jokes that we haven't heard before and add these to our own vocabulary.
This is great for learning another language, but it's just as helpful for improving your native tongue. Reading in silence actually activates our vocal cords on a very small level, meaning we essentially "talk" when we read. This means that reading quietly or out loud acts as practice for speech.
I really enjoy reading English books and appreciate the opportunity to improve my speech and understanding of the language. Sometimes I read out loud to hear how I sound—sometimes it goes well, and other times it falls apart.
When reading certain books like 12 Rules For Life, I was initially challenged by a lot of new words and expressions I hadn't encountered before. The author, Jordan B. Peterson, is a professor, which might explain the more complex language.
Either way, I gradually got into the book, and understanding it became easier. I believe that reading challenging books helps me write better for this blog, which also motivates me.
No matter how good of a speaker and communicator you might be, reading is one of the best ways to expand and improve your communication skills. Combine reading with writing, and you’ll become better at expressing yourself and communicating effectively in your own words.
Learn From The Experience Of Others, To Improve Your Life
Books have been around for thousands of years, serving as a bridge to the wisdom, mistakes, and experiences of those who came before us. Today, we have the incredible opportunity to learn from others without having to face the same challenges ourselves.
For instance, over two thousand years ago, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius recorded his reflections and philosophies. Today, we can access that timeless wisdom in his book, Meditations.
Being able to read the private thoughts and reflections of a Roman Emperor is an incredible privilege. Marcus Aurelius, who ruled one of the world's greatest empires and studied both war and philosophy, offers insights and wisdom that we can apply to our own lives.
Reading books by those who have achieved success, improved their health, or found happiness can provide us with valuable lessons and guidance drawn from their experiences.
This is why many of the world’s top leaders and businesspeople are avid readers—learning from others' experiences helps them navigate their own paths more effectively.
Without having to endure the same struggles, we can gain insight from those who have, even if they lived in a different time.
I Started Reading Books In 2024, You Should Too
Maybe you’re like me and didn’t read much before 2024, or perhaps you’ve already made reading a regular habit. Either way, reading is a rewarding and enjoyable investment in yourself. If you make time to read regularly, you'll reap countless benefits.
The most important advice I can give is this: read what genuinely interests you.
I recently tried reading Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground because Jordan B. Peterson recommended him as one of the greatest authors of all time. But I struggled to get through the first chapter—it was too complex and confusing for me. Who knows, maybe in a few years, I’ll revisit it and appreciate it more, but for now, it’s just not for me.
Reading can be both enjoyable and enriching if you choose books that resonate with you, ones that you find intriguing and fun.
So, I started reading in 2024, and it’s a habit I’m excited to continue. I hope this post inspires you to explore your own relationship with reading and to find out what role it might play in your life.
Before writing this post I made a short YouTube video on the same topic. This is what inspired me to write about it, you are welcome to watch the video here
To end it all with a fitting quote:
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin
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