Introduction: The Power of Strategic Reading for Busy Minds
This quote from Francis Bacon offers valuable advice on how to read nonfiction books. It shows the power of strategic reading.
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few are to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”
— Francis Bacon
This quote emphasizes that not every book deserves the same level of attention. Some books can be skimmed, while others demand careful study. So why do many of us feel that if we don’t read a nonfiction book cover to cover, we’re somehow missing out on something important? That feeling is just FOMO (fear of missing out) whispering in your ear.
Not every book is packed with valuable content from start to finish. Some books are meatier than others, and it’s essential to treat each one individually. A great way to think about it is by applying the 80/20 Rule to reading.
The 80/20 Rule for Reading Nonfiction
The 80/20 Rule suggests that 20% of a book's content will give you 80% of the key insights. If you focus on finding that 20%, you’ll understand the core message with no need to read every single word.
If you’re still skeptical, consider this: educator Russell Stauffer discovered that on an average page of nonfiction, only 4 to 11 percent of the text is truly important. That amounts to approximately one sentence for every page. The rest of the text is often context, examples, or case studies, which might help clarify the main point but aren't always essential.
Reading the Francis Bacon Way
Indeed, Francis Bacon's quote offers a wise approach to reading nonfiction books. The idea is to treat each book according to its substance and your needs. Here's how you can categorize them:
Tasted
Books that offer useful insights but don't require deep engagement:
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo: Skim for key principles on decluttering.
- Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson: Quick read for understanding change management.
Swallowed
Books with valuable content that should be read more thoroughly but not dissected:
- Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell: Read through for interesting theories about success.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: Absorb the main ideas about cognitive biases and decision-making.
Chewed and Digested
Books rich in information or complex ideas requiring careful study:
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari: Delve deeply into human history and evolution.
- Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond: Thoroughly understand the factors shaping societies over millennia.
So, How Much is Enough?
The real question is: how much context do you actually need? How many case studies will make the concept stick? It depends on the book and your purpose in reading it.
I teach strategic reading, which is the art of reading, intending to learn exactly what you need to know. Instead of spending hours going through every chapter, I show participants how to identify the key 20% of the text that will give them the insights they’re after. Scan the following QR code to register.
Conclusion: The Power of Strategic Reading for Busy Minds
If you're tired of wasting time reading irrelevant content and want to learn how to read more efficiently, my workshop, Applied Knowledge is Power: Reading Strategically to Get Knowledge Faster, is the answer.
Let’s stop reading books cover to cover just for the sake of it. Learn to taste, swallow, chew and digest only what matters most. Strategic reading allows you to focus on the vital 20% that conveys 80% of the value from any nonfiction text.
Next Steps
Please sign up for Applied Knowledge is Power: Reading Strategically to Get Knowledge Faster.
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