I have always been a fan of reading. My uncle used to read Archie Comics to me when I was a kid on summer vacations. I would spend two months with my grandmother and uncle. As a teenager, my dad worked at a book and magazine store (pre-borders) and I helped my dad with work. I was able to read magazines and books in between customers coming in and out.

One of the reasons I set up this blog was to share my thoughts on the books I read.

Take Notes

When I read a book, I transport myself into the book and most importantly I am always taking notes. I carry a pencil to jot notes in the margins of hard or soft cover books. On  the iPad I am able to highlight and make notes that I can quickly reference later.

Complete Exercises and Goals

I always try to put into practice anything in the book that applies to me. I always make sure to complete any exercises the author has written about in order to get value. I have been able to find many solutions to complex problems by just running through an exercise of a book.

Once I finish the book

When I finish the book, I go over all my notes and highlights. I try to create a summary on the key points of the book. I do this for two reasons; one to refresh what I read and to tie all key points into how I will apply the lessons into my daily life. The other reason is for me to create a blog post on the experience of reading the book so you can have an idea if it is worth buying.

I only post good reviews

Rule of thumb if you see the book reviewed on my blog I recommend the book. On many occasions I receive books for review or I buy a book that disappoints me. In those instances I don’t review them. Since I know the effort the author put into writing the book I don’t feel that it would be right for the author to get a negative book review.

Reference

After reading the book, I usually share it with friends and family in conversations or on the blog. I keep the really good ones for reference. The advantage with the iPad is that I can carry my books around with me and when I need to look something up it is only a few touches and swipes away.

Do you have a ritual when reading a book? What other tips you have to get the best out of reading a book.

Read some of my book reviews:

Here are 6 book reviews of my favorite Business and Marketing books.

• Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion & Captivation
  
• Social Media ROI
• Evil Plans
• Thank You Economy
• Content Rules
• Enchantment

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