If the ink is still drying, then I am buying seems to be the idea among the written word enthusiast. New books are published each week, based on new science or a new perspective on existing knowledge. Authors do the obligatory book tours across all media channels to get the word out and it seems to work, at least on me. I enjoy many authors and much to my wife's chagrin, it doesn't take much for it to be added to my library. I began reading business and soft skill books in the late 80's when I started a multi-level marketing business and have continued to read this genre and added several more along the way. If I take a step back and consider the amount of words read and the hours invested; I have probably already consumed the latest material in an earlier form and despite good intentions, have yet to apply. Once we close the back cover and reflect on how the truths could make a difference in our lives, the hard part begins; application. I have books, on the nightstand, waiting their turn for my attention. This is the part that stings a bit; I think I am a great at consuming, but poor, at best, at application. I assume most authors desire the evaluation and application vice just selling another book. In October, the Pew Research Center found “among all Americans, the average (mean) number of books read in the previous year was 12 and the median (midpoint) number of books read was four”. I understand that you are above average and therefore you will cull through many more books and find many more points of application. Well done! Now, was there a particular point, one specific practice, one thought or one verse out of the entire tome that was worth implementing into your life for the long term? Before picking up the next volume, it might be worth ensuring the time invested earlier was well spent and work on application of a nugget in the last read.
How do you internalize what you have read? How often do you revisit the books you’ve read? How do you select a title to read? What have you reread the most? What Internet postings do you pay attention to and apply? What other question comes to mind?