All Leader Are Readers: The Book Reading Habits of Ultra Successful People

To paraphrase Warren Buffet, “Knowledge builds up,  like compound interest.” 

Buffett used to read 800 pages a day, not 500, at the start of his career. He still reads for roughly 8 hours every day. How does he manage to do it? Easy. He prioritises reading in his life. What’s more, you know what? He’s not the only one who thinks this way.

Bill Gates stated in an interview with The New York Times that he reads roughly 50 books per year. Gates will actually take two-week reading vacations at a time.

Reading has been described by Oprah Winfrey as her “road to personal freedom.” She’s even created her own reading club to discuss her favourite books.

And what’s more remarkable is that these aren’t just exceptions. When it comes to CEOs around the world, the average person reads one book every week. That’s more than 50 books a year! Consider how different your life would be if you read one book per week for the next ten years.

1. Leaders read for Enlightenment

Books can be a wonderful source of knowledge, insight, and inspiration. It’s incredible to have the distilled brains and experience of the world’s greatest leaders, inventors, businessmen and women at your fingertips – in the shape of a book.

2. Leaders read for Experiences

Reading is one of the most effective strategies to become excellent leaders because it allows you to get insight into other people’s lives and perspectives, broadening your capacity to see beyond your own. To make well-informed, intelligent decisions and lead a diverse group of people, one must be able to see things from many perspectives. Learning about other people’s experiences could also lead you to a new approach of accomplishing something you hadn’t considered before.

3. Leaders read for Enrichment 

Would you be interested in sitting down one-on-one with the world’s best thinkers and having them mentor you? If you read their books, you can. Because every book a leader reads declares, “I am still a learner.” A leader who reads reveals that they are teachable.

A book allows a leader to sit under the guidance of someone they may never meet in person.

4. Leaders Read for Empowerment 

Reading aids in the introduction of additional abilities, the expansion of knowledge, and the transformation of one’s perspective. “Formal education will make you a living, but self-education will make you a fortune,” asserts John Ron. Developing a reading habit can allow a leader to continue to grow and develop, making them more relevant and allowing you to achieve your goals.

In your pursuit to become a stronger leader,don’t forget this basic habit – leaders are readers.

You can’t help but be healthier, happier, and more financially successful as a result of simply reading more if you read the right books. All extremely successful people understand that if they can get the appropriate book in their hands, the rest will automatically flow in their direction.

Why? Because successful people regard books as a means of gaining information. As a result, individuals are more likely to read books that will help them expand their minds and enhance their lives.

This is critical because, let’s face it, how can you expect your life to change if you’re not learning anything useful?

Unfortunately, you can’t expect to improve your life by maintaining your current level of knowledge. Whatever you desire to do in life, there are a plethora of books available to teach and guide you on how to do it. Go ahead and read them.

Why Book Reading is on a Decline in Present Times

Reading books is an internationally acknowledged intellectual and cultural habit that keeps the brain healthy and active, yet the book reading culture is undergoing a transformation.

Variety abounds in this era of content, which has been dubbed the “golden age of content.” YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have made it easier than ever to create and consume entertainment. The internet has produced a content pool that is continuously being stirred up with new entries every second.

Readership is considered to be on the decline as a result of its ubiquity. Almost every statistics data claims that the number of readers is steadily decreasing, and that less time is allocated to reading each year.

Although book reading has decreased in recent years, it is unlikely that the reading habit has been damaged in the same way. People read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other forms of media. You search the internet instead of going to the library whenever you need knowledge on any subject, from Einstein’s theory of relativity to Ashoka’s Kalinga war.

Without a doubt, the internet has altered reading culture, particularly book reading culture. The issue here is not one of content quality or trustworthiness. The question is whether or not people are reading. It is important to remember that books were not the sole or even the earliest source of knowledge and information. Before the invention of books, information was passed down through the generations by the spoken word. So, how many people read books? Yes, although to a lesser extent. Are they even reading? Yes, of course. Do they have access to information? Yes, absolutely. Now we’ll look at the topic of book reading.

Of course, the invention of the internet is a substantial reason for the decline in reading habits, as all books and magazines are readily available for free with just one click of the computer keyboards. However, the worst aspect of electronic reading material is not only that all types of reading material, including material that is harmful to the minds of the young and immature, is readily available, but long sitting in front of computers also negatively affects the eyesight.

Pop culture has been more widely accessible thanks to the internet, which, when combined with content creation, has resulted in a substantial chunk of social reading – a phenomena spawned by sites such as Wattpad, Tumblr, Archive of Our Own, and others. Consumers of pop culture develop fan fiction on their favourite celebrities and other popular stories, which are typically published after receiving comments from other fans. In this sense, literature has become more engaging than ever before.

All of this demonstrates that readership has not become outdated, but has merely altered in nature.

How To Develop A Book Reading Habit: 5 Practical Tips To Read a Book a Week

Reading a book a week, like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, is by far the most valuable habit you can develop. But don’t be concerned if this appears to be impossible. A week’s worth of reading isn’t a huge accomplishment. Anyone, in fact, can learn how to do it.

Here are 5 simple tips you can use to read one book a week:

1. Try Reading 30 Pages a Day

First and foremost, if you want to read a book a week, you must read a book a week. This is why you should read at least 30 pages per day from your book.

When you sit down to read, most people can read 30 pages in 45 minutes if they are not distracted by anything. 30 pages may seem insignificant, yet 30 pages a day add up to a book in a week.

Regardless of what else is going on in your life, aim to read at least 30 pages per day. You’ll be astonished at how quickly that adds up. Week after week, after week. Month after month, year after year.

2. Only Read Books You Really Love

Always keep in mind that reading is supposed to be a pleasurable experience.

As a result, if you’re not enjoying the book you’re reading, put it down right away.

Don’t feel obligated to finish each and every book you begin. It’s always preferable to read novels that truly pique your interest rather than wasting weeks trying to force yourself to finish a book just because you feel obligated to.

You’re not doing yourself any favors if reading feels like work.

3. Read Across Multiple Mediums

If you set a goal of reading a book per week, you can’t be fussy about the reading mediums you utilize.

Read books on paper. On your phone, read books. Audiobooks should be listened to.

Audiobooks, in particular, are extremely valuable. If you find it difficult to read more books, I strongly advise you to listen to more audiobooks. In reality, auditory learners account for roughly 30% of the population.

You may easily get through one book every week by listening to audiobooks during your commute to work, school, or the gym.

4. Design Your Space Accordingly

Would you have junk food lying around the house if you were attempting to quit eating it? Obviously not. You’d toss it in the trash.

On the other hand, don’t you think it would be sensible of you to keep some apples or bananas on the kitchen counter for quick consumption if you wanted to eat more fruits? Yes, absolutely.

The objective is to create an environment that encourages good behavior while discouraging poor behavior.

So, if you want to read a book a week, make sure you:

(1) remove all diversions from your surroundings that are stopping you from reading more, such as your phone, laptop, noise, and so on, and 

(2) make your books as accessible as possible by leaving them around the house or carrying them with you wherever you go.

5. Avoid Reading in Bed! Never Do That!

Our brains have a hard time distinguishing between labour and rest as humans.

If you’re working on your bed, for example, you may find it difficult to concentrate and become tired. Since your brain has learnt to link your bed with sleep rather than work, this is the case.

This is why you should have different surroundings for different jobs. So, if you want to read a book a week, don’t do it while lying in bed. Instead, create a space dedicated solely to reading. If you live in an apartment building, go to a coffee shop, get a reading chair, or go to the roof.

If you try to read in bed all the time, you’ll soon find yourself drowsy, unable to concentrate, and unable to recall any critical knowledge.

“A man who is unable to read good books has no advantage over a man who can.”

The information you’ll gain from reading books is more important than anything else in terms of living the life you want to live.

“Those who read seven or more books per year are more than 122 percent more likely to be millionaires than those who never read or just read one to three books,” socio-economist Randall Bell writes in his book Me We Do Be: The Four Cornerstones of Success. 

A Hundred and Twenty Two—122%!

That’s not all, though. Reading has also been linked to enhanced creativity, improved memory, less stress, and higher happiness.

So, if you want to live the life of your dreams in terms of health, love, work, happiness, and so on, follow in the footsteps of the world’s most successful people and pick up a book.