HOW TO READ A BOOK ONCE AND GET THE MOST OUT OF IT: TIPS FOR UDS STUDENTS

Books are great stuffs. It is in books that we communicate with the superior minds. In books, we can have an intercourse with the old mighty minds. As students of uds, it is important that we should know how to read any book and benefit more.So if  you've got a book that you are not sure whether you'll fully exploit its hidden potentials then don't worry. In this post I will share with you how read a book once and get it all.

1) Consider Your Interest:

 What are you really interested in? What  sets you on fire when you sees or hears it?. Your interests play s significant role in the book you'll choose to read and in the long run determines the benefits thereof. You will probably gain nothing when you read a book that you have no interest in.  Your interests are what you are passionate about. Don't just read a book because a friend recommended it or a family member is reading it too.READING BASED ON YOU INTEREST IS THE NUMBER ONE KEY INTO DERIVING A MAXIMUM BENEFITS FROM THE BOOK TO BE READ.The best way to know whether a book fits your interest is to quickly read the brief description at the back of the book,check the table of content and simply skim some few pages. It is a best practice to read books that you are interested in even as you study in uds.

2)Consider your PURPOSE:

Generally speaking, there are two main purposes for which people do read:
#For pleasure: This include reading for fun, entertainment, etc. The best books for this is fictional books.
#For information: Reading for information include reading to learn, reading to reason with the author and reading to get an information. Majority of of our reading here in uds is for this purpose. Therefore, reading a book based on your purpose will be the driving force to achieving the most out of it.

3) Book discipline:
Why book discipline? I know you will ask. Yes you need  book discipline if only your goal is getting the best just by reading that book once. Book discipline simply means learning to control your behavior whiles reading. Though there are no laid down rules as to how to behave during reading. However, there are certain behaviors that must be avoided when you objective is reading for an information. Avoid these:
A) reading whiles watching TV
B) responding to Facebook or Twitter feeds
C) checking your phone or tablet every minute
 You will benefit more when you avoid these.Reading is a process of the mind and thus, it need more attention and concentration.

[Related: Reasons why students who read a lot are more creative]

4) Agreeing with the Author

Thinking the same as the author is the most proven way to to maximize  your merits from your reading. Why should I think with the author? Every book written seeks to prove a point, an idea or a believe. Authors on the other hand,tries as much as he or she could by faithfully explaining in a chronological sense;with illustrations, references and scenarios to prove the point based on the field of studies the book tackles. Most information presented in a book are usually based on an author's prior experience concerning the idea he or she is relying  forth. Agreeing with free your mind into accepting the subject argued without any internal conflict that will hinder you comprehension. Though it's normal to disagree with the author sometimes. Disagreement and criticisms can however be made when you have fully finished reading the book. In this way, you you would have wholly analyzed the subject argued so as to judge wisely.

1. 5) Taking notes and memorizing:

  Take note of keywords,phrases and sentences that relates to your purpose. You love a certain concept, an idea or method? Make it part of you by memorizing! Taking notes means highlighting ,writing down power filled sentences at a place for quick reference.  You can underline some phrases if the book is yours. But when you borrowed it from a library, you're to  send it back as it was. So make  your notes in a different note book. When it's yours, you can  even write at the margins (most printed books have margins).

6) Be reflective as possible:  

Being reflective is thinking an issue or a matter or an idea quietly.  Have you carefully gone through the book from pages to pages? Then you can think quietly about what has been read. You can do this exercise page by page,chapter by chapter or even sentences. Here, you can agree or disagree or you can criticize the author according to your own knowledge of the subject. The reflective art can make you to read more. For it could be possible that the author failed to address your specific need. As a result, it pushes you to continue searching until your purpose is fulfilled.
If you had always wanted yo read a book once and benefit more, then I recommend that you try these steps outlined in the article above.

[Related:develop these Attitudes you you want to be successful in UDS]