Everyone wants to read books, but nobody tells you how to begin. Some of us take the wrong approach, and some end up quitting the habit altogether.
I was once a beginner too. Now I read about a book a month. I am still a slow reader, but I enjoy reading without any pressure of finishing.
Last year, I read almost 13 books. I do not like mentioning numbers because they are vanity metrics. But I mention it only so you know — do not chase the count.
Most beginners make this mistake: they read just for the sake of reading. They do it for the sense of achievement, or to tell people they read books.
Here are the mistakes I made as a beginner — and what I learned from them.
1. Worrying about slow reading speed
When I first started, I was slow. I had only practiced memorizing textbooks for exams, so I did not know any other way to read.
Over time, my speed improved. It increases only with practice. I am not talking about speed-reading tricks — I do not encourage those. If you use shortcuts just to finish a book, you lose the essence of reading itself.
Reading speed is personal. If you are a beginner, a single page might take a while. Think of it like the gym — you will not lift heavy weights on day one. You have to train your brain the same way.
It is okay to read slowly. There should be no guilt in how you choose to read. I can read fast, but I pause between paragraphs to think about what the author said. That makes me slow at finishing books. And I am perfectly happy with that.
2. Worrying about not understanding a book
Every author communicates differently. Right now, I am writing this in simple English. But not everything in the world can be explained simply. Some things take time to understand.
As a beginner, do not pick hard-to-absorb books. Start easy, then work your way up. If you want to understand a difficult book, read slowly. Re-read sentences or paragraphs. Break down what the author is trying to say.
3. Fearing you will not remember what you read
I used to think there was no point in reading if I could not remember everything. But I learned that you should read to understand different perspectives, not to memorize.
If you understand something clearly, you do not need to remember it word for word — you will act on it naturally. You do not have to remember everything you read, as long as it is not for an exam.
4. Reading cover to cover
I used to read every word from start to finish. I thought that was how books were supposed to be read. It is not.
Now I sometimes start from the middle to get a feel for the book, then go back to the beginning. Or I read just the chapters that interest me. You do not need to read the preface and footnotes if you grasp the main content.
5. Feeling guilty about quitting a book
Treating books as sacred is not a bad thing. But the problem starts when you refuse to quit a book even when you have lost interest.
I used to feel the same way until I heard Naval Ravikant say we can treat books like a collection of blog posts. Not seeing them as sacred makes it easier to move on.
Try to understand a book as much as you can. But if the content is making you uninterested — it is okay to quit.
6. Judging a book by its first few pages
We should not judge a book by its cover. But we also should not judge it by its first few pages. Most authors take time to build context before getting to the interesting parts.
The best way to know if you will like a book is to check reviews from someone with similar taste who has already read it.
7. Not re-reading
I used to think once you read a book, the job was done. But we do not grasp everything the first time. Some books need multiple reads before the concepts fully click.
It is not about how many times you read a book — it is about whether you gain a new perspective each time.
8. Not taking notes
Taking notes helps you remember the way you understood the concepts. There are many ways to interpret what an author says. Notes capture your unique understanding and help build stronger mental connections.
9. Not skipping pages
Most people see books as too sacred to flip past pages. They feel like it is some kind of sin.
It is perfectly fine to skip pages if you already understand the concept. You do not need to go through every analogy the author presents.
Conclusion
There is no right or wrong way to read a book. The way that lets you get the most out of it is the right way for you.