Discussion about this post

User's avatar
The One Percent Rule's avatar

There is a good thread of comments on Hacker News about this post and other lists - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43601190#43601359

Expand full comment
Marginal Gains's avatar

I have only read five books from the list. I believe IQ is a limited measure of human intelligence as human intelligence is more than just our verbal, math, and spatial abilities. However, since we like to measure things, it provides a way to categorize people—though not necessarily in meaningful or holistic ways.

Here are some of my thoughts and observations about reading:

1. The Influence of Environment: The environment in which you are raised plays a significant role in shaping your habits. I am grateful to my parents for fostering my reading habits, as they were both avid readers. Growing up surrounded by people who read sparked my curiosity and instilled a love for books.

2. Reading as the Greatest Bargain: Reading is one of the world's most valuable and inexpensive activities. As Gene Roddenberry said:

“I consider reading the greatest bargain in the world. A shelf of books is a shelf of many lives and ideas and imaginations which the reader can enjoy whenever he wishes and as often as he wishes. Instead of experiencing just one life, the book-lover can experience hundreds or even thousands of lives.”

3. Successful People and Reading: I’ve noticed that most successful people read a lot. As Charlie Munger put it:

“In my whole life, I have known no wise people (over a broad subject matter area) who didn’t read all the time – none, zero.”

4. The Compounding Effect of Reading: Reading, like money, compounds over time. I dedicate 30 to 40 hours a week to reading, and this habit has significantly improved my ability to think, understand the world, and write. The more you read, the greater your intellectual growth.

5. The Value of Broad Reading: Reading across diverse subjects is the best way to develop a holistic understanding of the world and sharpen problem-solving skills. Many of the solutions I’ve found in life have come from knowledge outside my primary field of interest.

6. Learning from Multiple Authors: To truly grasp a subject, you should read works from different authors. Even if one book feels definitive, exploring other perspectives is essential, as even the best experts only have partial knowledge of any topic.

7. The Timeless Wisdom of Old Books: Older books often provide more enduring wisdom than newer ones, except in fast-evolving fields. If a book has stood the test of time, its insights remain relevant. This is an excellent example of the Lindy Effect, where timeless works remain valuable.

8. The Power of Re-Reading: Francis Bacon's quote sums it up the best: “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously, and some few are to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”

If you find a book that should be chewed and digested, you should reread it, as one reading may not be enough, and we remember only a tiny part of the book.

9. Start Many, Finish a Few: Life is short, and not every book will resonate with you. If you find a book you don’t enjoy or find valuable, stop reading it. Instead, focus on exploring many books, starting plenty but only finishing the ones that truly capture your interest or provide meaningful insights.

10. Reading Multiple Books Simultaneously: Reading more than one book at a time, especially on different topics, can be highly rewarding. It allows you to shift between subjects based on your mood or energy level, keeps your mind engaged, and helps you draw connections between different areas of knowledge. For example, reading a history book alongside a science book can spark insights you might not get from either alone.

11. Connecting Knowledge Across Fields: One of the best ways to excel is by connecting ideas across different areas. This knowledge synthesis creates unique insights and solutions rarely found in any book.

12. Delaying Opinion Formation: I rarely immediately form an opinion on a topic. Instead, I read and retain a few key ideas, forming an opinion only when necessary, such as when answering a question or writing a post. This delay allows me to think, research, and approach the topic more deeply.

13. Questioning Ideas and Staying Open-Minded: Never accept anyone’s ideas, opinions, or thoughts as absolute truth, no matter who they come from. Think critically, apply your own experiences, and deliberate before accepting them. Even then, remain open to new ideas that might challenge or improve your current understanding. The motto of the Royal Society sums it up best: Nullius in verba (Latin for "no one's words" or "take nobody's word for it).

I will end with the following two quotes:

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” ― George R.R. Martin

and

“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” — Mark Twain (for some people, it may be videos as one of the genius I know reads very little, but he watches YouTube videos to learn things)

Expand full comment
53 more comments...

No posts