If you didn’t, then now you know, I listen to 4 books a week.
Who has the time, you ask?
How is this possible, you ask?
I turn up the speed to x2 and I have been asked many times, “How can you understand that?”
How can one not? It’s just people talking. If you concentrate, open up your ears, it will be understood! 🙂
You don’t necessarily need to double the speed like me. Just turn it up to get to the point faster according to what is comprehendible for you.
How It Started
I was originally subscribed to 5 different audiobook apps that I eventually cancelled. (I only keep 1 – Apple Books – today and borrow one from my husband on his Audible account.) There was a particular app I fell in love with called Scribd.
You download it for $11 a month and had access to every book under the sun that Apple Books didn’t have. However, out of that month, those really awesome books were only available for 4, sometimes 2 days! It drove me nuts. So I had to turn the speed up, listening to as many books as fast as I could before 2 days were up and I’d have to wait a whole month to get the books I really wanted.
In the interim, I’d listen to whatever biographies and whatever historical books that were available. They were by less famous authors, but there was no harm in that. From that, I formed a very expensive habit of simply buying the books I want from a list I created. It became really easy to listen to books on such high speed of x2 and now I even do it with podcasts.
A few reasons I listen to audiobooks:
- You can turn up the speed.
- Most of the time the author reads it, so it’s read how it’s intended to sound.
- You can listen on the go while brushing your teeth, doing your makeup, driving, working, cleaning, and dressing up.
There’s no reason not to be taking in information when you can multitask.
Sometimes there are books that you really need to pay attention to and give your full effort of listening to. But I save those for long drives when I know there won’t be too much traffic. Or just before bed — that’s probably safer too.
My minimum goal is 4 books a week. Sometimes I’m lucky enough to read more and gain more knowledge.
Remember: knowledge isn’t power. Action is power. You could have all the education and information in the world but do nothing with it!
Why Read So Much?
Reading is just a hobby to find new things to talk about and sound worldly with friends lol. At least for me it sometimes can be. Aside from that, I genuinely enjoy learning in-depth theses about the world I think I know.
When it comes around to it, I realize I know absolute squat, because you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s not really an accomplishment to read so much — it’s just something you do. Also, I have a few apps that help me read even more audiobooks and save money.
There’s a lot of garbage books out there from my experience. So not all reading technically makes you “smarter”.
FUN FACT:
Interestingly enough, I was listening to a podcast with Jordan B. Peterson, one of my favorite thought leaders and minds of our century, and he interviewed an expert on the human brain.
The right side of the brain is the part that likes to learn more, has more awareness of our place in the world, and is all around open-minded to new things. The more feminine, soft part of our grey matter that is better at receiving information.
As for the left, its more masculine state of primitive know-it-all complex is what it’s known for. This is the stubborn, stalwart thinking we have when we don’t want to try anything new and are comfortable with lack of progression. It also gets frustrated more easily.
A downside to the right brain’s openness is imposter syndrome, anxiety, and all kinds of self-doubt. To have the benefits of the left side’s confidence and right brain’s open ability would take the world by storm. Figuring out the balance between both would be the ideal condition.
Something special is coming!
I’m going to be adding a Weekly Reads reading list to help you catch up and create some time to relax or build yourself up with my weekly reading list.
This means a lot to me, because I can update you in real time all the things my heart is full of. It’s really difficult to make people understand how I read so much. Not necessarily the why. But people have a hard time wrapping their minds around the idea that is is possible. I am living proof that it is and can’t wait to share all my latest reading material with you!
What are some books you recommend? What are you looking forward to? I’d love to know more in the comments below!
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I’m Gia G. Dixon, an etiquette consultant certified under Royal Charter of King Charles III. Here is my guide to elegant style, high quality living, and little things that make your daily life glamorous.
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