Five tips I wish I knew when I was in high school:

1. Have a strong filter

If you don’t like a book past the first chapter, drop it. If you insist on finishing every book you begin, reading will quickly become a chore. The majority of books are: a) adequately summarised in the first chapter, b) not for you, or c) not for anyone. If you grind your way through a bad book, you won’t be willing to read again in the future.

You would never drag yourself into a relationship with someone you don’t like. Do the same with what you read.

2. Prioritise

If your reason for reading books is because you don’t have time, I wonder if you’d read a book if I paid you $1 million dollars to do it. Most people probably would.

A lack of time means a lack of priorities. If you believe in the transformative power of books, you will make time for it. If you don’t believe in books, I hope you will consider changing your mind. My suggestion for prioritising books is to do it in the moments of the day you can control: before you sleep, and when you wake up. If you like it enough, you’ll begin reading during your busy day too.

3. Be flexible

Reading books doesn’t have to be with a paperback under a lamp. The activity of reading has transformed immensely over the last few years such as audiobooks and the Kindle. Listening to War and Peace on your phone is no inferior to pouring through it with a beautiful hardcopy. The main thing is to start.

I highly recommend listening to audiobooks – Audible is a great way to do that. If there are mindless activities throughout your day, listening to a book can transform your experience. I genuinely look forward to buying groceries, washing the dishes or riding to Uni now because of this. You can easily get through a book a month with this “while-I’m-doing-that” method.

4. Do it with others

It’s amazing to read books with a community, whether that be family, your partner or book clubs. Not only does it hold you accountable to keep reading, you have the opportunity to both clarify your takeaways and hear other people’s lessons. These conversations can utterly transform the way you view your book.

My partner is currently reading War and Peace and it’s great talking to her about it. I find myself seeing scenes and characters in completely new ways which elevates my experience of the book – despite finishing it over a month ago.

5. Be patient

This has two meanings: be patient while reading and be patient while searching.

While reading, don’t rush. What’s the point of saying you read a book a week if you don’t remember or appreciate anything? Be patient; talk to the author in your head and if possible, try and step into their shoes. You will take much more away.

While searching for a new book, have faith. Trust that there is a book out there for you. If you were forced to read books that didn’t resonate with you, I’m sorry. But don’t let that ruin literature as a whole.

There is a book out there, waiting just for you. Be patient.