A good question to ask yourself.
I’ve been reading many books on various subjects lately, everything from coding, business, to self-help. My argument on having so many “open” halfway-read books is this: After getting tired of reading (for 8 hours straight) on coding with a new framework, I switch to business. After getting tired of reading on business, I switch to .. (wash, rinse, repeat, you get the idea). After spending a few hours on the same topic, my ADD self wants to do something else. Hence, I quickly pickup another book.
The first thing I do after I receive a new book I purchased online (in the following order):
- Unwrap
and breathe in the new fresh book scent
- Write name on first page
- Write purpose of the purchase, what I want to get out of the book (just below name)
Step 3 is the “why”. After a while, I forget why the book I have not finished reading is sitting there on my to-read corner. I am quickly reminded when I flip to the first page. While I read the book, if I start getting bored .. I flip over to the first page and remind myself why I bought the book and why I am reading the book, and recharge my interest to read that book.
I find this technique extremely useful, in refocusing my efforts.
Example: One of my open books is Getting Things Done : The Art of Stress-Free Productivity and my 1 liner “why” on the first page is this:
To better optimize my time, reduce waste, & being more disciplined.
If I don’t achieve the above stated after I have finished reading the book, then the money spent on buying that book has been lost. And I don’t lose.