Haven’t Got Time To Read?

Reading is probably one of my greatest pleasures.

I recall when very small reading Enid Blyton books, and wishing they would never end.

As I got older, and studied English and German literature, I would read Thomas Hardy books for recreation rather than just for education. My favourite was The Mayor of Casterbridge.

During my late teenage years I became a Stephen King fan. My dream university subject would have been criminology, but I had nowhere near the grades to be accepted onto a degree course in this area. With a morbid fascination of the criminal mind, I also started reading a selection of true crime books.

Now a mature adult much of what I read is non-fiction, self-development and business related books.

Lately however I am struggling to find time to read.

Luckily I have discovered the internet 😉

There is such an abundance of content available to listen to, that although I do not have endless amounts of time to sit and read, I can easily plug my earphones in and listen to content online while doing other things. For example – chores – which I find mind-numbingly boring. Not only am I digesting the information I desire, I’m making the pain of the mundane more bearable.

Although I try to keep family life at a sensible place, I do believe in maximising the minutes – as this post explains. There is much that can be learned (or enjoyed) in a few minutes here and there.

“If only for periods of a few minutes at a time…this helps one to utilise the odds and ends of time…the possibilities that live in spare moments”. He Can Who Thinks He Can – Orison Swett Marden, 

The ways in which I am doing this are as follows:

1. YouTube – there is a copious amount of content on every subject on YouTube. I have been listening to a lot of seminars – Jack Canfield has been my companion for quite a few hours of late. A real motivator yet down to earth guy – you cannot help but feel inspired.

This is Jack’s channel.

2. Podcasts – I subscribe to a few channels. One of which are the Ted Talks. I’m looking at recording my own podcasts soon.

3. Audiobooks – I’m a recent convert to audiobooks. Although I haven’t downloaded it, the book I’m currently listening to is in the public domain and available on youTube. I’m planning on downloading some books to listen to on-the-go and while driving.

This is what I am listening to currently.

Do you prefer to read or listen? I would have always said ‘read’ as I am a visual person but I am starting to be a faithful convert.

Any books, podcasts or video recommendations to share?