How I Read Books

A) Reading books is vital for learning.

The wealth of human knowledge is contained in books. Life is limited, but knowledge is infinite. Therefore, if you want to accelerate your learning journey and embark on new adventures, reading is more helpful than anything else.

B) The steps I take to read books include:

a) Choosing books:

I only read good books, eternal books. What do I mean by good or eternal books (from my personal perspective)? I will dedicate a separate blog to share this with you.

b) Preparing my attitude before reading a work:

- Treat myself as a child, knowing nothing about the author—no hatred, no admiration, no expectations. Why do I do this? I want you to guess.

- Imagine the title of the book.

+ For example, when I read "The Courage of a Sage" by Thu Giang, I imagined, would he write about sages with extraordinary actions? Could people achieve what these sages did? Or would he share secrets on how to become a sage? I asked myself these naive questions. In reality, the book was much deeper and more relatable than I imagined. The author's thoughts and mine shared both similarities and differences. But in the end, thanks to this visualization, I found the book more enjoyable and useful.

c) Reading the book:

- First, I carefully read the table of contents, and if possible, memorize it while imagining what issues the author might address.

+ For example, if the author writes a section on "Work Principles," I would ask myself: are these principles about hard work, focus, and prioritization? Do these principles apply to me and today's youth? (Note: I only wonder, not criticize the author.) Do these principles resemble those of another author? (Again, without intending to challenge or criticize.)

- Then, I begin reading the book quickly, without focusing on any specific details, even if they are captivating. The goal is to grasp the general content. (There are some books I have already read summaries online, but I continue to skim them now, as I prefer it. Additionally, book covers often contain subtitles and introductions, which I also briefly read.)

- After skimming, I go back and read several more times, taking notes on phrases that inspire new ideas or encourage the spirit. (Some books I don’t reread because they are too simplistic or the expression is clumsy and vague. This could be due to a poor book selection or perhaps my own mistake. If an author is wise, their language is also wise, concise, and well-organized. Short words but deep meanings are useful. Don’t confuse vague language with metaphorical language.

+ Vague language is confusing and reflects the writer's struggle, but sometimes even talented writers struggle to express their ideas clearly. In such cases, we shouldn't be too strict; understanding and empathy suffice. Or sometimes when reading translated books, some details may not align with the original text, and that's the translator's responsibility. But since they made the effort to translate for us, they’ve done us a kindness. Now that I have the chance to learn multiple languages, I prefer reading the original texts and use the translations as comparisons to reflect on my personal interpretation.

+ Metaphorical language requires deeper reflection, and the more you read and experience life, the more the meanings reveal themselves. Take, for example, "The Dream of the Red Chamber" by Cao Xueqin. The understanding of this book changes with age—youth reads it one way, adulthood adds more depth, and in old age, you uncover even deeper meanings. Early on, one might grasp the surface, but as knowledge matures, both the surface and the deeper layers become clear.)

- After several readings, I summarize what I have understood and learned, like keeping a diary. Sometimes I write about it on my blog to share with others, or I save it as a personal memento. Sometimes I join online reading groups to discuss, or even discuss with artificial intelligence (but be careful, AI is so perfect that no one can argue with it. Debating with it might hinder your thinking. So, argue with friends, live life, reflect on it, and only then use AI to verify your thoughts. Hopefully, you'll never need it, as you'll have reached your own conclusions.)

- The final step is to live, observe, and apply what you’ve learned. When to apply it depends on your circumstances, your observation, and your level of understanding.

+ For instance, when I read "Life Seen from a Zen Window," which mentions a verse on tolerance, it struck me. Tolerance arises because everyone has ignorant mistakes they can’t correct. After reading that, I noticed how many rude, foul-mouthed people exist around me. I realized this was an opportunity to practice tolerance. Instead of demanding an apology or moralizing, I stayed silent. Why? Because I pitied them. They can’t see how hurtful their insults are; they don't understand morality or know how to express themselves, which shows their helplessness. Maybe they just wanted my attention because they were unsatisfied with themselves. In the end, such people are pitiable. How could I not be tolerant toward them? (Unless, of course, they damage the nation's image or people with rude behavior that requires legal action.)

C) What I share is only a reference.

Everyone has their own life, reading methods, and processes. I don’t claim my words are absolute. I have read many books that proved to be a waste of time and made me worse off. Therefore, my sincere advice is: if your goal in reading is to gain knowledge, read the most valuable books.

D) To answer the question from section 2.b)

in my view, to truly understand a person, their words, and actions, you must not let emotions influence you. Stay clear-headed. For example, if you dislike someone, you’ll find a way to deny their words, no matter how brilliant. Conversely, if you love someone, you’ll overlook their mistakes.

Reading with feelings of love or hatred toward the author is harmful to yourself; that’s self-destruction.

An author, whether famous or not, is only human. No one is perfect. Take the good, and be tolerant of what doesn’t suit you; don't dwell on it.

For example, Pushkin might shock readers with his scandalous biography, but we shouldn’t dismiss his poetry because of that.

Reading "Romeo and Juliet" when young might make Romeo seem like a scoundrel and Juliet a naive fool. But that doesn’t mean you should hate Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

Consider the era; back then, someone like Romeo speaking such beautiful words was rare, and Juliet’s courage to defy her family for love was admirable.

Even President Trump, though many may not like him, has valuable business lessons in his books that we can learn from.

In short, the humanitarian spirit I want to emphasize is tolerance.