How to be a Successful Adult Student – The Habit of Reading

Probably the most universally applicable skill an adult student can acquire is the habit of reading. This skill provides the basis of most if not all of the other academic skills that a student can acquire, including the ability to design and calculate. Reading provides the framework for comprehending the past, understanding the present, and planning for the future. The Importance of Reading The importance of reading has been stated again and again. Og Mandino said that of all the skills one can learn in school, reading is the one skill that allows learning after the course is over. Charles Jones says that people will be exactly the same in five years as they are now except for the people they meet and the books they read. The best university, as they say, is a well-stocked bookcase of books to read after the degree has been earned. Why is reading so important? First, it is one of the few ways that a student can learn on their own. There is no need of a classroom, an instructor, or lab equipment, just the book. And the book can be acquired in many ways, including the modern version of the paperback, the ebook. Second, reading allows a student to hear the words of people they will not or can not meet. By reading a book, a student can hear the voice of Shakespeare, of Socrates, and of Napoleon Bonaparte. Third, a book can be read many times. Good books provide new nuances, new interpretations every time they are read, for the student comes to the book with more experience and understanding each time. Finally, reading can be done on the schedule of the student, not of the class. A book can be read for fifteen or thirty minutes, put down for an hour, and be returned to. How to Acquire the Habit of Reading Acquiring the habit of reading is similar to acquiring any habit, through repetition. The student who does not now read needs to schedule some time for reading. Ideally, that time should be every day at the same time, like going to sleep. By consciously performing this action every day, or when based upon the schedule, the student will subconsciously begin to expect the reading time. After three to four weeks, the need to consciously choose to read will decrease, and the reading habit will have been acquired. The amount of time can vary, but it is recommended that a student start by reading between half an hour and an hour. Less than half an hour is too short a time for the subconscious to get fully involved in the process. More than an hour is a burden which will cause the student to fight the process, thus impeding the acquisition of the habit. While acquiring the reading habit, the material should be carefully selected. First, it is not suggested that magazines be used. The articles in magazines are too short, so multiple articles would need to be read. This means that concentration is fragmented, again impeding the acquisition of the habit. Second, the books should not be too difficult. When trying to acquire the reading habit, the effort should be on the act of reading not the understanding of the material. Third, while fiction can certainly be used, the books should have some mental value. The mind should be engaged in the process, not just skimming the material. Fourth, the books should be relatively short. Completing a book provides a sense of accomplishment, which provides a positive feedback to the person establishing the habit. And fifth, there should be a reward for finishing a book. Some examples are a simple treat, or visiting a particular store, or doing some hobby. When just starting, a student might even consider rewarding themselves every time they complete the reading time, and then later increasing the requirements for the reward. Maintaining the habit Once a person starts reading on a regular basis, then he can branch out into other reading materials. She might starting reading magazines, particularly magazines in her field of work. He might, if desired, start reading lighter material; one student started reading westerns to maintain the habit. Make sure there is always something new to read around. This doesn't mean that books should not be reread; in fact, many books provide more value the second time read. However, the student should always have something new available. Who knows, it might even become a pleasure rather than a chore.