Post: #1

Ok bros and fellow bookworms whos with me here, trying to crack 52 books this year, one a week...
Never kept count how much Ive read before so it seems like fun.

6 down already, so far so good.
Heres what Ive been reading this year (excluding university stuff):

Keith Richards bio - Life
Dan Kennedy - Ultimate Sales Letter
Masters of Doom
Claude Hopkins - My Life in Advertising
Eric Clapton - My Life
Empire State of Mind

Post: #2

Aah fuck, it's a bit late for that. Have I read 6 books already this year?

Secret History of Procopius: (Gave up, it sucked.)
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy: I highly, highly recommend this book. It's too early to say if it changed my life, obviously, but it's given me a new outlook on things. I don't really have problems with depression, so I skipped the parts about antidepressants and their side effects, but the parts on controlling your thoughts and mood were astonishing. I may write a post about it if nobody else on the forum has covered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Icon: An okay murder mystery with some interesting insights into idol culture in Japan. Written in the late 90s, so unfortunately it's a little obsolete now.
Surely you're Joking Mr. Feynman: Our February book club book! I need to write another post on this with my thoughts about it.
The Key Logger: A Forbidden Glimpse into the True Nature of Women: I know this book was written by an RVF member. I have kind of mixed feelings about it; it was a little pricey and the writing was iffy in spots, but the general idea was good. I can't recommend it at its current price, but I don't regret reading it.
A Manual for Creating Atheists: By Peter Boghossian. What a moron. I bought this to follow along with Vox Day's takedown of it, but the man was even stupider than Vox made him out to be. (And in the next post after I bought it, Vox showed where it was available online for free.)

So I guess I'm at least there, but... jeez, 52 books seems like a lot of books.

Post: #3

Going to take a break from the forum so as a last post for a while I suggest two things.

1) aim higher and 2) aim for results

Anyone can read 52 books. If you're just reading stuff that can be done in about 4 months.

What was the point of all the reading though? You should read for a purpose. Reading to improve what?

Then you measure your success based on the changes you've made to your life instead of the papers on your desk.

That said probably impossible to read 52 books and not have the books positively impact your life but hopefully the point is made.

Good luck!

Post: #4

Noble goal, but you will unconsciously seek out shorter, fluffier books. The books you've read so far seem to be easy reading geared more for entertaining you.

If a guy had a goal of 52 notches a year, how do you think his quantity would be like? A lower target like 20 books would allow you to tackle harder pieces, and you'd end up receiving more value than 52.

Post: #5

I'd say if you're going to read 52 books in a year for the sake of reading one a week, stick with fiction. Otherwise it might be hard to get the most out of what you're reading. Quality over quantity would probably be the way to go if you want to read a lot of non-fiction.

Post: #6

Another minor goal this year, at the very minimum one book a month, no matter what and more if possible. Hopefully will have 12-20 books by the end of the year. Read two books so far, many more on the shelf.

1. Voice Power

2. Lonesome Dove.

Roosh and others , What do goals do you have in mind when reading a book ? entertainment ? making yourself well read/knowledgeable ? being able to relate to people of different back grounds ? etc etc

Do you guys power through the books you don't find entertaining just for the sake of knowledge ? I used to give up at start or in the middle, Now I finish the books at much faster pace if it's hard to keep my interest in it.

Post: #7

@Westcoast I read mainly for entertainment, to study the mechanics of success and right now Im studying copywriting and persuasion. I also want to get into some philosophy this year.

@Roosh good point so far I havent limited myself, just reading what I like. I got some bigger books I want to tackle this year aswell ... trying to go for the 52 books without letting it interfere with my reading quality. I dont really care if I hit the number or not, just wanna track all my reading this year and see if I can crack 52.

On topic: I forgot #7: Schopenhauer - Essays and Aphorisms. Very interesting and from what Ive read from him so far hes starting to become my favourite philosopher.
Right now #8: Scott Adams - How to fail at almost everything... (recommended by cardguy).

Post: #8

No way I'm going to make it, but let's see how far I get!

So far:

-Shantaram
-Rich dad, Poor dad
-The alchemist
-Bang colombia

And well advanced in
-American psycho
-Alex Fergusons biography

Post: #9

I'm aiming for 52 as well, on #8 now.

I think the logic behind 52 is that it is simply an even number to shoot for (1 book a week on average). It gets guys who normally don't read a lot to get motivated and spend a good chunk of time every day reading.

Also, although the books are not as lengthy or difficult as they could be since we're aiming for a goal, there is still a lot to be learned from 52 books in one year.

Post: #10

While aiming to read a # of books in a year can be a good way to start reading regularly, it has several significant drawbacks. Here are some I experienced last year (several of which have already been mentioned above):

- You'll be tempted to choose less challenging reading material.

- You'll power through tougher books in order to check them off the list and give yourself a +1.

- You'll keep reading books even after you've realized that you aren't getting much value from them, just so they "still count" as having been read.

I read a ton of books last year, but only five or so were influential. The others were either fluff (i.e. anything that can be summarized down to a few points) to boost numbers or books that I kept reading to completion even though I realized they were bad ROI after 20 pages.

This year, I have put together a much better reading list. I may only get through 10 to 20 of them, but my time will have been better spent. I won't hesitate to drop books as soon as I realize that I'm not getting much from them.

Post: #11

I shoot for one book per week as my 2014 goal. I divide them into two categories: Books than I can and want to read in a week, and heftier, harder books that I take 2 weeks to read.

For example I read The Sports Gene the first week of January. It was educational but also lighter and enjoyable. I breezed through it.

Then I read The Trail of the Fox, a biography of Field Marshal Irwin Rommel. That was not a fun book to read. It was dense and full of German officers' names to remember and foreign locales. I double my allotted time and knocked it out in 2 weeks.

Right now I'm reading 2 books concurrently because they are both very light and enjoyable.

So...I guess what I'm saying is that while 52 books in a year is admirable, I wouldn't make it a hard and fast rule because it could subconsciously limit your quality picks like Roosh said.

One last thing I do is rotate "hard" versus "fun" books. The ones I'm reading now are fun so the next one will be a 2-weeker like the Rommel biography.

Post: #12

I usually have 4 different books on the go at the same time.

I would recommend this to others. Since it means there is always a book to hand to suit your mood. I can't imagine anything worse than having to finish the book I am currently reading just so I can start the one I happen to feel like reading that day. For me it would be an endless circle of frustration.

Post: #13

Had a fiction phase last year. If you're going for fiction, I highly recommend tackling a bunch of the greats. This list is pretty good:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_100_Bes...f_All_Time

I actually found a lot of cultural/historical aspects I wanted to research after reading fiction, there's definitely things to be learned.

If you want to read philosophy and fiction I recommend Dostoevsky as both. Nietzsche was heavily influenced by him; though be warned: both are dense writers. Definitely not 1 week material (except Notes from Underground.)

Also I love using notepad paper as a bookmark so I can jot down references/ideas. I know you can highlight/underline, but once you finish the book, you essentially have a summary of what caught your eye on 1-2 pages ready to read.

Most importantly, don't read to hit a numbers goal, it's arbitrary and will draw focus away from absorption. Read for curiosity. Don't know anything about medieval Japan but always wondered? Pick up an overview and see if you want to explore the details.

I think there's enough entertainment to go around on TV/youtube. Use your reading time to actively meditate; synthesize as much as you can and be amazed at how hungrier you get as a result.

Post: #14

Good list unbowed.
Im reading "Le Pere Goriot" by Honoree de Balzac right now and its on that list ... some of the best storytelling Ive ever read.

I was listening to the radio the other day and they had some play from Honoree de Balzac spoken out. It had me in stitches it was so funny. Had to check the guy out.

There is a famous literature critic called Marcel Reich Ranicki. Hes a jew and that book is the only thing he had in his possession when the nazis took him away for the concentration camps.

Btw Im not stressing out over trying to reach 52 books or anything. Im a serial reader anyways and this year Ill simply keep track and see how much ill do. No pressure and I certainly wont limit myself to short or easy books to reach that goal. Just read whatever I want like always.

I find the more I read and the more I learn ... the sharper my brain gets. It has more concepts available to make new connections or to categorize new knowledge.
I serously cant understand how some people never pick up a book in their entire life except for school or university.

Post: #15

On this boat already. In Jan I got through Wilbur Smith's When the Lion Feeds, Voltaire's Candide, Plato's Republic, and Procopius' Secret History of the Court of Justinian.
At the moment I'm aiming to have The Prince By Machiavelli, Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Shirer, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon, Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, and Bronte's Wuthering Heights, finished by, or during, March. Between this and my uni textbooks, I'll be well on target at the end of the first quarter, and maybe even ahead.

Post: #16

I set a goal a while back to read 100 books in a year. I've been tracking my books since 2009. My best year was 2012 when I read 57 books. 2010 I read 36, which was my worst year. Last year I read 37.

I try to balance fiction and non-fiction, and to tackle some hard or larger books. Last year I got through several of Roosh's books because I was going through a divorce and it seemed like knowledge I could use (Bang, Day Bang, Dead Bat, Smilie Face). I read a couple of Cleary's books and Aurini's book. Also read Atlas Shrugged and all three Hunger Games books (Although those were easy- I read the entire trilogy over Memorial Day weekend).

I'm currently in a book called Economics and the Public Welfare, which is an economic history of the United States from 1913-1947. I've been bogged down in it since September, and switched off it to several other books over that period.

Post: #17

(02-15-2014 09:32 AM)emuelle1 Wrote:  I set a goal a while back to read 100 books in a year. I've been tracking my books since 2009. My best year was 2012 when I read 57 books. 2010 I read 36, which was my worst year. Last year I read 37.

I try to balance fiction and non-fiction, and to tackle some hard or larger books. Last year I got through several of Roosh's books because I was going through a divorce and it seemed like knowledge I could use (Bang, Day Bang, Dead Bat, Smilie Face). I read a couple of Cleary's books and Aurini's book. Also read Atlas Shrugged and all three Hunger Games books (Although those were easy- I read the entire trilogy over Memorial Day weekend).

I'm currently in a book called Economics and the Public Welfare, which is an economic history of the United States from 1913-1947. I've been bogged down in it since September, and switched off it to several other books over that period.

So as someone who has read so much, what were some of your favorites?

Post: #18

I enjoyed the Hunger Games books a lot more than I expected. I'm not sure where the author got her knowledge of tyranny and rebellion, but they were very insightful.

Patrick Buchannon's "Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War" was really good. You don't get analysis like that from mainstream history.

Jeffrey Tucker's "Bourbon for Breakfast" is a favorite from last year.

Sometimes I feel like I'm in the minority, but I loved Atlas Shrugged. Sure, every character is two dimensional and they all speak with the same voice, but I liked it.

H. Rider Haggard's "King Solomon's Mines" was a great adventure story.

Donald Miller's "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" is a really good book.

John T. Reed's "Succeeding" is the best book on the topic I've ever read. He self-publishes, so the book can only be bought from him.

Robert Sutton's "The No Asshole Rule" is one of my favorite business books.

I haven't read anything by Clancy in years, but his Jack Ryan books were among my favorites.

I count "Lord of the Rings" as one of my favorite stories, but I liked the movies more than I did the book. Haven't seen or read "The Hobbit" yet.

I could probably keep going, but those are some favorites off the top of my head.

Post: #19

(02-13-2014 03:21 PM)w00t Wrote:  Good list unbowed.
Im reading "Le Pere Goriot" by Honoree de Balzac right now and its on that list ... some of the best storytelling Ive ever read.

I was listening to the radio the other day and they had some play from Honoree de Balzac spoken out. It had me in stitches it was so funny. Had to check the guy out.

There is a famous literature critic called Marcel Reich Ranicki. Hes a jew and that book is the only thing he had in his possession when the nazis took him away for the concentration camps.

Forgot about Balzac. I always hear his name come up. I'll have to add this one to my reading list. Thanks for the rec.

Post: #20

(02-10-2014 05:45 PM)cardguy Wrote:  I usually have 4 different books on the go at the same time.

I would recommend this to others. Since it means there is always a book to hand to suit your mood. I can't imagine anything worse than having to finish the book I am currently reading just so I can start the one I happen to feel like reading that day. For me it would be an endless circle of frustration.

I only read non-fiction. I think this makes it easier to read multiple books at the same time. Since there is not usually a strict narrative/story that you have to closely keep track of.

Post: #21

Quote:Patrick Buchannon's "Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War" was really good. You don't get analysis like that from mainstream history.

From what I can tell - my favourite writer, Peter Hitchens will be writing a book along these lines in the future as well. He is a big fan of the Buchannon book mentioned above.

Post: #22

This seems pretty extreme to me. Unless someone is unemployed or has a massive amount of free time I don't know how anyone can read that much without neglecting other aspects of their life.

I think the two books a month rule is solid. I read around 19 last year (including the enormous and monumental book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, biggest book by far I've ever finished) but I was also working a lot and going out to work on my game often in the early part of the year.

I've read three books so far this year:

The Gervais Principle by Venkatesh Rao

Attempting Normal by Marc Maron

Bachelor Pad Economics by Aaron Clarey (the investment planning chapter was intriguing as I know next to nothing about investing, I've signed up for his online class beginning on Wednesday).

Post: #23

(02-17-2014 02:02 PM)Lucky Wrote:  This seems pretty extreme to me. Unless someone is unemployed or has a massive amount of free time I don't know how anyone can read that much without neglecting other aspects of their life.

It's doable, but does take a commitment. People I know who are serious readers almost always have a book in their hands. I've been told to keep up the pace, you have to read at stoplights, standing in line, downtime at work, etc. I can't keep that pace.

Mostly I read in sprints. I won't finish a single book for two or three months, then blow through 5 very quickly. Today I barely read 5 minutes of a book.

One thing that has worked for me is to have different books in different places. I'll be in one book on my Kindle, another loaded on my phone. I have a Safari Tech Books subscription at work, so I'll have one loaded in the browser for downtime. Sometimes I'll have a print book out.

I try to commit to 15 minutes in one book each day during my slumps. You can make slow steady programs in 15 minute chunks. Then when I get closer to finishing, I'll "clear the decks" and plow through the rest of the book.

Post: #24

Yeah - serious readers constantly have a book in their hand. Anywhere they go - if a period of time opens up they will have a book always within reach.

I literally cannot leave the house without knowing I have access to reading material.

Another thing is this. You can make gradual process through a book even if you are only reading it for 15 minutes at a time.

But the interesting thing is this. Say the book is 250 pages long. Once you get to around 150 pages (or 200 pages) - your motivation starts to kick in big time. Such that you really feel like finishing the book as soon as possible. Think of it as the sprint at the end of a race.

I have alot of books on the go - but once I approach the end - I make a point of finishing the book as soon as possible. Since after spending a long time gradually working through a book - it is nice to finally get it over and done with.

So - this is a little psychological quirk which tends to speed up your reading (and motivation to read) as you come near to the end of any book. It is something to look out for.

Post: #25

I think this challenge is good to do, if at least for a year, just to build up consistency. Mixing it up with some tougher big reads, and some smaller easy reads seems smart to do.

Yes, you'll be reading some easy books. But the main thing for me is as soon as I build some momentum reading something fun like science fiction, then I can read something tougher and more challenging.