A&B #10

Hey friends,

A few exciting updates:

1) We're now up to 2,906 readers (up from 2,753 readers last week). We've been gaining about 150+ subs a week so thank you for spreading the word about the newsletter!2) I just got the first samples of the A&B merch! The logo came out a bit small so I'll need to adjust it but I'm happy with the design. I hoping to launch the store in about two weeks. I may even give you all a special discount for being true fans. 😉3) We have our first newsletter sponsor! Why is that good news? Because although this newsletter is free for readers, it's not free to create. MailChimp charges me $45 a month and having a sponsor helps cover that cost. But don't worry, I promise to only work with companies I believe in. Plus, they've given us a special discount on their product. 

Alright, let's dive into this week's newsletter!

Podcast Update:

I had two guests reschedule so no new podcasts this week, BUT...I did create a page with my top 5 most downloaded episodes.PS: If you want to read a summary of my podcast episodes and learn the key takeaways, you can find that here.

Book Lessons:

I'm currently on a mission to learn all I can about the skill of reading. That's why the book, The Art of Slow Reading by Thomas Newkirk caught my eye. In the coming weeks, I'll share advice on speed reading, but for now, enjoy these lessons on slow reading.Here are three lessons from the book: 1) Reading Faster Doesn't Necessarily Mean Reading BetterToo often in life, we equate faster with better. This may be true for track athletes and race car drivers, but it may not be true for readers. Many people believe that the person who reads 100 books a year is automatically smarter or better than the person who reads 25 books a year. However, this assumption quite bold. If the person who reads 100 books a year doesn't understand or remember what they've read, is it really that impressive? Probably not. As author Thomas Newkirk writes, "Fluency can never be a race. Faster is not always better." This doesn't mean you should read at a snail's pace of one page per twenty minutes, but it does mean to read at a pace you're comfortable with. 2) Make Reading Into An ExperienceThe first 'books' weren't written down on paper, they were written down on a person's mind. For most of history, reading was a public activity. People would gather around and listen to stories, fables, and other tales told orally. Such "reading" wasn't done in a monotone voice, it was PERFORMED. Notice how that voice in your head jumped up a notch when you read the word performed? That's what you want to do while reading your next book.Even if you're reading without speaking out loud, dramatize your reading to the fullest. Turn to the punctuation for sound cues. Periods serve as a full stop. Commas give you a moment to catch your breath. Parenthesis (quietly) sneak in information, while dashes–make a bold entrance. As the famous poet Robert Frost said, "Everything written is as good as it is dramatic." It's your job to bring emotions to your reading experience.3) Have A Conversation With The AuthorReading isn't a passive activity, it's an active one. You want to be actively reading and have a conversation with the author. If the author says something you agree with, put a "✓" by the passage. If they say something you confuses you, put a "?" near it. If there's something that contradicts your expectations, put a "X" near it.You don't have to follow this exact legend (feel free to create your own useful set of symbols), but the point is to not let the author do all the talking. Make it into a conversation. If there's something you don't agree with, look it up and see if the author is misinformed. Don't let them talk over you.  Actionable Advice:

• Next time someone tells you they read 100 books a year, take a moment to reflect on why that may not be as impressive as it sounds.

• Read at a comfortable pace:

  • Not so slowly that you fall asleep, but also not so fast that you lose comprehension.

• Read with EMOTION and make it into an EXPERIENCE:

  • As a fun exercise, grab a fiction book and read a page out loud. Even if you're reading books in your mind, read it like you mean it:

    • Talk loudly when they use exclamation marks and puzzled when they use question marks. Give the characters different voices and make the text come to life!

• Have a conversation with the author by writing in your book:

  • When reading, jot down what you agree and disagree with. Make it a two-sided conversation.

Reading Tip:• Read Naked Just as many people find sleeping naked more comfortable, many readers find reading naked more comfortable.No, not THAT naked, click here for the full explanation.

Weekly Quote:“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”–Norman Vincent Peale(Author of The Power of Positive Thinking)

Photo of the Week:

Okay, this is pretty cool–The Reader's Journey podcast is ranked in the top 1.5% of podcasts in the world!

This is an incredible achievement and I want to say thank you to everyone who listened to the podcast, told their friends about it, or wrote a

review

.

However, the big dawg podcasters like Tim Ferriss and others are ranked in the top 0.01%. We got a long journey ahead of us, but if we keep working, I believe we can get there one day. A guy's got to dream, right Mr. Peale?

Hey everyone, this week's newsletter is brought to you by Podcast Notes. Podcast Notes makes it possible to learn the best ideas from the world's best podcasts in minutes. In other words, they write summaries on your favorite podcasts so you don't have to listen to a 3-hour Joe Rogan conversation to learn what was covered.They have notes on over 1000+ podcast episodes. By becoming a member, you'll get an ad-free experience and access to all of their notes, including 100+ member-only posts.Use code "books" to save 10% on any of their membership options. 👈(PS: they are raising their membership price soon so this is the best deal out there!) Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next week!Read on,Alex W.