Read, Remember, and Act: A Guide to Making the Most of What You Learn

Reading Time: 4 minutesRecently, I wrote a blog post, How to Read with a Critical Eye: Using Books as Tools for Thinking about the importance of reading critically. By that, I meant that instead of just reading and accepting everything an author says, read it thoughtfully and critically. Accept what you find convincing, and reject what you disagree …

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How to Read with a Critical Eye: Using Books as Tools for Thinking

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn a world full of information, it’s tempting to read books as mere sources of answers, accepting their ideas without questioning. But reading isn’t just about absorbing knowledge—it’s about using books as tools to challenge and refine our thinking. To grow as readers, we must approach texts with a critical eye, constantly evaluating, questioning, and …

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The Power of Ebooks: Debunking Myths and Highlighting Advantages

Reading Time: 7 minutesMy wife and I have been reading and buying ebooks since we purchased our first iPads in 2011. It’s our preferred reading method. Recently, it’s become somewhat of a fad in productivity circles for some to advocate a return to reading print books instead of ebooks. They argue that reading print books is more “meaningful.” …

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Digital vs. Analog — Is Analog Reading Less Distracting Than Digital Reading?

Reading Time: 8 minutesIn a recent blog post to MacSparky Labs members, David Sparks wrote about The Importance of Reading (you won’t be able to access this blog post if you’re not a member of MacSparky Labs). He notes that he is reading more books in recent years, which is what I have experienced as well. In this …

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A Review of Deepstash: Pros, Cons, and Overall Value

Reading Time: 4 minutesDeepstash is a service that lets you read shortened versions of different media types. The App Store description states, “Learn something new in just 5 minutes, with daily bite-sized knowledge from books, articles, videos, podcasts & more.” I heard about this app during a MacSparky Labs member meetup earlier this month. One of the participants …

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A Review of How To Calm Your Mind, by Chris Bailey

Reading Time: 7 minutesChris Bailey’s latest book, How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times is a mixture of many positives and, unfortunately, some negatives.  Bailey has produced some excellent work in the area of productivity. My go-to book to recommend to someone interested in an introduction to productivity is Bailey’s The Productivity Project. I’ve also benefitted from his Hyperfocus: …

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Morning Readings for Thoughts, Inspiration and Practical Life Advice

Reading Time: 6 minutesGarbage in, Garbage Out 2,000 years ago Marcus Aurelius wrote, “‘The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.” Henry Todd, writing in the Daily Creative, tied this concept into the creative process: “There are few things that affect your creative process more than …

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5 Benefits of Using Electronic Books

Reading Time: 4 minutesSince electronic books have become readily available, I do almost all of my reading with them. While I can enjoy sitting and browsing through a physical book, particularly one with many photos or diagrams, almost all the books I buy or borrow now are in electronic format.