Reading is a wholesome and profitable exercise. If you are reading English books, have a standard dictionary at hand. Do not skip if you come across an unfamiliar word. Look up the dictionary, note down the word and its dictionary meaning in a note book. This will make reading more intensive and also expand your vocabulary.
Serious books should be read more than once. Since we cannot remember all the facts we read about, it is advisable to take notes of important points of the contents. As a matter of fact, I would advise youngsters to maintain a note book in which all the books one has read are listed, with a short synopsis of the contents. One can go through the synopses later. You can then judge whether your reading, that is the number of books and the range, is satisfactory. You might like to expand the range of reading.
Also keep a separate note book for inspiring, educative or informative quotes and copy neatly whenever you come across a passage which you think is of high standard. Man is what he thinks. If you store ideas or ideals worth remembering, the quality of your thoughts will soar and is bound to leave its mark not only on your thinking, but life itself.
Most books have an index at the end. If not, you can make one for serious books. Take a red ballpoint pen and underline passages (provided, of course, it is your won book) you would need to refer later. Give a brief title for the matter and note it and the page number on which it appears. Even where there is a printed index already, you can have an additional one to complement it.
In the course of my writings, I have used scores of quotations. I am able to pick a suitable one by the method described above.
Start building a small library of your own (if you have not already done) consisting of cream of literature. Books are no doubt costly. So select inexpensive but informative and useful books to augment your stock. Browse at second hand book stalls. Sometimes you would chance upon rare or out-of-print titles. Also visit book fairs and exhibitions where generally good discounts are offered.
Always be a member of some public library where not only wonderful but also costly books are available for hire or borrowing. Devote at least one hour a day for serious reading (with a purpose) other than textbooks.
Learn by heart significant passages or speeches like the one Abraham Lincoln delivered at Gettysburg which is considered a masterpiece of all times.
Practice reading aloud for ten or fifteen minutes. Keeping a time-piece, read the same passage again faster, both mentally and verbally. In this manner you can master the art of reading fast.
