Thank you. I totally agree. I'm not a fast reader -- 30 pages an hour on a good day. Many of the books on my TBR are monsters. I'm ploughing through Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love" (~600 pages). GEB is on my bookshelf, waiting to be tackled. Richard Rhodes' "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" is another beast. So are all eleven volumes of Will and Ariel Durant's "The Story of Civilization." Even sprinkling in some easier, lighter fare, I'll be lucky to read twelve books in a year.
Great video! I totally agree that re-reading a great book is a lot more valuable than reading a bunch of mediocre books. This observation suggests another tantalizing hypothesis which is that re-experiencing a great instance of ANY art form (e.g., re-watching a movie) is more valuable than having a larger number of individual mundane experiences. To me it also proposes one strategy for establishing and maintaining a creative, productive, flow state which is to listen to a single song that's especially significant to you on repeat. I think this is also the secret to EDM's success: even though it all "sounds the same", the best tracks capture a single coherent, cohesive vibe and present it in the most hypnotic, meditation-inducing way. Anyway, love your work, looking forward to more videos from you!
Hey man, great video! Quick and filled with useful info - like your blogs! Would love watching more of these. I supposed you also care about advice, so I'll give you two points I think you could improve: 1. The sharp bell sound when something comes into the video (Tim Ferris shape, book covers, etc.) is sort of annoying. Either changing the sound or not using any at all would be ideal. 2. The background music is also annoying. I don't have specific advice for this. Maybe changing it or turning down further? But overall the video was excellent. It is a change from similar videos from other people who often take 20+ mins to say the same things you said here. I guess your writing ability comes to play in that case. Anyway, keep it up!
@@nateliason definitely less or zero even on the background music - in the open and close credits it isn't so bad - but if you think these are being watched or even just listened to whilst in the gym or a run - say - then kill the crap sounds, it is that simple.
Hey Nat. I'd love to see how you make notes on books. Not much on the technical part (Roam and things) but on what to highlight and what's worth noting.
I remember trying so hard, multiple times, to read and finish the twilight series. I however, never got past chapter 15 of the first book, because it just wasn't holding my attention. Everyone said it was a page-turner but I found it very lack-luster and have never read them. I don't regret it. But I did think I was somehow at fault for not falling into the hype.
Next up: A 24 hr livestream channel where Nat just reads his favorite books aloud. But seriously, the advice to 'quit books' is really solid. I need to do that more often.
Completely agree! So much better to invest time in figuring out how to incorporate the knowledge you learn into your daily life instead of just ingesting more info.
I have this same idea. I don't like mindlessly going through 100 books in the name of "productivity". Rereading is where all the learning and even entertainment happens. But to each their own. It's just not for everyone.
Fantastic video, thank you. I only recently discovered your podcast and I've been ploughing through the old episodes. Since doing so I've really assessed the books I choose and the pop business books that are on my Kindle now feel like candy floss. Thanks again 🙏☺️
I’ve actually found that not annotating a book and just writing down what i understood at the end of a couple of chapters or at the end of the book helped me retain more information. Once you know you cannot highlight something, somehow you savour every line and information and when you re-read the book, you gain even more.
Yo my g ! Thank you for taking the time to put out thoughtful content, your Monday medleys are freakin' awesome. Looking forward to seeing what you're going to be doing in the RU-vid space as well. Keep doing what you doing ! WITH LOVE, From New Zealand :)
Nice video Nat thanks for the content! Just out of curiosity, what made you want to start a RU-vid channel? Especially since you're staying active on so many other channels!
Over time being on goodreads my goal for the year has gone up and up. And I've had the 100 book goal now and it is a cumbersome goal to have. You feel like that you always have to be reading to make the goal or to get ahead so that you can " relax" lol I thought reading was supposed to be an enjoyable experience right? I still have but the 100 books in a year goal takes away from that. And of course reading takes time. Audiobooks are good but if you plan on doing something at the same time it needs to be something where you can still focus on what is being said in the audiobook. And of course doing dishes at the same time of audiobooks makes noise so listening to an audiobook at the same time isn't the best. It just feels nutty to have the 100 books a year goal. And I agree with everything you said. Some books are a harder read or they take study to actually learn and get the most out of it. There are other goals that can a lot of time and trying to fulfill the 100 book goal takes allll of the time, energy and ability to concentrate away from that! Thank you for the video! I am a book addict and have been trying to kick the habit for awhile now and I needed the reminder of why reading so many books isn't the best thing no matter how many great books I discover and want to dive into! And yes there are a lot of sucky books out there that are considered so grand! Why waste the time??!
Totally agree. Whenever I see people's list of the 100 books they read in a year, it's always super easy business and personal development books, never things like Gödel, Esher, Bach. It's absolutely better to read fewer, higher quality books and get more out of them. Ironically you don't get much personal development from reading easy personal development books. You have to read hard stuff and think hard about it.
video, framing, editing... all good. But, it sounds like you need a better mic. You can pick up a decent lav mic or a small on camera for cheap that will dramatically improve the sound without too much fuss
@@nateliason Well, that doesn't answer my question. ;) No matter. I wouldn't care, but I enjoy the rich information I get from your weekly newsletter and will likely watch most of your videos too. So, I just wanted to offer a suggestion on getting better audio since you've nailed pretty much everything else. The shallow depth of field doesn't look like you're using a smart phone on these, so I'm guessing you're using a dSLR. Regardless, you've likely got an external mic input. This little Rode Video Micro mic is cheap, and surprisingly good. If you're within about 5 or 6 feet from the camera, it does a great job of focussing on your voice without much room noise. You can plug it right into most smart phones or dSLR cameras. It's got a nice clean, warm, balanced sound that I think will be of great use to you. Since it'll be recorded into the video, you won't have to bother with audio editing, or much EQ. Just watch that you don't go too high on your levels. Also, where are you getting your stock images and video clips? Looks like a great source. Thanks for all the info. Much appreciated. :) www.amazon.com/Video-Microphone-Unidirectional-Camera-Directional/dp/B07RG4J7WY/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=Rode+VideoMicro&qid=1602008524&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWlM3TE9FNkhZVUlVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzE2Mjk4N0YyMzFBS1pHOTlJJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MjI5MzQyMktFTTJOVTBTWkMzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
I could hardly read more than 20 books per year for last few years. I quit my job this year. So, hopefully, I will read a few more. But still, can't expect more than 40. If you really think through the books, you cannot read so many.
I would agree that the idea of reading 100 books a year just for the sake of reading 100 books isn't valuable. Reading isn't a contest, and the only person you're short changing is yourself if you're not getting much out of what you read because you're more focused on speed or quantity. But I think something that is missing here is just the idea of reading for fun. Reading to learn and grow is valuable, but reading for entertainment has a place in our reading lives, too. The two aren't mutually exclusive, of course, but it's okay if not every book hits both values.
Thanks for the video! I couldn’t agree more. A quick question: What is the number one book for storytelling? I want to start and grow a RU-vid channel but I struggle with creating useful frameworks in my videos. I had to delete my old channel after 10K subscribers because i wasn’t happy with the quality of my content.
I feeeeel so much better for being a slow reader now. I often stare off into the distance and contemplate what I just read. And I re- read books. So my book shelf looks bare and I think man I didn't read enough books this year. But hey quality over quantity!!!
Great, thanks! I used to almost speed read books, anxious about finishing them to add to my list of read (and soon forgotten) books. Anyway, do you read more than one book simultaneously?
6 reasons re read rather than reading other derivatives quit more: not every book is worth finishing read more challenging/longer books take time to take notes their isnt that many books that can change your life take your time to appreciate the book basically take more time in processing better books and quit more > skim through worse books
Thought for the Day: If you spent 10 minutes and 17 seconds watching a video on You Tube, you know you need to rethink how you value your time. I play all videos on You Tube at 1.75X because the message is the same.
some points are quite good, but it should be revised according to a person's goal. If someone wants to read more books, and more fiction books, this may not be the perfect video
in the event you read this nat - i understand that you are trying to hit the 8+ minute mark to monetise your videos, but consider speaking a little faster. even at 2x im starting to drift. also, a short summary at the beginning of the video will be useful as a primer for the audience. it would also encourage me to click on the video if i don’t have 10 minutes to sit through it.
Then maybe try not to read "a" book and stick to Fox News ticker tape headlines : ))))) If anything - sound quality was a touch off as Nat's voice is stressed trying to "speak to fast"
Do you even read for pleasure? Sometimes it is just as good to read a book that is a not a book about life changing ideas. Even fiction books have a value.
@@nateliason I been thinking about this for a week now, I know you get pleasure from reading productivity and non-fiction. However, one can also learn from fiction. I learned more about the battle of the Somme from a book, probably would not have since I do not read history of battles. I also think reading diction increases imagination, along with history books. Things that make you visualize places. I do not see 7 habits type books adding to this. I’m not knocking you, I just think every once in awhile a book you do not “learn” your favorite skills from is a good idea.
@@Stormbrise All everyone does is read for pleasure. That's by default. His video stands alone in the booktuber genre to take on this idea. It's good to see someone not giving tips on how to read 100+ books in a year. What even is that but "last stages" of frantic consumerism of books. Is it not to be frowned upon like we would do for overeating?
