HOW TO ENJOY READING 

I haven't read a book from start to finish ever, even when in high school did not pay much attention, just enough to pass a test. As an adult the Only reading I've ever done was if I needed information on something I was working on (In and out). After finding your channel I got curious about reader for pleasure. Picked up Hyperion and will start reading it today, 8 pages (16 back and front) a day, I have a goal of 1 book per month. Takes a lot of pressure off my back. Never too late to start. Thanks for your content.

I remember my mum reading. The house could be on fire, she would not be distracted. 😄

I've gone back to reading paper books rather than a reading app on my phone. There is something ritualistic about the smell and feel of the paper, the sound of the pages turning that helps me set the world aside. Thanks Tristan

I had this problem with hurrying and thinking about the next book while I read. And I solved it by accident in the most peculiar way. I've started to self-study math. I've been literally the worst at math in school. Now I'm 36 and I'm a programmer. I hated math because I hated school and everything related to it. But now I have my own motivation for math. And I've bought lots of math books, from school textbooks to high level math. And you just can't finish math book in a week. If you solve all the problems and actually learning - 1 page a day is a great progress. And after 3 months of this I gave up the thought that I can just fly through the book and take the next one. It's impossible. I will stay with one book as long as I need and it solved my problem with hurrying.

I love being able to look up things in what I read but I quickly realized that the minute I picked up my phone, I was down the rabbit hole winding my way through through the internet and veering further away from my original topic and reason for knowing more on it. So now, I keep a notebook or notecard nearby (also works as a makeshift bookmark!) and jot down what I'd like to look up for more info. If it's vocabulary, I vocalize my request to our Google Home device (like Alexa), but that's it. I read a lot of nature writing/engaging nature non-fic these days (like H is for Hawk, and others) and I am interested in the science behind certain things but instead of losing time with the book itself, I jot down what I am fascinated to know more of, and look it all up afterwards. This way has worked for me.

Tristan, I found you recently and i can't get enough of your videos. Ive actually started reading! I've only read about 5 books in my whole life but you're passion and enthusiasm is contagious. You are such a wealth of information and knowledge i think you're amazing. Keep making videos, ill watch them all. Cheers Obelia From Australia 🦘

I read all the time but your video on slow readers really helped me. I’ve always lamented reading slower than others. Thanks so much for reframing it to allow for entering the lives of the characters and just enjoying the story and myself! I’m definitely a new fan!!

Love Bleak House. I first read it in the 70s when I was a young mom with 2 demanding toddlers. Could not put it down!

I love this channel. I’m an avid reader and even I needed to hear this.

You're a wise man, Tristan.

The poem! So well read and the words brought me to tears. Thankyou.

All of your points ring true to me. I’ve learned that I enjoy books on my own terms. I can’t have a Finish By deadline, so I don’t like having to read a book for a class or for a book club. I also don’t like talking about books, weirdly, so I’ve stopped joining book clubs. Also weirdly, I really enjoy listening to someone talk about a book, sometimes, more than I like reading it.

The perfect poem selection doesn't exis... 🥺

Tristan, I got the happy shiver when I listened to you reading Kipling's poem❤. I also love audio books; I can 'step' into the story and be an ' active' participant. I just picked up Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux and 'travel' with him from London throgh Mongolia to China by train sitting still in my living room.😊 😊

Your channel is simply the best. Thank you! Please consider one day having your own channel narrating books. I think many of us could concentrate much easier simply listening to you read😊

Your videos just keep getting better and better my friend. There’s a clarity and a fullness about them- but most importantly, I think, a complete lack of pretense- that makes them deeply resonant with us

I just finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo. It took me a week. It was the most amazing book I have ever read. You are so right about reading!

Beautiful poem! I like to listen to audio books sometimes but I find that my mind tends to wander, however, I have found that if I read the book along with listening I am less likely to lose focus on the story. Thanks for the tips Tristan!

Tristan, I had the great fortune of finding your channel a week or two ago. I was taken with your passion, insight and clarity and thus made my way through several of your videos. I've even taken to annotating my latest read - The Day Of The Jackal - on your recommendation and I have to say it has taken my whole reading experience to another level. No longer am I simply just enjoying the read; it's a deeper, richer, and more profound experience. Thank you. P.S: Would you consider doing a personal must-read books video, or desert island bookshelf or something? Best, Conor

I think a better term to apply in discussions about reading is the word commitment, somewhat akin to a relationship with another person or thing for whom your time and energies are devoted to over an extended period of time. It's less judgmental and more flexible in my honest opinion. Sticking to a singular task no matter what is a testimony to discipline. Hmmm. I think lowering one's expectations also helps to reap more out of the reading experience. Just maintain an open mind, you'll be open to lots of surprises.

you are made to be a teacher. the way that you explain are out of this.. world we are living in.. this ...century kudos to you

Thanks so much for making this video! I used to read a lot as a teenager but the combination of university, where reading become a chore, and getting a smart phone really put an end to the habit. I’ve hardly read anything in the past ten years (although I do listen to audiobooks). I miss the sense of peace I used to experience while getting lost in a book. It’s not just the habit of reading that I’ve lost, but the habit of being at rest ☺️

I read A Month in the Country yesterday, perfect for a rainy afternoon. Thanks for the recommendation.

As a woman who has adhd...focus regulation is difficult. Oh but how I love to read (mainly classics). It is a challenge, and I get frustrated with my inconsistentency, but I have learned to be kind to myself and not let it derail me.

Read what you love.

I love your videos and suggestions! I’ve always enjoyed reading but I’m totally guilty of getting distracted by my phone and thoughts. I will now make more of an effort to read without distractions!

This is wonderful advice. I have fallen into a couple of these traps, like reading for reading's sake and dreaming of the next book while I do it. Also, I'm constantly distracted by those little beeps. Right now, I have five books half-read and put down. Turning off the phone now!😊

I’ve been able to get back to reading about a year ago after finding your channel so thank you! One of the things that also helped me is keeping a reading journal. I tend to think too much about the books I finish and get too distracted. Keeping a reading journal helps me write down all my thoughts and be able to fully focus on the new book rather than constantly thinking about the old one.

Thank you for reminding how to enjoy reading! This is so much help for me who wanted to have read (finish) many books instead of enjoying the reading moment. And I'm listening to an audiobook lately which is really pleasant. I am Korean trying to read English books if they are literature written in English. That is not easy but enjoyable 😊 Thank you so much 👍🙏

Great tips! If there is nothing that I really want to watch on TV, I don't care how early it is, I get into bed to read my book. When I start nodding off, I go to sleep. And I find this is a way to really wind down. If there is something on TV I really want to watch, I watch it with no guilt, because I can always read at lunchtime the next day. What I have been doing in following your previous advice (analyze what books you have read in the past that you really enjoyed and list the reasons why), I have picked better books that will interest me and encourage me to read more. I still try to tackle some books that are out of my comfort zone, sometimes with success. But what I have stopped doing is to stop buying books that I should read. I read the book's first page before buying it to see if I would really be drawn into it. Now I have books that I can't wait to read. For me, audiobooks put me to sleep earlier and I miss the chapters being asleep. A physical book or e-book is better. I have to be actively engaged in turning the pages or scrolling.

Thank you for the reading of "If" it really was beautiful and reminds me of how to be a better person. Reading tips were spot on, and they work. 💗

Beautiful, yes I fully immersed in the poem and it made me cry.

00:00 Intro 01:06 Presence. Be entirely focused on what you're reading. 07:00 Distraction. Switch off devices or otherwise get away from distractions. 09:53 Immersion. Immerse yourself in the book. The most important step. Cf. "If" poem by Rudyard Kipling. 18:03 Audiobooks. Listen to audiobooks. 19:36 Interest. Read something you're interested in. 20:42 Outro

could you please make more videos about how to improve your writing skills? I'm an aspiring writer. Ta in advance!

My husband and I really enjoy and appreciate your videos! ❤❤ I added a 6th that helps me to be fully immersed in my reading. I keep my device on but as an aid. I look up unfamiliar words, places, medical procedures, judicial terms, farming techniques, etc that appear while I read. This not only enhances my reading but truly helps me understand and enjoy what I read with the added benefit of growing my vocabulary and knowledge. Example: Charles Dickens/Bleakhouse or James Herriot's/Yorkshire, veterinary procedures or Thunderclap by Laura Cumming/Dutch art and painters. Thank you Tristan! Look forward to your next video.📚 P.S. We especially appreciated the quote from Alexander Pope and the explanation/example on a truly courageous person!

I love that poem! But I never understood the line : "If you can take the unforgiving minute (clear so far but then) and fill it with sixty minutes worth of a distance run" What is this about? Thank you, Tristan, for a wonderful reading!

Tristan - fantastically captivating analysis! You are an ever improving teacher. I am most grateful for your work. Thank you so very much.

What to do if you live with a non-reader and they constantly interrupt the reading? I’ve found that my non-reader doesn’t recognize reading as something that shouldn’t be interrupted ever few minutes. This is a serious question because it’s a real dilemma.

Great advice, Tristan! I would also recommend pairing the audio version with the actual book.I really enjoy reading classics this way. I find it makes it very immersive.

i am hesitant of doing Audiobooks...perhaps because i " think" i will not concentrate...although i listen sometimes to podcasts and i have to focus...maybe someday hahaha i do like the tip of reading 10 pages per day..or someone else said...(reading War & Peace, one chapter per day ( the chapters are small)...those are all achievable goals

Another great video,Tristan, and I thank you. Now that I am retired I want to read more of everything, esp the Classics and science, esp Quantum Physics. I used to be a very good reader and now would rate myself as fairly good. There is no reason that I couldn’t return to great enjoyment. I have pushed myself to read Moby Dick, the Odyssey and Proust. It was very easy for me to read,again, Lonesome Dove and Soldier of the Great War since they are great stories with themes of being honorable and enjoying beauty in the face of great suffering. Thank you for your advice….I think I will focus on a simple schedule of 30 minutes per day of quiet, focused reading and see how that goes. and, of course I will look to more of your videos!

I've always wanted to get into Dickens, but get so.... Bored. I shall try what you're saying. Great Expectations here I come ...again

My problem is that I'm a picky reader. I only enjoy what I enjoy.

Brilliant advice. Obvious, but almost always neglected. Thanks so much. I’m trying to read classics for a number of reasons. These tips free me to engage and enjoy. Great YT Channel.

Absolutely enjoyed the poem, it spoke to me and encouraged me in my life. His words were just what I need to hear.

Thanks, Tristan. Another insightful video.

A poem from highschool long forgotten. I love that poem!! I am a huge reader but was curious as to what you'd say about it. Brilliant ❤

Great!! Toby Jones has turned his hand to book reviewing.

That poem is so wise. I am really glad that you selected to share that one. I think it has changed my life.

A fantastic insight into the psychology behind reading. Once again, Tristan, you've hit the spot. Many, many thanks.

Love your videos Tristan, but this one and other recent videos have a "ring" sound in the background that makes it really hard to continue listening. I'm not sure, but is it your camera?

Tristan, loved your video on enjoying reading! Your tips are practical and refreshing. Thanks for reigniting my love for books! 📚👍

Great ideas! I have the best success personally with listening to a book on my subscription plan awhile reading a physical copy of the book. It’s not always possible but that works best for me. It seems to help me focus better. I do this mostly when there’s a book I really need to read within certain timeframe I don’t do well listening or reading any book when I’m in bed because I get sleepy. 😴

The biggest advice is indeed enjoy reading, not the goal of wanting to /have read/ the book.

love this

Excellent video. I loved ‘If.’ Marvelous! 😀

Thank you. It may have been said elsewhere in the chat, but Michael Mosley's R4 series "Just One Thing" has an episode on how 30 minutes' worth of reading per day has been shown to help your mental health. But it needs to be fiction.

Thanks for the tips and inspiration Tristan, love what you do

I read 99.5% of my books on my phone. I'm either listening to the audiobook on my phone through Audible or my library Apps or immersion reading on my Kindle App.

Thank you so much you're a wise person

My favorite poème ever ! I have just joined your community in Patreon and I am about to start Great expectations... Thank you so much for your wonderful videos Tristan ! The ones on Shakespeare are fascinating ! Love from Madrid, Gabriela

I'm enjoying these tips, I've been reading Miss Pettigrew but had page flags every 20 pages, and I've been keeping count of how many pages I've got left. As I'm both a slow reader and dyslexic I'm trying to break this bad habit. Now I think I'm going to really enjoy the last part of the book using your advice!! Thank you!!

I often find myself pausing to look up words, which tends to interrupt the flow. I'm currently reading The Tartar Steppe and have had to look up several times the differences between "ramparts", "parapets", "terraces", and "redoubts". lol Because of this though, I'm thinking of studying the dictionary at my local library. Hopefully it makes a difference.

That sweater looks dashing on you!

Really enjoyed this video, and especially your reading of Kipling's poem. Thank you.

enjoyed this video!

I enjoyed the poem and listened carefully. Thanks

Tristan your videos are brilliant so informative!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟Thank you so much. Just a question have you ever read Thomas Mann? Recently the magic mountain appeared on my radar and now I’m curious.

Hi Tristan, nice video!! I am not enjoying reading, due to that adernal rush to complete as many books as possible. Kind of makes me tired!! Also, I have YET to fix my genre since this month without completing a single book I have jumped 6 to 7 different genre. Please make a video on fixing a genre, it helps many. since there are so many books & so less time, its always good to stick to one genre (90% of the time) Comments from anyone here helps as well!!

Tristan, Have you ever tried emergence reading, when you listen to the audiobook at the same time as reading the text? I find myself diving deeper into the story. Cheers.

Awsome! When is your next Shakespeare monologue analysis? :) Which play will you cover?

Hi, love your channel can you tell how to find the font size when buying a book on amazon?

Hi Tristan, I real enjoy your videos. You make everything so crystal clear, revealing all the hidden reasons behind things. Just had a question in regard to being immersed in a book. Do you recommend reading two books at the same time, or is it better to finish one first before going on to the next? I imagine it's the latter, but would like to know your feelings about that.

📚✨📚✨📚🙏🏾

I had the hardest time learning to read. I wanted to read desperately and would take my dad’s biggest books and pretend I could read them. One day I was pretending to read A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream and a light went on. I could read anything. I’ve averaged a book a day for nearly 60 years. The day I can no longer read, I hope they screw down the coffin lid.

I love If and Rudyard Kipling. "If," you have ever worked in an office with a bunch of gaslighting jackasses, forget about it, life has already made life miserable for them.😂

Forgive me if you don’t take video ideas in the comments but… I would love to see a video of the best classics to read as a serial or read in instalments. I know a lot of classics started out as that but which of those (or ones that didn’t start out as serials) are the best.

I watch your videos to enhance my English. However I consider big biceps importanter.

Thank you for sharing my instagram message!! Wonderful video

Hi Tristan, I❤ all your videos. Thank you.

regarding tip no 4 ..audiobooks, theres no chapter choosing in my options , because theres no software to forward your listening to a specific chapter.. they have 2 options only continue from where you stopped last time or start from beginning, if that is not a farce, then what is.. i gave up on audiobooks, even when i hear about them, i cringe.. nevermind spend money on them

The poem would have been lovely if not interrupted by two advertisements. Talk about a distraction. 😂

I listen to the audio and follow along with the book in hand. As they say to each their own :)

Great video. Ive always been a bookworm but just lately have found reading difficult because of trying to read the wrong books. Ive tried to read the 'must read' 'popular' 'everyone should read this' type of novel. However many of these are modern, or in my opinion strangely modern. I've decided unless i feel really drawn to a book I won't feel bad about not reading them. I love many of the classics, I also love books set in 1930s/40s, I love Miss Marple Agatha Christie and the list goes on. There are alot of magazines that promote, under the heading, must read, books listed and I'll give them a try, I'm more than happy to step out of my comfort zone, I'm no longer going to berate myself if they're not for me. (Apologies for the exceptionally long sentence). Also there are so many books out there and I have become the reader who wants to 'have read'. So your video has helped me see that. So now I will refind (if such a word exists) my true love of reading. Thank you.

Yes and I have enjoyed every Agatha Christie! The collection happened as a result. 🤓

OK -I haven’t heard “If” since I was a child. I burst into tears, happily. Your use of metaphor is masterly. Thank you for voicing what I grew up learning viscerally. I am enamored with your channel. May you continue to bring the wonder of reading to a growing audience. Much joy!💫

2:08 Before I press play again. I want to write this down and see if I understood where you are going with the quote. I sum it up as: Don’t just read, to “read”, read, to understand. I’ll take it a little further…read, to understand life.

I'm just starting this video, but before I forget: For those with reading disabilities or similar issues, there's a great, newer channel called Bound In Prose. The host does an interview with his brother who struggled with reading all his life when younger but has now come to love reading. It was so wonderful and encouraging! I can't post links, so I'll just put the channel/episode title. Bound In Prose "Becoming a Bookworm with Dyslexia (with Special Guest Justin)-A Testimonial"