Small Steps To Big Reading: Converting Non-Readers Into Readers

By Hozefa A Bhinderwala

This book intends to motivate non-regular readers to overcome previously held inhibitionsabout reading and not let past experiences keep them away from the gift of reading. There is a deliberate attempt at illustrating the book with plenty of illustrations to tempt word-phobic readers. It helps simplify the reading process and urges the reader through simple techniques to approach reading in a manner that enhances comprehension.
This entails giving up some deeply entrenched old habits that are counterproductive and equipping ourselves with better skills. To achieve this, beyond just tips, the book also provides physical tools that help the reader overcome old habits like regression, lack of preview, subvocalizing, slow reading, and self-doubt.
It also helps the reader to rise above the bare minimum reading limited to their subject and become flexible readers capable of changing gears when required.
The benefits of being well read and being able to fight guilt are also highlighted with the intention that having completed this book urges the non- regular reader to continue in their quest of more fulfilling reading. This book intends to help people acquire an altered approach to reading so that parents and significant caretakers in the lives of young learners do not inadvertently demotivate budding readers. An investment of 100 minutes of your time could make a positive change in how you read and what you do hereafter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Jan 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9789386141378

Book preview

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PREFACE

Compared to three decades ago, before the advent of the personal computers, the number of people who took to serious reading of books is certainly on the decline. One cannot deny the fact that the value of reading in today’s changing times has drastically dropped. This dearth of book reading exists across all ages, but mostly by the parents of school-going children. Some common comments heard every day include:

‘But I am not a reader.’

‘Just read for my exams. Anything extra, Count me out.’

‘Are you crazy? Reading is not for me.’

‘If I had been a reader, I’d probably be doing something else.’

‘Big fat books are good for decorating studies and libraries, just not my cup of tea.’

‘I wish I could read; I could do so much more with my life.’

‘I wish my children would read instead of being stuck on digital screens.’

Many factors nullify the interest in reading very early in life. Some of them could be:

Rigid family members who impose compulsive reading, regardless of the willingness on part of the children.

Rivalry with a sibling who is exceptionally good with his/her reading skills

Having a strict unforgiving authoritative teacher

Lack of interest in the subject

Fear of not doing well in the subjects and fear of failure in exams

Inadequate exposure to interesting and understandable reading material

Frustration over the fact that though the text matter in books increases as one grows, additional reading skills are never imparted [unlike Mathematics, where after being taught numbers and basic operations (+, –, ÷, and ×), detailed instructions are given for further complicated mathematical operations, and the children are not left by themselves to derive the theories of trigonometry]

Often overlooked and under-diagnosed conditions; a genuine difficulty with reading today acknowledged as dyslexia

Lack of encouragement and motivation during early reading years

Multitude of factors from the above-mentioned list may be responsible for you not having taken to reading seriously.

In this book, we are therefore, trying to achieve three simple objectives:

To encourage non-regular readers to take to reading a little more.

To enhance present reading speed of the readers.

To enhance the comprehension level of the readers, without which reading serves no purpose.

The fact that you have read this preface means that you are a person who believes in upgrading one’s own self and is willing to do that little extra to add quality to life. By coming this far, you have already started your journey in achieving the first objective.

To achieve objectives no. 2 and 3 will be quite a challenge though. I am not a Statistician or a cruncher of numbers, but when you start reading more in less time, your brain relishes the larger understanding of the subject matter and releases endorphins (which are feel-good hormones) that give a very relaxing and soothing feeling to the person. After finishing the first three chapters, if you continue to the fourth, that would imply that you are having fun and there wouldn’t be any leftovers between the covers of this book. You will read the entire book.

I assure you that the reading you do after completing this book will be with renewed interest and curiosity. Moreover, you will start reading much more than you previously ever did. In addition, you will benefit more from your reading and overcome many of your previously held limited notions. Once you have achieved this much, it would mean the accomplishment of the other two objectives.

Throughout this book, masculine gender is used to refer to the readers—more out of convenience and to prevent excessive verbiage. Readers may please note that he/she can be interchangeably used, and therefore this should not be seen as any sexist bias.

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SMALL STEPS TO BIG GOALS – A FRESH START

So Far So Good, Why Change?

Everybody is aware of the benefits of being a regular reader. In spite of this insight, the average not-so-regular reader believes that if he has managed to come to this point in life without habitual reading, he can get through the remainder of his life without it. This approach is very similar to the people who believe in the existence of God, but are not willing to put in the extra time and effort to either offer prayers or visit a place of worship regularly. ‘The Almighty has taken care of me thus; He will look after me later also.’ Besides, trying to adapt to any change would mean getting out of the pre-set comfort zone and becoming uncomfortable. Then perhaps struggle a bit in order to regain the original composure. Now who would want to do that?

Being A Reader Is Always Better

Somewhere deep inside, there is a voice that keeps reminding this average not-so-regular reader of how he could do better with even a slight change in his non-reading habits. With growing age and experience, this voice keeps getting louder and clearer until it becomes an unavoidable realisation. When such non-readers finally have the realisation to accomplish something important and are determined to put in the required efforts—that would be the first step towards the goal of being a reader.

Acting On Intent

After garnering awareness and developing a keen intent, the next thing to have ready is a plan of action towards the set goal. You must have observed that very often, you start something, but do not pursue it further—either because there is no plan or because the planning is very huge and unrealistic. In case of reading, it is not how much you read, but how much you relish and benefit from your reading, which should be the milestone for mapping progress in your reading endeavours.

Never Too Late To Start

Whether you are a student in high school, a teacher, a job applicant or an executive officer, you are well aware of the benefits of being a well-read person. At the end of the day, if you have read a bit more than your previous accomplishment, you have begun well. In fact, the more important thing here is to maintain your reading habit. After all, acquiring information and being better informed will always stand you in good stead. This is enough reinforcement to keep you persistent with your newly developed interest in reading.

Villains Of Reading

There are several roadblocks, which will take you away from reading.

The obvious distractions known to all are:

Technological:

– Television

– Computer games

– Internet

– Texting on cell-phones

– Instant messenger

– Digital Social Media networking

Non-technological

– Chilling with friends

– Social events

– Lazing around

These are external factors that one can gradually become aware of and then consciously try to avoid them. With a little carefulness, one can actually minimise them.

Fighting the villains. Let us first deal with the obvious conscious distractions.

Honestly, technology is innovative and attention grabbing, and therefore it can easily be a hurdle in the path of your reading. However, one should understand that this exciting technology is still going to hang around even tomorrow and