How to Read More: Simple Steps to a Life-Long Habit of Enjoyable & Rewarding Reading

By Martin Udogie

It doesnt take days or weeks or months to read a book.
It takes hours. READ MORE explains how.

Most people readily admit that reading books is beneficial, and wish they could read a bit more, and in some cases, a lot more. But most people also have what seem like perfectly valid excuses for not reading, chief among which are lack of time, work-load and responsibility.

Yes, they all seem perfectly understandable excuses until you read this book, and discover accounts of people going out of their way to indulge in the habit, from Rudi Giuliani, who, as New York Mayor during 9-11, finally arrived home at past 2 A.M. on the night of that fateful day, and still picked up a book to read; to Barack Obama who went on a one-week vacation in 2010, with over 2,300 pages of reading; to George W. Bush whose formula for reading was to enter into a reading contest with his top presidential aide, Karl Rove.

Then there is the challenge of the 99% majority, for whom affordability might also be a ready excuse. Yet, Dr. Ben Carson, today a world-famous neurosurgeon and bestselling author, traces his turnaround to the reading habit instilled in him in fifth grade by his single mother who wasnt even literate at the time. And there are several other examples.

But what of the other 1%, the rich and famous, for whom, time is priceless? Bill Gates as CEO of Microsoft had a Think Week, dedicated to reading. And as Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew took out time to recharge his batteries at Harvard.

A commitment to a regime of habitual reading takes more than mental conviction. It takes doing. And unlike what most people have come to believe, reading a book doesnt take days or weeks. It takes hours. This book demonstrates how, and reveals other simple steps that anyone can follow, to develop a life-time habit of enjoyable reading, and reap its rewards.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Aug 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496988447

Martin Udogie

Ten years after graduating top of his class, and with a first class degree from the university, Martin had not read a book. Like many people, he erroneously associated reading with what you did in school, when studying towards a specific goal, with classroom learning. And he would pay the price. Inability to express a persuasive opinion at formal settings, and failure to impress at key meetings afflict many people, including the vast majority of professionals and executives. Martin was no exception. All that would begin to change when he joined a leading management consulting firm, and was given a book to read. Along the way, he began to observe colleagues who had a swagger: they were very articulate, spoke and wrote excellently well and won the admiration of subordinates, peers and superiors. Clients sought them out. Later, he would come to see what separated these people from the others. They read more than the others and therefore knew more than them. And when you know what others do not, they listen to you; they respect your views; they yield to you. Martin put this discovery into practice and from his extensive reading has come to discover even more benefits to the virtue of reading. Beyond that, he has broken down reading into very simple steps capable of turning anyone into a habitual reader with all its rewards. Martin is a former senior bank executive, a certified professional accountant and strategy consultant. He has leveraged his skills into becoming a multidimensional professional. He is an avid media operator, a newsletter publisher and nationally-syndicated radio host. He regularly facilitates and conducts training for leading corporate organisations in Nigeria.

Book preview

2014 Martin Udogie. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/31/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8844-7 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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CONTENTS

List Of Short Stories In The Book

Acknowledgment & Appreciation

Dedication

Lessons on Parenting

Uyi. Suit Stains. Karate Belts.

Ehima. Bicycle Rides. Piano Lessons

Prologue

CNN’s Best of Quest

What IBM CEO Didn’t Read

What Obama and Bush Read

Bill Gates’ Think Week Reading

Rudi Giuliani’s 9-11 Reading

Vernon Can Read!

1. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

J. K. Rowling’s Record-Setting Books and Films

Publishers And Midwives: My Experience

It Pays To Drink Your Own Medicine

2. About The Book

Applying Simple Language To Writing

Why Story-telling Sells

Emulate The Bible Technique

Steve Jobs’ Famous Speech

Blair’s Hilariously Embarrassing Introduction

Revisiting Reforming The Unreformable

Why This Book Appeals To Both Readers and Writers

3. Bring Fun Back To Reading

Going From Genius to Complete Idiots – In 10 Years!

British Men’s Reading Challenges

Cigarette Prices Then Vs Mobile Phone Recharge Today

Nigeria Leads In Champagne Consumption

Nigeria’s Nollywood Is No 2 In The World

Why This Is A Wicked Problem

4. Read More: On Habit

How Pepsodent Moved US Tooth-Brushing Population:

From 7% to 65%

5. Gains From Reading - Local

Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru’s Revelation

Role of Synchronicity in FIRS Stunning Performance

My Encounter With Synchronicity

Okey Enelamah. Harvard MBA (Baker Scholar). Articulate

6. My Story

Career Switch To Andersen

The One Book That Ignited My Reading Habit

Career Set-Back From Not Reading

Why Andersen Consultants Always Spoke Well

How Reading Launched Ben Carson To Stardom

7. More Gains From Reading - International

Creative Bush’s Tourism TV Commercial

Your Time Wasters

Obama and Blair’s Blackberry Addiction

POTUS’s Reading

President Bush’s Reading Competition

Rudi Giuliani’s 9-11 Reading

Bill Gates and Lee Kuan Yew’s Reading Formula

8. Read More: On Writing - Tip 1

The Power Of Adjectives And Adverbs

Vocabulary Depth and Breadth

Why Some Speak And Write Better Than Others

9. Choice Of Book: Choose Carefully – Tip 2

How I Choose What I Read

– Recommendation. Authors. Titles

Some Books of Interest

Waiter’s Interest In Smartest Guys In The Room

10. Read More: On Book Titles – Tip 3

Famous name-coining Company

The Naming Process

11. Love Books: Admire Them – Tip 4

Overcoming Irritation For Books

Love Books By Facing The Music

Mark Zuckerberg As A Child Prodigy

12. Writing Style: Tell Stories Early – Tip 5

Start Early With Drama

Condoleezza Rice’s Last Day In Office

Google As An Obscure Company Vs Google Today

IBM CEO’s Head-Hunting

13. The Book: Well Packaged – Tip 6

The Genius of Steve Job’s Cover Design

Ideal Book Page - Colour, Fonts, Layout, Etc

14. You, The Reader: Know Thyself – Tip 7

Secret of My University Turnaround

How Guitar Aided My Concentration

Cooling The Brain For Optimum Performance

15. Read More: On Concentration – Tip 8

Read Between The Lines To Deepen Understanding

Evidence That All Adults Can Focus And Concentrate

How To Pay Close Attention

Practical Example of Focusing

16. Reading Environment: Discover Where You Thrive - Tip 9

One Grandfather’s Life-Long Reading

Discover The Ideal Study Setting That Suits You

17. Reading Techniques: What’s Your Baseball? – Tip 10

Applying Effective Hours To Reading

How To Read In Chunks Of Time

How To Deepen Comprehension

How To Get Valuable Take-Aways From Books

Memorable Examples From Some Books

Epilogue

#BringBackOurGirls & FIFA World Cup

Mossad, Israel Secret Service

Me, My Name and Dele Giwa

LIST OF SHORT STORIES IN THE BOOK

Who’s the Adopted Vs Biological Daughter?

Chauffeur Knowledge: My Driver Can Answer That

The Text-Book Act

Nkechi and the Parrot

Break Bad News Slowly!

Find Your Train Ticket

I was given 3 days for the murder of the Chief

All Prostitutes Must Now Wear Veil

Japanese Col Didn’t Speak English

Achebe as Dictionary

What It Means To Grandfather Some People

Become Lion-Like

God Save The Queen!

University Lecturer and His Evil Wife

Smartest Guy In The Room

No kidding! What team did she play for?

A Bag Of Bones Passed By.

Genie: Change his life to be like mine

Mandela: I too will not change my name

ACKNOWLEDGMENT & APPRECIATION

Self-discovery And My Trinity

Personal Retreats

AuthorHouse To The Rescue

The Trinity. No TV.

No Internet. No Phone.

THE YEAR, 2015, will make it ten years that I came to discover the three things that make me who I am as Martin Enoma Udogie – my spirituality, my reading and my exercising. And that only when all three are present and in some balance am I at my optimum. It happened at a Catholic retreat in Iroto, a remote village near Epe town on the outskirts of Lagos. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI on the evening of our arrival, Tuesday, April 19, 2005.

I started a frequent exercising routine when Uyi was about nine months old. And my book reading followed about three years later when I joined Andersen Consulting. But my spirituality was in shambles for years. I didn’t even attend church. You see, I was a very rational and logical kind of guy. All that would begin to change at Iroto. It was a three-day retreat during which you meditated, prayed silently, read spiritual books, met with your spiritual director, confessed, and attended daily Mass. No TV. No Internet. No Phone calls. You talked to nobody; you only listened to yourself. It was eerie at first, but got better. When everything truly quiets down, and you’re in this most beautiful place in a very remote village, serene, soundless, orderly, clean, you begin to hear yourself.

It was here that the third element of my life’s jigsaw puzzle, my spirituality, fell into place. The circumstances that conspired to bring me to Iroto and how this self-discovery made me fitter for the life that stretched ahead of me, are themselves fascinating, but perhaps a story for another day. I thank all those who had a hand in making me come to know myself.

The three things, the trinity – spirituality, reading and exercising always have to be in sync. But this is not always the case. Whenever I have become somewhat lethargic, I know that I have been lukewarm in one or two or even all three areas. In those instances, it is time for a personal retreat with books, services and vigorous, sustained exercising. And I am eternally grateful to the people and the environments – church, convents, religious, libraries, authors, gyms, safe streets that have come to my rescue. You see some of that evidence in the fraction of the materials I have cited in this book, and in some of the stories I heard at homilies.

As a first-time author, I also suffered humiliating refusals from established publishers, until Muhtar Bakare referred me to AuthorHouse, the self-publishing powerhouse. Actually, they are the quintessential online publishers. At every step of the way, I was dealing with professionals that put every resource of the institution at my disposal to make sure this was a pleasant and successful outing. I am grateful to this amazing organization, especially my publishing consultant, Alexa Navarro.

Who’s the Adopted Vs Biological Daughter?

A lady that runs an orphanage recently received a call to come for an 8-year-old child who had been previously adopted as a baby, but was now being returned by the parent. I used the opportunity to relay a story told by my Catholic priest to her.

Two teenage girls went to register at a high school. The teacher was confused that the girls born three months apart (March and June) claimed to be twins born of the same parents. They told the teacher that actually, one of them was adopted in the same hospital and around the same period that their mother had given birth to one of them.

So, the teacher asked who among them was adopted. They didn’t know. They said their parents had never told them, and that quite honestly, they didn’t care.

Amazing parents, don’t you think? The Priest was giving a homily about being our brother’s keeper, seeing the image and likeness of God in fellow human beings, etc.

Church Sermon

DEDICATION

Lessons on Parenting

Uyi. Suit Stains. Karate Belts.

Ehima. Bicycle Rides. Piano Lessons

I Knew How Wise My Mother Had Been

YOU LEARN parenting not by reading about it; but through practice. This book is dedicated to:

All parents who are learning the skill of parenting by doing.

And to all children who are permitting this learning to occur.

Omoruyi Uyi Henry

Heavenly Title: He was about three years old and in kindergarten. I was going to drop him off at school and head to work. We arrived only for me to discover that he had stained my suit with his food pack. I was furious because of the office meeting I was to attend that morning.

His teacher, Mrs. Ojei, seeing the overly worried expression written all over my face asked what the matter was. I told her, emphasizing my office meeting that morning: How can I go into the meeting in this stained suit? I moaned.

She smiled, and till today, I have never forgotten what she told me. She drew me aside and said: Your nice suit has been stained by your son. That stain is a blessing. Father is a heavenly title, conferred on you by God because He gave you a child. So, be proud. Tell anyone who cares to ask you today, that my son did it to me! And that was what I did throughout that day. It changed my perception and feeling about being a father, warts and all.

Karate Lessons: Uyi started learning karate at age six, and became a black belt at nine. In the roughly three years it took, we attended numerous practice and grading sessions as well as several competitions. We both always looked forward to the competitions, because on our way home, we will both proudly hang his medals over our necks.

But on this particular day, he was only able to win one medal, which of course he wore. As we drove home however, he noticed that I didn’t have any over my shoulder. He then promised that from then on, he would always compete very hard to win more than one medal, so I can always have a medal to hang over my neck as well. And true to promise, I can’t recall any competition that we didn’t return with enough medals to decorate ourselves with.

Ehima Alero Catherine

Bicycle Riding. One of the hardest but most rewarding lessons in parenting is teaching your daughter to ride a bicycle. Or play the piano.

Alero must have been about four or five years old when I taught her to ride a bicycle. It was a lesson in endurance and perseverance. I’ll put her on the bicycle and hold on to her to stabilise her, bent over forward and running as she goes through the motions of pedaling. This continued for days as I got her to slowly learn to pedal faster and faster. My waist would be hurting badly.

Then, I

Reviews for How to Read More

[bami210 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ended kind of weird, and I guessed "the bad guy" very early, but still a good mystery.

[bookappeal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good combination of compelling plot and complex characters. Jack Reacher's powers of observation and wide-spread knowledge of everything from technology to psychology add depth to his character. Since Jack is a wanderer and not connected personally to anyone else in the story, every character is potentially a victim or a killer which results in some unexpected plot twists. But Reacher is no superhero. He is also a tortured soul, unwilling to settle down, but never shying away from a wrong situation that needs to be set right. 61 Hours starts the countdown - "To what?" is the question that helps drive this page-turning adventure, competently read by Dick Hill.

[topps_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Quite good storyline but title premise not helpful. Characters other than Reacher a bit more interesting than usual.

[tracyk1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened to this on a very long car trip. It was very exciting and kept my attention to the very last minute! Lots of plot turns, and a questioning ending. Lots of fun!!!

[emlzcole_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great book from the Jack Reacher series. A quick summer read with plenty of action.

[opheliaawakens · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

With the exception of the annoying countdown which didn't seem to transfer from the TV screen on shows like "24" to the page very well, I found this book very enjoyable. The ending left me more irritated than eager for the next book in the series. I did find the main character intriguing enough. This is your standard thriller, no real surprises and maybe a little more depressing than most.

[nautilus-11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Totally gripping. His plotting and tension building are masterful.

[readafew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow. This is only my 2nd Reacher book that I've read but I really enjoyed it. I need to start from the beginning, these are great mysteries and action packed.Reacher hitched a ride on a bus traveling across South Dakota. In the middle of a snow storm the bus crashed in the ditch. This brings Reacher to a little town that is having some issues of it's own. The local sheriff has a community of bikers nearby producing large amounts of Meth, a little old lady observed a deal going down and the main man was locked up pending trial. This little old lady is the only person standing in the way of a very large drug deal going down. Reacher might be the only person who can keep her alive.I enjoyed listening to this book a lot. The ending was a little vague and reviews for the next book sound like it doesn't shed any more light on the situation. Other than Houdini's secrets it was good and it was a pretty intense read.

[deweys_7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lee Child at his best. Jack Reacher is stranded in a small South Dakota town due to a snowstorm and as usual manages to find his help is needed. A little old lady witness to a drug deal is being protected from being killed by a Mexican drug lord is the basis of the novel. Jack assists the local Police Department protecting her and investigating the usual murders that seek out Reacher. This is one of my favorite Jack Reacher novels. The pacing was good, high suspense, some surprises. Loved it.

[karensstories · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lee Childs has again created a good story for a great character. I thoroughly enjoyed the 61 hour countdown, and found the plot believable. Though a shorter book than usual, it kept my interest and did not disappoint. This is not one of Mr. Child's best books, but it is certainly worth reading, particularly if you're a Reacher fan.

[pharrm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Usual Jack Reacher fare with a To be continued in October.

[hobreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

New to Lee Child's works but found this a nice above-average "loner saves the day" book. None of the characters seemed formula or stereotypical and the ending was not entirely predictable.

[theoclarke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another game-changing addition to the Reacher series. I was pleased that Reacher seems to have lost his irresistable sex appeal and delighted by the shocking denouement although I imagine that Jack will take one almighty bound.

[zhoud2005 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mediocre at best. not Lee Child's best.

[labdaddy4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fiction, Thriller, Jack Reacher Novel, South Dakota, Mexican Drug Lord, Small Town Police

[johnhastie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What can I say? This manly-man stuff rarely moves me but I am still a TOTAL sucker for Lee Child and his nigh-unbelievably perfect protagonist, Jack Reacher.

He ups the ante in this one by almost making the COLD of the January Dakotas a character unto itself.

While not as good as my favorite from him (Bad Luck and Trouble) this one should stand among his best.

[weeziesbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have always enjoyed the Reacher books. This was no exception. It was not my favorite book, but did have the fair amount of twists and turns. The plot was somewhat transparent and the story not have the usual amount of action that some of Child's novels contained. Police departments, Department of Corrections, local characters, military involvement and the ever present drug and money lures were all present. All in all it was a good read that I would recommend to all mystery readers.

[susanamper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jack Reacher, the wandering Johnny on the Spot, turns up in Nowheresville USA via a bus stuck in a snow storm with a bunch of senior citiens. As in most towns Reacher seems dumb enough to visit, this one has a secret, and it's dangerous, and in 61 hours something is going to happen. Basically what happens is nothing. The 61 hours is a gimmick. There is a 61 hour countdown clock and when it runs out, the book is over. No armageddon, no revelation, no nothing. Reacher needs a rehaul.

[carlienichole · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book. The story had me glued to the end. It is very accurate and knowledgable. It was so intesne and exciting. I never wanted to put it down! Reacher is an amazing character that from the beginning you have to like. He's so intelligent and independent, you want to be like him. I want to know what happens next!

[hredwards · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the tautest most thrilling suspense novels I've ever read!!

[coffyman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a real thriller, so interesting and gripping that it's almost impossible to put down. Makes me want to read all the 'Reacher' novels. Thanks Lee Child!

[piersanti-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very fast-paced book with fairly enjoyable characters.

[mikerhode · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Unlikely plot and settings, but fun.

[aneumann_19 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not Child's best effort, but enjoyable none the less.

[dalzan_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When a tour bus on which Jack Reacher bummed a ride skids off the road and crashes, Reacher finds himself in Bolton, S.Dak., a tiny burg with big problems. A highly sophisticated methamphetamine lab run by a vicious Mexican drug cartel has begun operating outside town at an abandoned military facility. After figuring out the snow-bound, marooned Reacher's smart, great with weapons, and capable of tapping military intelligence, the helpless local cops enlist his assistance.

[kraaivrouw · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love Lee Child. He's a highly dependable writer of thrillers and his Jack Reacher series never disappoints, even now that he's fourteen books in. While this isn't my favorite Reacher book, it's a good one filled with motorcycle-riding meth dealers, Mexican drug cartels, corrupt town officials, a bus full of tourists, and the deadly South Dakota winter. As always the action is non-stop and Child has a real talent for keeping the reader turning those pages until the bitter end.There are times when I fantasize about having Jack Reacher's life - no fixed address, no real possessions, just wandering about the country from adventure to adventure. Then I remember that he never seems to have a book (a problem for me) and that he's always getting into hairy scenarios involving grievous bodily harm and I decide it's okay to just wait for the next book. Sometimes living vicariously is preferable.

[kroan-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second Jack Reacher book I've read, and it's the latest in the series. Very enjoyable. I'll probably read more!

[heightreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable as all books in the series. But sometimes I thought: "How did Jack know this about the bad guys."

[cfogerty_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quick intense read. Surprise ending.

[everfresh1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Disappointing - I figured out who is the bad guy long before Jack Reacher did.