Read Book Summaries
We have all heard that good books must be read several times. The same can be said for book summaries. They make it easy to consume actionable insights repeatedly in a short span of time. I have been using Blinkist for years now. I have read some of the summaries more than ten times, and I have more insights about those books than someone who has read them just once and postponed them for later re-reading. The goal of reading good books is to understand whatâs to be gained from them, what is actionable and what can be implemented.
But like anything else in life, context is crucial. Book summaries arenât a replacement for actual books. The book stays with you longer and therefore has a higher impact than book summaries. The summaries act as your photo album that you can refer to anytime to rekindle those memories. The book is the actual journey. One cannot be a substitute for the other.
Generalizations like âthou shalt hate book summariesâ miss the context behind the summaries as well as the nuance of a book. Donât turn a practice into a ritual, because then it becomes doctrine that you donât enjoy but have to follow. Before you form any rigid opinion, remember that context is crucial.