I despised reading literature in secondary school, so much, that I would ask my classmates what a certain literature book was all about so I didn’t have to read. Mind you, I had to read literature books for exams and my procrastination convinced me that it mattered not. After a long deliberation, I would start reading, and my reading strategy was to read the first ten pages and then go to the middle of the book and read another ten pages, fill the gaps between these two sets of ten pages, and then read the last ten pages and fill the gaps once more. That meant I could participate in class for a literature book review. When the book review was done, I would know the whole book, at least, I thought. Until I got to my exam and one of the questions needed a definition of a specific character in the book for good marks. Long story short, I failed that paper.

In recent years, I decided to take reading literature books as a hobby, mainly because I knew it would be easy for me to read and enjoy the stories in any literature book. Indeed, I read a number of books, Fiction, Motivational, Spiritual, Financial, and How To Books, you name it. It felt so amazing that I had read so many books and I would pride myself on that, obviously, I wouldn’t run out of ideas on what to talk about when meeting new people. But that came with a predicament when one day after I had talked about the books I’ve read and one person asked me what I have done with all the information I got from all the books I have read. It dawned on me, that I had not taken any of the information to the application level. It was all yep-yeping with no conviction or direction, whatsoever.

Had it not been for this one person that I engaged with, and had he not asked me that question, I would still be the same old person that would lead conversations that go nowhere and bore people or even worse chase people away. I knew that reading was good but there was something missing from all the reading that I had been doing. I had to look at reading from a different angle and that angle is spelt – S.T.U.D.Y.I.N.G!

That was my turning point, the lights came on, as soon as I started studying the books that I was reading. Oh, did I studied them?!?! I realized the essence of studying which I felt forced to do when I was in school, had I known then what I know now, things couldn’t have turned this way. Some benefits are better than others when it comes to studying what you are reading. First and foremost, studying is an investment in yourself. Warren Buffet said it simply, “The best investment you can make is the investments in yourself. The more you learn is the more you will earn.” Studying includes learning and working on what you have learned by taking action all the time that you are approached by an opportunity. This has benefited me in different aspects as listed below to name but a few:-

1. Studying affords consumption of knowledge and wisdom of the author. It blesses you with a recognition of your ability to think over and above the author’s written words and allows you to become a character in the author’s script by assuming elements that could elevate you in your life. Personally, I learned how to say NO from one of the books (Eat That Frog by Brian Tracey) that I have read – this book talked less about saying No but it taught me that I need to learn how to deal with bigger issues first and saying NO was one of my personal issues. My world changed ever since I introduced the NO factor in my life.
2. Chapters in books are there for guidance and reference as you continue to read and those that do not have chapters, have events that as a reader you can realize that you are starting a new chapter. Chapters give a reader an opportunity to digest or take action on what you learned or read. I loved reading the book by “Robert Kiyosaki – Why “A” students work for “C” and “B” Students work for the government.” Well, the title of the book was catchy for me but what was written inside the book blew me away. He made it easy on this book for me to get my notebook and start working on My Income Statement, My Balance Sheet, and My Budget, the information was like gold and I became an advocate to get people in my circles to read it. Whether it was true or not those discussions were good.
3. As an aspiring writer, I am learning different styles of writing in different genres. At this moment in time, storytelling and call for action are what I write about, that is easier for me. The decision I have made is to write a book one of these days and I know if I don’t write it I will not be far from hypocrisy. The title of the book will be… Watch the space

I cannot begin to explain the excitement I have to be able to write about things in the present continuous tense. It feels like I can write for days to end and it gives me an opportunity to predict my future goals and reflect on how close I am getting to living my dream. This journey continues to be habitat which means the reason for reading and writing is bigger than what ought to be and I know that only my imagination can limit me.

This is part of Self-Case Study 101 to know that reading comes with studying and learning forms part of it, therefore, doing one without the other is as good as wasting time. It is a Self-Case Study for one reason that you get to know yourself better and this life is only for you to live. Living a life comes with mistakes, lessons, and learnings, hence it is better to learn from other people’s mistakes so that you can make new mistakes. Life is too short to repeat other people’s mistakes.

Reading a book to the next will definitely get you through a pile of books but studying the books that you read will give you the knowledge and wisdom beyond measure. I have made my case and my choice I stick to it. Reading Must Study. Make Yours!

Written by Mduduzi Mthanti (Competent Communicator – Toastmasters)