“You should be extending your stay among writers whose genius is unquestionable, deriving constant nourishment from them if you wish to gain anything from your reading that will find a lasting place in your mind. To be everywhere is to be nowhere." — Seneca c. 65 AD
I used to try to read a lot of books, but when I found I couldn't discuss them in detail in a conversation or recall their key points, I thought, "what is the point?" Now I try to re-read one book I thought was meaningful for every new book. I still enjoy reading new material, so this is just a rule of thumb. There's a ton a value in re-reading things!
> Now I try to re-read one book I thought was meaningful for every new book.
As a random piece of trivia, this was C.S. Lewis's rule as well: "It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between."
I think it's a good idea but I struggle to follow it when my list of books to read is so much longer then I'll ever complete.
I used to try to read a lot of books, but when I found I couldn't discuss them in detail in a conversation or recall their key points, I thought, "what is the point?" Now I try to re-read one book I thought was meaningful for every new book. I still enjoy reading new material, so this is just a rule of thumb. There's a ton a value in re-reading things!