How do I get into reading a book and what are some good books?

How do you get yourself to not jump between books and actually stick with reading one book till the end?.

• I am CS student and I enjoy reading books from different fields related to CS. I have one problem though, and that is I am like child in a toy store when it comes to books, I get easily distracted. For example, I may start reading a book on data structures, and then I hear about a good book on AI. I immediately think to myself "oh, that's cool, I better check that out". So I ditch the DS book, start reading the AI one. Later, I'd hear about this book on combinatorics, immediately I ditch the AI book and start on the combinatorics one, and so on. I am glad that I have relatively broad interests in the field, but I am annoyed that I can't stick with one book till the end. I was hoping if someone could share some advice regarding dealing with this.

• Answer:

  Set a goal for the number of books you want to read per year, then count the number of books you finish. When you are in school, you're motivated to finish books because you are required to for class. When you on your own, that same level of urgency and motivation isn't there. So you need to find motivation elsewhere. I started a goal of reading > 52 books per year for myself 5 years ago, and it's been way more effective than expected. I think about finishing books more than starting them, I crave the sense of completion from closing a book, and feel excited about when I can start a new one. That simple act of tracking the number of books goes a long way. More tips... Use a tool like http://www.goodreads.com to track and share the books you finish (it also has a stats section for exactly this). Don't add books you are in the middle of, because you want to save that "sense of completion" for when you actually finish the book. Relish the satisfaction you feel when you physically close a book and put it back on the shelf. This is a great moment for most readers, and you should take in the moment for all its glory. If you use an e-reader, create a "completed books" section, where you have to physically move completed books to another section after you finish them. This ritual, although seemingly minor, has a big effect. Figure out what is the best number of books to read at the same time. This is different for everyone, but if you're having trouble finishing books, I recommend sticking to just one or two. I usually like to read no more than 2 books at a time - one non-fiction and one fiction, but I have a friend that likes to read 5+ at the same time because he wants to make connections across each book. Either way, figure out what's best for you. You also need to cultivate your ability to focus, which like the rest of us, has been absolutely abused by the modern day environment. Some quick tips… read in a quiet place or with music on (no lyrics is better), turn off your phone, read less Twitter / more long-form journalism for online reading, take distracting apps like Facebook off your phone, turn off the tv and get some silence in your life, and sleep. You should try to increase the time you can focus on a book in one sitting (e.g. 30 mins -> 45 mins -> 1 hour, etc.), and over time you'll be able to sit and finish a book in one sitting. Be very deliberate about what books you choose to read, which is easier said then done. If you choose books haphazardly, you won't feel the same level of commitment as a book you really want to finish. Note: some people may argue that, if you read what you like, you won't have a problem taking books to their conclusion. Unfortunately, I think that's naive and shortsighted. When you are reading to learn, you should be reading books that stretch your comfort zone, making them almost uncomfortable to get through. It's important to fight through this discomfort and get through the other side.