There are a lot of people in churches who believe they should be reading more than they are.  They know that there is a unique enrichment available from good literature, but struggle to take advantage.  Here are 10 quick suggestions that may be helpful:

1. Small blocks of time add up.  If you read for twenty minutes per day, then you will start to move through quite a few books a year, even if you are a typical slow reader.    If you aim for two hours a day, then you will probably not make through the week!

2. Location! Location! Location!  If you try to read at a busy desk with emails and twitter pinging, then you won’t really read.  Get that twenty minutes, or whatever, in a place where you can focus.

3. Redeem the time.  Be ready to grab more minutes when you are in a waiting room, standing in a line, eating your lunch alone, or wherever.  Lots of time can be lost wishing you had a book with you (my kindle app on my phone is for this purpose only).

4. Beware frittered time.  Cumulatively it is probably scary how much time is wasted on social media and half reading half decent stuff online.  I maintain that even reading good stuff online is not as nourishing as reading the same authors in a book.

5. Read appropriately.  Some books are designed to be skimmed.  Others require some effort.  Preview a chapter, look at the headings and conclusion.  Use a highlighter in heavier books.  Enjoy skimming light stuff and boring down deep into quality material (and learn to spot the difference!)

We’ll finish the list tomorrow…