How to decide what books to read?

Reading a book can take a lot of time. It might take you a few hours, a few days, or even weeks, depending on how fast you read. In general, reading any book is good for you. But sometimes, you might feel like the book was not helpful. You may feel like you wasted your time because it didn’t give you what you were hoping for.

We believe reading a book is like investing. The knowledge you get from books can help you grow, be more creative, and succeed in life. That’s why it’s important to choose the right book.

In this blog post, we will share some simple tips to help you choose what to read. We will mostly talk about self-help books, because we are focused on learning, improving ourselves, and becoming successful.

1. Ask for Recommendations

Most of us already have someone we look up to—maybe a role model, mentor, or someone who inspires us. If you want to start reading but don’t know where to begin, it’s a good idea to ask them what books they recommend. Usually, we follow people because we like what they do. So the books they suggest will probably match our interests too.

Also, many successful people read books and use that knowledge in real life. They often have a list of books that helped them. If someone you follow doesn't have such, it might mean they are not growing much. In that case, it may be better to follow someone else who learns and shares useful knowledge.

2. Research the Author

Before you start reading a book, search for the author’s name on the internet. Try to learn about their background. What experience do they have? Have they worked in the field they are writing about? It is important to know if the author is qualified to talk about the topic. A good book should come from someone who knows what they are talking about.

Some people spend their whole life learning and working on one thing, then they write a book to share what they know. These kinds of books are very special. Reading them can save you years of learning. You can move forward faster by learning from their experience.

3. Read the Preface and Chapter List

Before you decide to read a book, take a look at the preface or introduction. This part usually explains what the book is about. You can also check the list of chapters to see what topics the book will cover. Try to guess what kind of ideas or stories you will learn. This can help you know if the book fits your interests or goals.

You can also read the first few pages. Websites like Amazon or Kindle often let you read a free sample. If you are in a bookstore, you can just open the book and read a little. This helps you see if the writing is easy to understand and if the topic feels interesting to you. If the beginning catches your attention, you’ll probably enjoy the rest of the book too.

4. Decide If It’s Worth Your Time

Your time is valuable, so think carefully before reading a book. Ask yourself, “Is this book really useful for me?” For example, books about health are usually a good choice. But be careful—health advice should come from real professionals. Don’t trust random people who may not know what they’re talking about. So before you start reading, be serious to check if the author is skilled and trustworthy. If they are, then it’s a good use of your time.

You can read any kind of book, but we suggest not spending too much time on books that are only for entertainment. These may be fun, but they don’t always help you grow or improve your life. Choose your book topic wisely. Reading the right kind of books will lead you to a better path in life.

5. Read Book Reviews and Ratings

Reading reviews can help you decide if a book is worth your time. People who like the same topics as you often leave reviews to help others. You can look at how many stars the book has and how many people left feedback. If many people take the time to write a review, it usually means the book is popular and may be worth reading.

But be careful—some reviews might not be real. Sometimes, authors pay others to leave good reviews. So don’t fully trust every review. Just take a quick look to get a general idea. Don’t spend too much time reading reviews. Use them as one small part of your decision.

7. Think About What You Need Right Now

Sometimes, the best book is the one that fits your current situation. Ask yourself:

• What do I need help with right now?
• What do I want to improve in my life?

For example, if you feel stressed, maybe a book on mindfulness or stress management would help. If you want to start a business, a book about entrepreneurs or startups might be more useful now. Choosing books that match your current needs can make them more valuable to read.

If you don't have any specific situation, the simplest advice from us will be a priority like

1. Health
2. Time management
3. Finance

In our opinion, health comes first. If you are not healthy, you don’t have time or energy to enjoy life or do meaningful work. When you’re healthy, you have more time and freedom to build your life in a meaningful way.

The next step is to try to manage your time effectively to get the most value out of it. Learning to say no to things that don't add much value to your life. We are inspired by a powerful quote from Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple. He once said:

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

The third priority in our opinion is financial freedom. It provides you with the stability and the ability to choose as you like. It eliminates a lot of survival stress from you leaving you focused on your goals.

With those 3 things fulfilled, you can continue doing what you think is important for you or other beings.

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Stop Reading

It’s okay to stop reading a book if it’s not right for you. Some books might seem great at first, but then they are hard to understand or not helpful after all. If you’re not enjoying the book, you don’t have to finish it. Your time is precious, and it’s better to stop and find a book that works better for you than to waste time forcing yourself to finish one that doesn’t help.

Sometimes, you may know the book is good, but the topic is too difficult for you. There’s something called the “growth zone.” It’s when a book is challenging enough to help you learn but not too hard that you feel stuck. If the topic is too complicated, like reading a book about rocket science when you only know basic math, it might be better to take a step back. Instead of pushing through, you can choose a book that helps you learn more about more advanced maths and then come back to the harder book later.

9. Build a Book List

It’s a good idea to make a list of books you want to read in the future. This way, you can check reviews, learn more about the authors, and keep track of which books you’re interested in. When you finish your current book, it will be easier to pick the next one from your list.

You should also keep a list of books you have already read. This helps you see your progress and builds your confidence. One day, you might get a chance to mentor or guide someone. When that happens, you can recommend books that truly helped you. But always be honest—only recommend books that you have read, applied, and loved. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Sharing real experiences is the best way to help others.

So these are the 9 helpful tips on choosing what book to read. Do you find this helpful? What do you have in mind? Let us know in the comment section.