I firmly believe that books are one the best way to train your mind for learning.
Books allow us to go to different worlds, learn new skill or concepts, and to expand our minds. They are keys into the realm of possibilities that we perhaps never imagined. Reading can inspire new ideas, hopes, and new lives. If we open ourselves up to the stories and narratives that they can evoke in us.
However many of use are crunched for time during our busy lives. Whether you’re a parent, student, or entrepreneur acquiring, comprehending, and implementing knowledge is crucial.
So then let’s ask the next question how do I maximize getting the most of what I need? How can we get this important content and experiences into ourselves best?
One way is with audiobooks which are a great way to get all of that goodness that you can get from books while you’re doing other tasks. Having an audiobook at the gym or while I’m driving through traffic has been immensely beneficial to me personally.
There are several benefits that you can glean from reading and by association listening to audiobooks.
For starters, studies have shown that people that read are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and Dementia. I don’t know about you but I’d like to be just as sharp at 80 as I am today. For my own quality of life but also so that my children and grandchildren can enjoy their time with me.
Another benefit of reading is a broader breadth of knowledge. Many people want to be specialists in a particular field. That can have benefits, no one is knocking that but there is such a thing as specializing too much.
If you only read one point of view then that all you will be able to imagine. Absorb information that looks at issues and problems from different angles.
You could be radically inspired.
Who knows reading about business services planner turned CIA asset could give you the eureka moment. Diversify your knowledge, expand your mind through imagination, get inspired!
I remember listening to an audio version of Ender’s Game and Game of Thrones while I was at the gym. Those were hours of pumping iron that I started to look forward to since it meant that I could enjoy these stories. All while my body was improving itself.
My mind could escape into these worlds and I wasn’t a man trapped on a treadmill. I was along for the ride as Ender commanded fleets and the schemes of Game of Thrones in Westeros unfolded.
What then is the most useful thing that we can be doing right now the most? In my opinion learning how to learn is a great place to start.
For many of us we develop methods of learning while in school or even younger. However, this is a process that I believe should be done throughout your entire adult life. We should be constantly exploring, poking and prodding things that excite and fascinate us.
The ability to learn and then turn that knowledge into real world applications are two of the base abilities for success in this world. They are foundational for pursuing your goals both relationally and professionally. If you aren’t willing to learn you will only understand what you already know.
Secondly, you need to be able to do something with what you’ve learned.
Acquiring knowledge is good however acquiring it is not the end goal. The end goal is to do or make something that will make the world better. It’s not rocket science but if you’re teachable and can learn. You could become a rocket scientist or a criminal defense attorney someday. All because you had everything that we’ve been talking about. You could even become the best criminal defense lawyer in Arizona if that’s your dream, skies the limit folks!
There are a couple of different services that offer audiobooks however the most ubiquitous is Audible.com. Audible is an Amazon company that specializes in providing audiobooks to Amazon customers. Because Amazon leverages so much market publishers want to have their audiobook available on Audible. The service is pretty good and they do offer a 30 day free trial to test it out.
I would at least give them a try and see how it goes. If you like it keep listening if not just cancel and you’ve really lost nothing in the bargain.
I hope that this helped you and inspires you to be encouraged towards lifelong learning.
Together we will leave the world a brighter place than we found it.
