Reading books more than once...?

80 replies
Does anyone else find the need to read a book more than once to really absorb the wisdom found within the material? I end up finishing a book or audiobook and I find that I forget some things and I don't really know and fully understand the material.

Do you think it is normal to read a book more than once to really get the message? How many times would you think is normal to read a certain book to fully grasp the knowledge and fully understand through and through?
#books #reading
  • Depends on the book. I read The Sciene Of Growing Rich 3 times, but any of Perry Marshall's stuff, I have to read a few more times, becuase of the technical content, and I'm not so technologically gifted.

    There are people who read through their entire library every year, the idea is that you always miss something during the first read, and get it on subsequent reads.
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    • Profile picture of the author pdltoys
      I do not read a book more than once
      Some people might need to do that more than once to get the message
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  • Profile picture of the author Najat Engineer
    I do not read a book more than once
    Some people might need to do that more than once to get the message
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author John_Paduchak
        I believe that you gain insight into different material everytime you read the book, depending on what is important for you to get out of the particular book at that moment. I never really looked at reading this way until I purchased photoreading. Now I often read the same book again with a different intention. I has also helped me to read faster and focus on what I need to get to and get out
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  • Profile picture of the author Kezz
    Absolutely. Some books I have read over and over and over throughout my whole life. Usually, the common denominator of books that I read time and again, is that the author is vastly more progressed than myself in understanding. Then, I find that as I grow myself over time, each re-read reveals something new to me that I didn't have the capacity to understand before.

    A major example of that for me, though the subject matter isn't specifically relevant to this forum, is "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. I first read that when I was about 12 and I've been re-reading it over and over again for the subsequent 18 years and getting something new out of it every time.

    If you really feel that an individual has an advanced breadth of understanding, it would be a shame not to go back and re-read. Until you reach the same point as them or surpass them, you should be able to absorb more and more every single time you revisit.
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  • Depends on book.
    for me science sure read it several times
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonbird
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author dsanchez
      Yes, I have read some books more than once, especially the parts that I don't really get the first time. Like others said, it also depends on the book.

      Dagmar
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  • Profile picture of the author John Piteo
    I guess I'm more of an auditory learner. I seem to comprehend and remember audio books much better than reading. In books, I would get to chapter 3 and forget what I just read in chapter 1. I must have read "Think and Grow Rich" 4 times, but I got much more out of it when I listened to it on audio book.
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    • Profile picture of the author rocketmail009
      Its true reading more than once it depend on your interest
      I have read Law book 5 times
      and also reading about accounts
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    • Profile picture of the author Kezz
      Originally Posted by John Piteo View Post

      I guess I'm more of an auditory learner. I seem to comprehend and remember audio books much better than reading. In books, I would get to chapter 3 and forget what I just read in chapter 1. I must have read "Think and Grow Rich" 4 times, but I got much more out of it when I listened to it on audio book.
      Yeah that's a good point you know, and also when you can get an audio book read by the author themselves (if still alive), just their intonation can give you a completely different angle on the content.

      The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer is a good example of that. I found reading the book and listening to the audio to be two completely different experiences.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marlinark
    Really, it depends on the book.

    "If it is a great life changing book, why not make it a multiple time life changing book"
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  • Profile picture of the author Richard Kent
    I think it depends on your previous knwoledge of the issue. If you didn´t know about the issue, then it´s normal you read again the book. And if the book is very practical, then sure people need to read again.
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    • Profile picture of the author bethrobinson
      Some books I read once. Some I read multiple times. I just finished Made to Stick again and got many different things from it than when I read it for the first time two years ago.

      One way you can help cut down on feeling you NEED to read it again to absorb it all is to read it in stages.

      Read the introduction, then the chapter titles and the first line of each chapter and any subheadings, then the last few pages. This helps your brain orient itself and you can decide if you need to take notes or pay particular attention at certain areas.

      Then read the book the normal way.

      You can take notes on a pad of paper, in the margins, or just leave sticky notes at place where you want to come back to as well. That way you don't need to search the whole book for the parts that mattered most to you.

      I didn't come up with this idea, by the way, but can't remember where I read about it. I do know there were additional refinements in the source material.
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    • Profile picture of the author dynamicwealth
      I enjoy reading books over and over again. I find I'm always learning more when I revisit great material.
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  • Profile picture of the author kennethsmith72
    As often as you needed and it may depends in your interest and likes.
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  • Profile picture of the author wealthminded
    Re:Reading and listening to the audio book. We all process information differently so the audio can impact some people more than reading, others can be the opposite, and then watching a movie on the subject can be a different experience too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Karate Kid
    If it's good the first time around, it's better second time around, and even better the third.
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  • Profile picture of the author DuaneF
    If it's instructional (how to) I read it at least three times. The first time to get a grasp of the material, the second time taking notes and the third time to "set" it in my memory and to look for additional things I may have missed.
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  • Profile picture of the author Igor Kheifets
    What is going on?
    I have posted in this thread twice and my reply just
    doesn't come up!

    OK, I am gonna try the third time!

    I am usually continue straight to the next book.
    Most books in similar categories share similar advice
    that's why I don't bother worrying about missing
    something.

    ~Igor
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  • Profile picture of the author KC Blondie
    I used to read informative books more than once, now I have learned to always have a pen and paper nearby so I can write down the information that is important to me. I also like to write down anything that is motivatonal as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author vossman
      There are a lot of programs that can help you to read faster, have a higher comprehension rate, and retain more.

      One program I recommend and used is called eyeQ. In a couple of months my reading speed more then doubled from 350 words/min to almost 800, while maintaining 90%+ comprehension.

      There is another program I recently found called photo reading by a company called learning strategies. I recommend checking out the learning strategies website in general. I have heard good things about their products but have not used any of them and do not officially endorse any of them.

      Vossman
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      • Profile picture of the author John_Paduchak
        Originally Posted by vossman View Post

        There are a lot of programs that can help you to read faster, have a higher comprehension rate, and retain more.

        One program I recommend and used is called eyeQ. In a couple of months my reading speed more then doubled from 350 words/min to almost 800, while maintaining 90%+ comprehension.

        There is another program I recently found called photo reading by a company called learning strategies. I recommend checking out the learning strategies website in general. I have heard good things about their products but have not used any of them and do not officially endorse any of them.

        Vossman
        I have used photoreading and it is an excellent course. I've purchase many programs from Learning Strategies and have benefited from them all. They have a hypnosis session in photoreading that helps you retain or activate more of the material that you've read
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnB23
          Some of the big gurus have read books dozens of times, that's how they got to be gurus

          I've heard Jay Abraham (marketing guru) say that he's read Scientific Advertising 50 or 60 times, and learned something new each time. He read James Webb Young's "Technique for producing ideas" 40 times.

          One tip is to have a pad and paper nearby when you're reading or listening to something again. And writing down a new revelation that comes to mind.

          I've read that your mind can produce a thought or idea, but it may only last for 30 or 60 seconds. Then it's gone. Forever. Never to come back again. So very important to write it down, because you won't remember.

          I have dozens of sheets of notes of things I've read or listened to more than once. Paraphrasing..."the simpler your understanding of what makes something work, the more powerful it normally becomes". That was a powerful quote for me. The goal I think is to reduce something down to simplicity and capture it on paper.
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  • Profile picture of the author Raygun
    Yes, some of the best books I will go back to again and again. I have read several of Tony Robbins books many times. I have read Think and Grow Rich several times, plus a book called Wink and Grow Rich which I put in another thread.

    I am in the process of listening to a great book called "It's not about the money" by a guy named Bob Proctor. That book has made a huge impact on my life, I would love to know if anyone else has checked it out.
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    • Profile picture of the author swilliams09
      Originally Posted by Raygun View Post

      , plus a book called Wink and Grow Rich which I put in another thread.

      I am in the process of listening to a great book called "It's not about the money" by a guy named Bob Proctor. That book has made a huge impact on my life, I would love to know if anyone else has checked it out.
      Just finished reading Wink and Grow Rich. Thanks for posting about it. I'll be reading it a few more times.
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  • Profile picture of the author VMN
    I do read my spiritual books more than once.

    Especially the Abraham-Hicks material as they are speaking to us at different levels, and there are understandings found, especially after one experiences.

    I kept finding and reading older versions of Think and Grow Rich.
    Finally I was led to the original manuscript.
    Napolean Hill did hold back on where the information came from..He said it would not have been published at that time.

    Victoria
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  • Profile picture of the author VMN
    This is a little off, but my son Jack is now in home school.
    I am reading the Little house series by Laura Ingalls Wilder to him, and since I am an adult and have much improved reading and comprehension skills, it has been a treat and delight to visit once again.
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  • Profile picture of the author whoismarktaylor
    Absoloutely!!!!#
    Think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill is like a manual for life. Nearly every other self help book in existence can be traced back to Napoleons hill's classic.

    This book should be required STUDYING material for ever student going into further education.

    The mind can only hold one dominating thought at any one time. It makes sense to read and hold the thought.... in order to absorb it into the subconscious.
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  • Profile picture of the author hayfj
    Banned
    I get grief from my wife, for turning over pages, and using a highlighter on pages of books. I regularly revist books, ironically, the last time I read a work of fiction was The Celestine Prophecy, and Ive read it twice, all others tend to be spiritual, marketing, personal development focussed.

    its not how many times you read the book thats important, its how often you APPLY the content.




    Fraser
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  • Profile picture of the author liaochin2k9
    yes, I generally read the book more than once. especially if the book had some information that I need.
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  • Profile picture of the author RobertAxelsen
    Most often I find myself discovering new bits of knowledge when re-reading a book.

    I do not have photographic memory, so there is no way I get it all from one read ,unless taking notes and other study techniques.

    What is interesting with learning is that we intepret the information based on our past experiences as well as any prejudices and preconveived notions we might have on the subject.

    This means that when you read a book a second time you will have readjusted your prejudices and preconveived notions through your experience of reading the book the first time. If you also put the information in the book to use, you will now be able to more directly relate to the content.

    The theory above is taken from hermeneutics, which is the study of interpretation theory. Wikipedia article here: Hermeneutics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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  • Profile picture of the author la dominatrix
    Originally Posted by Scofield View Post

    Does anyone else find the need to read a book more than once to really absorb the wisdom found within the material? I end up finishing a book or audiobook and I find that I forget some things and I don't really know and fully understand the material.

    Do you think it is normal to read a book more than once to really get the message? How many times would you think is normal to read a certain book to fully grasp the knowledge and fully understand through and through?
    As a psychologist I know that all our memories work best when memories are stored in our long term memory. Studies have shown that we learn best and smarter when we quickly skim read something two or three times and then go back over it in more depth. That of course refers to learning things and cramming for an examination.

    However it does depend on the material as to how long it takes our individual mind to process things. We are literally flooded with thousands of sights, sounds and touches every second and our brain has to assimilate what we make of them. Everything goes in like the top end of a funnel and we sort out what we want to decide is the most vital to focus on. Part of those reactions are conscious and unconscious and our memories and histories also play a part.What we choose to retain and why is like the lower end of hte funnel it is a more focused process.

    That explains why no two witnesses of the same event will agree totally on what they saw. our perceptions are not always reality. How and why we remeber and store things long term also differs from person to person and expalins why soem people have brains like a sieve. They do not train and focus the mind to retain things. I would not worry how many times it takes you to assimilate things!


    la dominatrix
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  • Profile picture of the author ponting786
    Hi....scofield!
    Reading a book more than once provides good understanding of the topic and gives you more ideas to explore.
    In fact,there are only some interesting books that can be read more than once.......

    I have read my religious books many times..
    Thanks...
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  • Profile picture of the author Paulie Ciara
    Yeah, it depends on the book. I'll usually only remember the stuff that really made an impact on me through the first read, but if it was a good enough book, I'll know in the back of my head that there was a lot that I should have remembered. When this happens I usually will go back and re-read.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kelvin Brown
    Yes. I have read many books multiple times. Often, it depends on where you are in your life or rather where I am in my life, as to what I get out of the book the 2nd, 3rd or forth time around.

    kelvin
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  • Profile picture of the author emofree
    hmmm depends on the book that I was reading sometimes I needed to read it again to fully understand the context that was written on it not the whole book itself. For example if you wanted to research and resulted out to read book instead on going through the internet. And you have the book that you needed probably you will end up on reading the book again for research.
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  • Profile picture of the author lifeofyourdreams
    I have been listening to a lot of Zig Ziglar's programs, and he stresses that reading books, and listening to personal development cd's and so forth is like eating. You don't eat just once, you have a meal in the morning, wait a couple hours, have a snack, then have another meal shortly thereafter.You have to constantly flood your brain with positive information, and information which you can learn from.
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  • Profile picture of the author monsur
    I think that we should read a book at least thrice.Of course, it depends on your memory power.
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  • Profile picture of the author jpjameson
    Every time we read a book we assimilate it through news eyes and a new mind. A year from today you will be a different person based on all of the next experiences and reading the same books may offer you something new.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnB23
      I think there's almost a science to re-reading things. Lately, I've been re-reading Jay Abraham's (Stealth Marketing).

      I think there's several layers of problems when you read anything.

      -First, you have pre conceived ideas about the book. Someone recommended it. Zig Ziglar talked about it. Tony Robbins endorsed it. So you have a pre conceieved idea about what it meant to Tony Robbins. Or what it meant for Jim Rohn. Does it have any relevance for me? You may (subconsciously) automatically discount the information if you dont think it has any relevance to you.

      -I think you're also subtley influenced by how you got it. Either paid or free (or maybe illegal download). One concept I've learned from self help/personal development, is that people dont value things that are cheap or free. We value information more if we've paid for it.

      I dont know whether thats right or wrong. But if its making you stop and think, its influencing you. A cheap pdf download you just got, you may not value very highly. The information may be great. But you'll never see past it being a cheap pdf download. You'll never get to the higher stage of reading, re-reading, and gaining insight.

      -Also, depends on if you're familiar with the author, and you like him/her. I think you'll be more receptive to re-read things by your favorite author (vs someone new). We like things that are familiar to us.

      So, there's alot of biases going on.

      -Another bias, or question that goes off in your head. Is this true? Is this Gary Halbert headline really true? Is this example true? Pretend it is true. And this really is the way things are (this is the way the world is).

      I think there are many layers to re-reading things and making things sink in.

      A book like stealth marketing is packed with information. There's no way you'd comprehend everything, even on 10 or 20 readings. Go through what you can, line by line. Stop when you get mentally exhausted (tired). Then go back to it later (with a rejuvenated mind), go at a pace thats right for you. The key I think is understanding at your own pace, and building competency.
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  • Profile picture of the author Simon Ashari
    Its a question I've been thinking of myself.

    I sometimes re-read books as it is a good refresher.

    Never re-read fiction books though.


    was interesting to read other peoples thoughts.


    Simon
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    • Profile picture of the author achivement84
      I guess you may need to read the book several times depending on the material of it.I.e if material is scientific or have a lot of details , so i think you will need to refer to it many times.

      Regards...
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew O
    I definitely read (good) books more than once. Even if you think you fully absorbed the material, if you go back in a few months and read it again you'll be surprised at all the new things you learned. I read somewhere that we only remember 3-5 pieces of information from an entire book, and it's true: think of the last book you read and the most important information that you can recall about it....

    Reading a book several times helps solidify it's message.
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  • Profile picture of the author WhosChrisHughes
    I always try to read a book more than once. The first time I usually go through with my highlighter and really try to pick out the super important parts. Then the second and/or third time is spent reading all the highlighted parts.

    Do you normally highlight your readings?
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Alexander
    Man do I ever re-read! My wife gets mad because when I go down to the basement for something I always come back up with a stack of books I somehow think I'll have time to go through again.

    They usually sit by the couch for a week or two then I take back down the ones that have to wait. But when I do pick up a few to go through again I always find something important because it may just be I'm ready for that info this time around whereas I wasn't before.

    I wish I had more time to read, but those darn kids require work. Who knew?
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  • Profile picture of the author Charleskidd
    It depends on how focused you are on reading the book the first time. Also if you have memory problems you might consider reading the book again.
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  • Profile picture of the author diro
    Hi Scofield,

    To answer your question,
    Does anyone else find the need to read a book more than once to really absorb the wisdom found within the material?
    YES!

    Actually, I only read a book once...if it's a good book and I feel as though I've found something useful, I then DEVOUR it as many times as I feel necessary to learn what the author is teaching.

    For example, I've now read "The Law of Success in 16 Lessons," 3 times. I'll begin the 4th time in about 1 week. This was originally a series of lessons available by mail order and via private business schools. It is the original material for "Think and Grow Rich."

    I've also read "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" 3 times.

    I always skim through and take a few quick notes the first time. When reading through my notes later I find things that really speak to me, or if the book just "catches my attention" while going through it, I then set up a file to keep all my notes in and start devouring the information within the book. I've found this to be very effective for me...and it seems to work pretty evenly whether I listen to it or read it.

    Just my 2 cents worth... hope it helps someone as much as it's helped me!

    Rog
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  • Profile picture of the author jennifermL
    Sometimes yes, if the it looks so interested then can answer my question...
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    • Profile picture of the author pioneer
      yeah i do it when i get interest in any book. If it gives me a great feeling i do so. It was about an epic and it was written by our country poet Jasimuddin, I read the epic more than 5 times. Because the more i read the more i feel a great passion. Its really a great piece of the poet. If u need the book name i can tell u the name, its also translated into English and more language. Just ask me the name of the book.I hope if u read the epic you will also read more than once like me.

      Regards,
      Pioneer
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  • Profile picture of the author DeirdreJ
    YES! I often read books more than once! Some of my favorites I refer to often (especially "Think and Grow Rich") as I find new questions emerging as I learn.

    I absorb so much content daily be it from books, blogs, articles, etc. that it would be impossible for me to store it ALL. So I always end up referring back to my favs.
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    • Profile picture of the author FrankRumbauskas
      I haven't read all the replies here and know it's been mentioned a few times already but here goes -

      I have been reading Think and Grow Rich for 20 years. Over and over again. Probably over 100 reads. And when I read it yet again just a few weeks ago I FINALLY fully understood 'The Sixth Sense.'

      For the past 8 or 10 years or so I have been re-reading The Law of Success, probably about 2 dozen reads on that one (it takes a lot longer being 1,000+ pages)

      On both books I only read the original Napoleon Hill manuscripts and none of the modern edited nonsense. Anything but the originals really loses a lot of the raw enthusiasm he put into the books.

      EDIT: I wanted to add that 'The Law of Success' is the better of the 2 books in my opinion but due to the sheer size it takes a lot of time.
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  • Profile picture of the author frankgotgame818
    Books I read during college are not the same book when I re-read them 5 years later.

    When I re-read a book 10 years later it is a completely different book. For me this applies to fiction and non-fiction (marketing, copywriting etc).

    I think as we grow as marketers our understanding deepens in regard to even the simplest of concepts.

    One book I have been re-reading is 'Breakthrough Advertising' by Eugene Schwartz. What I understand now compared to the first time I read it is like night and day.

    Frank C
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  • Profile picture of the author Vincelog
    Sometimes reading the book the 2nd time can help us to pick up on things that we had missed earlier. I do read the book twice when I find it to be of great value.

    Cheers,
    Vincent
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  • Profile picture of the author mark z
    Some books are worth to read several times, for sure.
    Personally, every time I read again some good book, it gives me new insights to the topic.
    Also, some books require appropriate moment/time in readers life to reach full meaning and maturity. But, that`s the beauty of it, I guess.
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  • Profile picture of the author don21stc
    I believe that by the age of say 30 to 40 nearly everyone has within them more than enough knowledge to enable them to achieve anything they want to but accessing and focussing that knowledge is the trick. Some authors are able say things that are just on the right wavelength to enable you to release your own knowledge in a positive and powerful way and when I find books like that I'm definitely going to read them again and again. I even think that books are much more powerful than the motivational courses where you get infected by the rampant enthusiasm generated by the main guy. This effect wears off for me quite rapidly because the motivating atmosphere no longer exists but the right books always create the right feelings because the words are the same and your mind alone is making them powerful for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author prime777
    I think you can read a book how many time you need to, to grasp the message therein. I myself have read the book "I AM That" by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj six times before I ever came to any deep understanding of his message. I am happy that I did because it did change in a positive way how I look at many things.

    So my opinion is read any book as many times as you like. You will find that the more you reread it the more new things you will discover every time.
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  • Profile picture of the author int-mark
    Definitely! Take this from someone who has read loads of self help books. You should read a book 10 times over if it is really good. It will always be better to get the knowledge into your working memory and awareness from one book than it ever will be to read countless books because what happens is that you feel good for a week and then you forget everything if you only read it once. Whats even better is to have all your personal development books near by your desk and then you can just dip in and out the appropriate sections that you need when required, do this as well as just reading them from cover to cover every now and again.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dankova
    Oh yes ...I have favourite book that I love to read again and again .
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  • Profile picture of the author Pisaka
    Reading the book again and again you find something new, you discover new ideas and see everything in other light. We SHOULD read books several times to ungerstand fully what author wanted to tell us, what was the point of writing the book.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Alexander
    'Breakthrough Advertising' ?

    That is one I have to read slowly the first time anyway. Definitley a re-reader. Thanks for the reminder as I need to go back and start over since I stopped half-way through!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Quieny
    It depends on the book and the subject matter discussed in the book, if its a story line or fiction or something else, it doesnt matter how many times you read it, but if its a subject matter which is of significance to your professional life or your skill set then it makes sense to read the book more than once as an individual will explore new things every time he reads the book. Thanks
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    • Profile picture of the author ColinD
      I've read TAGR several times, and still now, when I get a chance, I read a chapter. Another book I've read several times is Og Mandino's "University of Success". It's interesting that the more I read a classic like TAGR, the more I find how much "new" stuff is actually not so new. Oh, and Dr Joseph Murphy's "The Power of the Subsconscious Mind" - read that more than once.
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  • Profile picture of the author Agnes Lyle
    I agree with those replies that point out how your understanding of a book grows or changes as you get older. If a book is just practical, for learning how to do something, then how often you read it will depend on how good your memkory is. But if it is a book of life wisdom, or a great work of literature, then one reading is not enough. It is not your memory that is at fault. In these cases there are multiple layers of meaning, or different ways of interpreting, and these cannot all be realised in one go.
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  • Profile picture of the author lakishacopeland
    Originally Posted by Scofield View Post

    Does anyone else find the need to read a book more than once to really absorb the wisdom found within the material? I end up finishing a book or audiobook and I find that I forget some things and I don't really know and fully understand the material.

    Do you think it is normal to read a book more than once to really get the message? How many times would you think is normal to read a certain book to fully grasp the knowledge and fully understand through and through?

    If it is a good book, then I will read it more than once. Sometimes you always miss something that you didn't read the first time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nik Karlil
    I would recommend reading the whole thing again as it's a waste of time. However, you can always refer back to parts where you don't understand.
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  • Profile picture of the author shermanbir
    some books need to be read three and four times before you are able to fully understand and use the knowledge with them. Some books you will find hard to read and understand the first few times, because it contain new knowledge and understanding and may take you a few reading over a number of years to get it. and finally some books contain so much great insights that you will kept reading it for a lifetime.

    but always keep those books that keep giving you new insights, understanding and knowledge in a safe place you can keep reading and profiting for its wisdom as long as it keeps working for you.

    know one gets it all from the first or second reading if the book is worthy of you reading it.
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  • Profile picture of the author TommyBussey
    Typically, if I'm reading an educational/marketing type of book, I simply take notes as I read so as to absorb more info the first time through, then if I feel the need to refresh my memory I can refer to my notes, rather than read through the entire book again. (Mark your notes with page numbers for quick/easy reference back to certain areas of the book).

    As far as books I read for my own enjoyment, I will only read it twice if I really enjoyed it! The book, "A Land Remembered" by Patrick Smith is fantastic and I have read it multiple times. Of course, I'm from South Florida so I can really resonate with the content
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  • Profile picture of the author erwindegrave
    If you believe that there is many things to be remembered in that book then read it more than once.. But if you don't see much value in it, don't read it. If it will give you a life changing impact, even reading it more than twice is definitely ok.. :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author LifetimeTravel
    I believe in reading books more than once. Certain books with powerful information like Secrets of the Millionaire Mind are recommended to be real at least once a month. I guess it all depends on the person and how much they are trying to develop the subject.
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  • Profile picture of the author co-creator
    I don't think it's necessary to re-read the entire book. Just make a mental note as you read for the first time of concepts you'd like to revisit and then refer back to them when you need to... that's what I do. saves a lot of time!

    Sometimes, I'll just waste plenty of time re-reading a book thinking that it's for the right reasons but it's just because reading the book made me feel so good, you know?
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  • Profile picture of the author Eduard Stinga
    You could try and make notes while reading, that might help you
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  • Profile picture of the author Newview
    Books are like friends. They help you, teach you, entertain you, and help tap into your imagination. There is nothing wrong with a revisit, as you do pick up on other points or information missed the first time around. You are trying to absorb so much on your first visit when reading.
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  • Great question. It depends.

    If your goal is to understand the message, then once may be enough.

    If the goal is to get it in your bones, then you may have to read it 10, 15, 20 times.

    Take - Think and Grow Rich. I understood it the first time I read it but that did not make me immediately rich.

    I read that book and similar books for at least 1 hour a day and will do so every day until I am right. Obviously, that is not all that I do but the most wealthy people I know tell me to red certain books over and over and over again.
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  • Profile picture of the author mattbarnham
    I don't think it wrong to read a book over and over again. I have my favorite book and have read it for nth times, especially if I forgot some part of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author stopper
    there are more than two books I have read more than once. off course i needed to grasp the content but first and foremost it was the authors style of wring that really hooked me in
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  • Profile picture of the author magnates
    Originally Posted by Scofield View Post

    Does anyone else find the need to read a book more than once to really absorb the wisdom found within the material? I end up finishing a book or audiobook and I find that I forget some things and I don't really know and fully understand the material.

    Do you think it is normal to read a book more than once to really get the message? How many times would you think is normal to read a certain book to fully grasp the knowledge and fully understand through and through?

    First off , i never liked reading so reading more than once was not an option

    But as chance would have it , i realised how foolish it was to rely on my own wisdom when people before me have documented how they did but i wouldn't read it !!

    I bought david deangelos book and it suggested reading more than once so I did and for me i tend to forget information and not fully understand what i am reading

    When i read it again , i get a new understanding of what i am reading

    So , it definitely helps
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  • Profile picture of the author CharlieFiverr
    In the beginning of serious success reading, I use to read just about everything "good" 2-3+ times.

    I've read Think and Grow Rich 3 full times + several times via audio (partial listening)

    Then after awhile, my "books to read" list got insanely out of control. Now, 95% of the time I take notes on everything and I from time to time if I'm watching mindless stuff on TV (survivor, big brother, etc.) I'll just grab my NOTES folder and look over the 2-3 page notes (as a quick refresher).

    For me, it helps a lot!
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  • Profile picture of the author anakinhk
    yes it is normal to read a book more than once. the more times you read, you will refresh your memory and may also open up fresh perspectives.
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  • Profile picture of the author joefalk
    Regarding self-help books i think its better to choose a few of them and stay with them. Read them over and over. Other books i only read once.
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