As author and avid reader <a href="http://ryanholiday.net/how-to-read-more-a-lot-more/">Ryan Holiday explains </a>: "Whatever problem you're struggling with is probably addressed in some book somewhere written by someone a lot smarter than you." Every story has been experienced, recorded, and published by someone at some point in time. Beyond just stories, books provide life lessons-a set of proven theories and anecdotes that you can apply to your own life. So there's the why of reading, but what about the how ? Too often we get through a book, flip the last page, sit back, and think, "What the hell did I just read?" Reading and being able to use what you've read are completely different things.

Read about your problems. Someone has put far more effort into it than you have.

Here's the rundown: <ul><li>While reading, write detailed notes in the margins and then fold the bottom corner of any page you've written on. </li><li>After a week or two, come back to the book and transcribe the notes you're still impressed by onto 4×6 cards. </li><li>Each card gets a category or theme in the top righthand corner (or you can use color-coded cards). </li><li>Organize the cards by category (or by chapter if you're working on a book project). This way you can move them around as you please and connect random ideas (the basis of creativity). </li> </ul>

Reading notes

A random sampling of the world's most successful people will show one common trait: a love of reading. Reading is the easiest way to continue the learning process, increase empathy, boost creativity, and even just unwind from a long day. But books can also change the way we think and live.

Reading with intention can change your life

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