books success
Books and Success
Vocabulary
| among | achieve | graduate (2) |
| claim | according | any given year |
| fill out | prolific | association |
| rank | bold (2) | roughly (2) |
| offline | literate | account for |
| proud | publish | correspond |
| proof | display | aficionados |
| notice | prominent | accompany |
| former | decoration | comprehend |
| absorb | implement | prosperous |
Reading and Achievement
Perhaps not all readers are high achievers — but ALL high achievers are prolific readers.
A bold statement?
Think about it.
Knowledge and Success
One of the secrets to success is knowledge. And the key to knowledge is reading. It’s been said that reading is to the mind what physical exercise is to the body.
The statistics back these claims.
The Statistics
The highest paid individuals read an average of three hours a day.
The lowest earners don’t read. Period.
More shocking news: 80% of the US population does not read a single book in any given year, according to the American Booksellers Association.
They Don’t Read Books
And 58% of adults never read another book after they finish school — including 42% of UNIVERSITY graduates!
What’s more, half of all adults read at the 7th grade (12-year-old) level. Half of all high school graduates cannot properly fill out an application form for a job . . . at McDonald’s!
The Bright Side
On the plus side, the publishing industry remains healthy; hundreds of thousands of books are published each year. Amazon.com, which trades millions of books online, usually ranks among the top five websites.
In fact, Americans actually spend more money on books, magazines and newspapers each year than on movies!
The 80-20 Rule
Mind you, that it’s the top, literate 20% of the population that accounts for 80% of all book purchases. This group roughly corresponds to the top 20% of income earners.
Anecdotal Evidence
Want living proof?
Just visit the home of any millionaire. What do you always see — proudly displayed — in their living room?
That’s right.
A LIBRARY.
The richer the person, the bigger is their library collection.
Now go into the home of poor people. What is the very first thing you notice?
You guessed it.
A HUGE TV!
Always the latest model. Accompanied by a large satellite dish prominently erected outside.
Correlation vs Causation
Now, here’s the question: Did the first group become rich, and then buy all those books for decoration?
Or, did they buy those books … read them … comprehend them … absorb them … and implement the ideas, methods, strategies, concepts, and techniques in their work, businesses and lives — and then become successful and prosperous?
Here are just a few examples of prolific readers.
Warren Buffett spends five to six hours per day reading five newspapers and 500 pages of corporate reports. Bill Gates reads 50 books per year. Mark Zuckerberg reads at least one book every two weeks. Elon Musk grew up reading two books a day. Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, reads two hours day.
Oprah Winfrey credits books with much of her success: “Books were my pass to personal freedom.”
Questions
1. According to the article, what is one of the secrets of success?
2. Did the text mention an analogy? What analogy was mentioned?
3. Most people read a lot. True or false? The more education a person has, the more they read? Yes or no?
4. Most adults can read works by Shakespeare and Dickens. Yes or no?
5. How does the 80-20 rule apply here?
6. The writer mentioned something regarding rich and poor people. Is this correct or incorrect? Is there a connection?
7. Were some examples given? What examples were given?
A. Give specific examples of why reading increases a person’s success and income.
B. Who among your friends or people that you know has the biggest library? Describe his or her collection.
C. How popular is reading among your friends, coworkers or classmates or in your city? Who reads the most?
D. Do you know of any bookworms who are not particularly successful, financially or career-wise? Describe them (but don’t mention names).
E. What are the most popular or best-selling books these days?
F. Are people reading less, the same about or more than before? Why?
G. What will happen in the future?
