The world is full of knowledge, and no matter how much we read or learn, we can never take it all in. There’s always an underlying feeling that something is missing and there is so much more out there waiting to be discovered.

It might be connected to your studies, a course you’re taking, a skill you want to learn, etc., but the search never truly stops. One of the simplest and most rewarding ways to feed that curiosity is by reading.

Reading is the basis for gaining knowledge — because it not only informs us, but also entertains. As Francis Bacon says, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested” — which makes it clear that not every book needs equal attention or time.

But how can one decide whether the book they have taken needs to be skimmed through or scanned through, and still get the information it is supposed to give?

Love books but never seem to have enough time? Here’s how to pick the right ones, read them smartly and still enjoy every page!

Let’s discuss some key points that will surely assist you in selecting a book and reading it accordingly.

Choose your genre

Before purchasing a book, just give a thought to what it is that you want to read. A story, biography, novel, history or any other genre? You have to be clear about the genre before buying a book.

Use the title as a clue

After selecting the genre, give a little time to think about what the title of the book you are planning to buy suggests. Does it make you curious to read it? Do you think you will read it or it will just gather dust on your shelf? Or judge it according to whatever criteria you have for selecting your next book.

Skim and scan

Reading involves two main techniques: skimming and scanning. Both techniques help you get the best out of a passage. Some readers skim the book, while others scan. You must understand the difference if you are new to the terms.

In skimming, you grasp the general idea of the text without focusing on specific details. You don’t underline dates, names or locations, nor memorise the information word for word. Instead, you focus on the concept, theme and flow.

Scanning, on the other hand, requires more attention. Here, you actively look for specific information, such as the name of a person, important dates, key facts and note them.

In my opinion, skimming can be especially useful. It allows you to cover more material quickly, filtering what is worth a deeper read later and what can be set aside.

Judging a book by its blurb Is reading the blurb really important? Yes, it is.

The publisher’s blurb is helpful before reading the whole book because it often summarises the central theme and purpose of the book. Spending just five to seven minutes on this part is enough before you continue skimming through the book.

If a book does not have a blurb, you can still look at the title and the writer’s name to form an idea and guess what the book might be about. Another way of understanding what the book is about is by going through the contents and index.

Check the preface

If you don’t know much about the author, the preface usually gives you an idea of the writer. It is a little note from the author at the start of the book.

Usually, here they share why they wrote the book, how the idea came about and may thank the people who helped along the way or became their inspiration. It’s a quick way to get to know the writer before exploring further.

Refer to contents and index

You’ve probably seen the contents page; it’s right at the start of a book. It has listings of the main topics or chapters along with their page numbers, so you can jump straight to the page with the topic of your interest or the title you are really curious about.

The index is a bit different. You’ll find it at the very end and, instead of listing chapters, it’s arranged in alphabetical order. It points you to every page where a certain name, place or idea is mentioned, even if it comes up more than once.

For example, if you’re reading a book and your teacher asks you to find every discussion about Charles Dickens in a 300-page text, you’re not going to flip through the whole thing page by page. Instead, you go to the index, look up “Charles Dickens,” and there’s your answer — every page number laid out for you.

Spending just 10 to 15 minutes on the contents page or index can give you a clear picture of the book and save you a lot of time later.

Spot key paragraphs

Have you ever noticed some people at bookshops taking a while going through the books before buying them? Some bookshops even set up a proper seating area, so buyers can take their time and go through the books before deciding to purchase.

After the blurb, the contents and the index, you can quickly turn to the chapters that seem most interesting to you. Read the first two and last two paragraphs of those chapters.

Why? Well, mostly the writers engage the reader’s attention, set the tone and present the main ideas in the opening paragraphs. The closing paragraphs summarise the discussion, tying the ideas together and leaving a lasting impression.

This short read gives you the idea of the writing style of the writer and also how interesting the experience will be for you. Now you understand why those people take so long to read the books in shops before buying them?

Explore video or audio summaries

Some people prefer audio or video summaries. They help save time and make it easier to understand complex ideas. Many video versions use engaging visuals, animations or simple illustrations that help explain the writer’s concepts more clearly.

There are several platforms and channels, such as Book Buddy, GIGL and YeBook, that present well-known book summaries in short formats. These 10–15 minute videos can spark your interest in a book and you can later enjoy experiencing everything the way the writer unfolds it in the original text.

However, I wouldn’t recommend starting with summaries straight away. To me, this is a kind of spoon-feeding. It’s only helpful if the book is known for having a difficult concept or idea and you are genuinely interested in reading it. In that case, a summary can give you a head start.

Read critical analyses

Reading a critical analysis of a book is another way of understanding the whole idea behind it. This is where the literary analysts share their views and highlight the main themes and ideas of the author. This way you get insights from multiple perspectives.

With this, I would like to point out that no matter where we are in this world, where countless books are written and published every day, we need to be selective and work smart. To use your time wisely, set aside just one hour to follow the steps mentioned above.

One last tip for readers: when you finish reading a book, take a few minutes to summarise it in your own words. This simple habit strengthens memory, helps you see the main points clearly and makes it easier to share your thoughts with others.

Time is short and there’s so much to explore, so use these tips to uncover the treasures hidden in books.

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 16th, 2025