Books are indeed your best friends!

Bill Gates and his book reading habit is legendary. Every year, he reads around 50 books, which translates to about one per week. Most of us do read and maybe are voracious readers like Gates too. But then the big question is – how do we retain all the information we read?

He has listed down four reading rules :

1: Make notes in margins.

He says, "Particularly if it's a nonfiction book, are you taking in new knowledge and sort of attaching [it] to knowledge you have? For me, taking notes helps make sure that I'm really thinking hard about what's in there."

2: Finish what you are reading

Gates explains that he avoids starting any book that he can't see through to the end. This rule might be a bit difficult to follow as sometimes, only after we get into the first few pages, we realise that its not interesting enough.

3: Kindle or physical book, read!

The point here isn't to read your books in print because "that's what Bill Gates does." Rather, find what works for you. Because if you find a style of reading that you enjoy and that's comfortable, you're likely to do more of it.

4: Read for an hour, at least!

Gates suggests setting aside at least an hour at a time for serious reading. He says, "This is not the kind of thing you can do five minutes here, 10 minutes there. Magazine articles or short YouTube videos fit into those little slots."

Reading can be an enjoyable pastime, a way to settle down and relax. But it can also be so much more.