NFA Finance

I don’t think I’ve ever regretted reading a book.

That doesn’t mean I’ve finished every book I’ve started. Not even close.

There have been plenty of books I picked up, read for a while and eventually put down because they simply weren’t very good—or at least they weren’t good for me at that particular moment.

I’m sure almost every book contains something useful. There might be one interesting idea, one good story or one sentence that makes you think differently. But if I have to fight through 300 pages to uncover one tiny piece of value, I’m not convinced that’s the best use of my time.

People sometimes treat quitting a book as if it’s some kind of failure. Once they start it, they feel obligated to finish it.

I don’t.

The author wrote the book. I bought it or borrowed it. Neither of those things means I owe the book another ten hours of my life.

Time is the one thing we can’t replace. There are more great books in the world than any of us could possibly read, so why spend weeks forcing yourself through one that doesn’t hold your attention, teach you anything or make you want to keep turning the pages?

Put it down and find another one.

That isn’t regretting the book. It’s recognizing that the book has already given you everything it’s going to give you.

Sometimes the timing is wrong. A book that doesn’t connect with you today might become exactly what you need five years from now. Other times, the book just isn’t very good. That’s fine too.

Reading is supposed to expand your thinking, introduce you to new ideas and help you see the world from another perspective. It shouldn’t feel like serving a sentence.

I’ve never regretted reading a book because I’ve never forced myself to stay with one long enough to resent it.

If it’s valuable, I keep reading.

If it isn’t, I stop.

That’s not quitting. That’s knowing the value of your time.

—Nicholas Francis