Remember those Evelyn Wood speed reading commercials? (I’m dating myself).
This weekend, I found myself reading six books—yes, six—on a Saturday morning. The catch? It only took about an hour. And before you ask, no, I haven’t suddenly mastered the art of speed reading.
So, how did I pull it off?
The Backstory:
This past week, our house got a fresh coat of paint, including the library/study. To prep the area, we had to move all the bookshelves and, naturally, all the books on them. As we all know, books tend to accumulate, and many of mine were still unread, patiently waiting for that “someday” when I would finally get to them.
On Saturday, it was time to move the books back to their rightful places. But before I started, I decided to be more intentional. Instead of just putting everything back, I made a decision for each book: keep it or donate it.
However, not every decision was easy. There were several books where I just wasn’t sure.
A lot of books
Enter ChatGPT:
Here’s where AI came to the rescue. I turned to ChatGPT to help me decide which books were worth keeping. When I read a book, I’m always looking for actionable takeaways—things I can implement immediately in my life, especially in my keynote speaking career. I’m also on the lookout for memorable quotes that can add value to my talks.
Before diving into a book, I also like to know what other readers thought—the common likes and dislikes.
Using ChatGPT, I quickly gathered summaries, key ideas, and quotes from each book. I asked for specific actions I could take based on the content. I also got average ratings from Amazon and Goodreads and noted the most common complaints.
In just an hour, I had a clear picture of which books would benefit me and which ones I could let go of without any regret.
Close up of the completed project
The Takeaway:
Leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT isn’t just a time-saver; it’s a powerful way to ensure you’re focusing on what matters most. This approach allowed me to make informed decisions about how to spend my time and energy, ensuring that I’m always learning and growing in ways that align with my goals.
So, if you ever find yourself staring down a stack of unread books—or even just one—consider a similar strategy. You might be surprised at how much you can glean in a short amount of time, without ever needing to become a speed reader.