Since launching Millennial Masters, I’ve read way more business books. I probably should’ve done more of that in my earlier business life too, but it’s never too late.
That taught me something pretty quickly. When people say they want to read more, they often picture reading as sitting down and working through every page from start to finish.
That makes sense for novels. It doesn’t make much sense for most business books.
If you’re reading for ideas, frameworks, lessons, or arguments you can actually use, you don’t need to read every word.
You need to get to the point, work out what’s useful, and what deserves more of your time.
That changes how you read.
How to read a book a week
…and actually remember what you learn
1️⃣ Know who’s talking
Before you get into the book, spend five minutes on the author.
Read a short bio, interview, or podcast clip. You don’t need their whole story. You just need enough context to understand what they’ve done and where they’re coming from.
It gives you a better filter for everything that follows. You stop taking every claim at face value and start reading with a bit more judgement.
2️⃣ Get the argument first
Then go straight to the contents page, intro, and conclusion.
In most business books, that already tells you what the author is trying to say and how they’re making the argument.
Once you have that, you stop drifting through the book chapter by chapter with no sense of what matters.
3️⃣ Skim first, slow down later
Most business books don’t need a slow cover-to-cover read on the first pass.
Read the opening paragraphs of each chapter, skim the subheads, and look for the examples, arguments, or sections that feel sharper than the rest.
If a section is repeating something you already know, move on. If it’s getting to the useful bit, slow down.
4️⃣ Make the book answerable
When you finish, go back through the contents and ask what each chapter actually added.
What was the argument? What stayed with you? What would you use? What did you disagree with?
Write down a few notes while it’s still fresh. That’s what makes the reading stick.
Read for extraction, not completion
You’re not trying to win a medal for finishing every page. You’re trying to get the value.
Many business books can give you what you need in an hour or two if you read like this.
Not every book deserves a full deep read. A lot of them just need the useful bits pulled out.
Stay 📚 Booksmart
