Independent Reading: The Secret Sauce of Success

“Oh, the places you’ll go” (and what you’ll bring back!). Adventures and revelations are infinite in the world of books.

“Feed your head.” -Grace Slick

Part of my work involves tutoring admissions test prep, with most students aiming for that top-scoring echelon, usually in the 97th percentile or above. As we chip away at strategies, question types, and tailor plans of attack, I continually emphasize that the frosting on any preparation cake is simply this: Independent Reading. All top scorers were strong readers, and, in fact, the number one prep advice, above and beyond working on practice tests, is to READ. This discussion occurs with every student, not just those prepping for admissions tests.

Now, independent reading is precisely that: independent. Assigned works for school do not count. Regarding test prep, I suggest reading books or articles outside one’s comfort zone. For example, an SAT student struggling with some of the reading comprehension section’s denser pieces would do well to read texts such as The Federalist Papers or some of Abraham Lincoln’s writings to beef up the nonfiction bucket, and Charles Dickens and Jane Austen on the fiction end. But generally, reading will complement your strengths in ALL aspects of life, be they academic, professional, spiritual, civic, artistic, romantic, and so on. The well-read doctor, mail carrier, salesperson, chef, or engineer is happier and likely more skilled than their non-reader counterparts.

Pure independent reading should be reading for enjoyment and curiosity, exploring genres or stories you’re interested in, and challenging yourself with a higher reading level. My academic successes would not likely have occurred if I had not become a “Reader” at an early age. I was avidly gobbling up adult-level science fiction and fantasy novels when I was twelve. I never looked back, eventually becoming a high school English teacher. I live for engaging others in exploring the world through the printed word. Exploring real-life experiences is no less adventurous than fiction; many readers prefer nonfiction to fiction. There’s much truth to learn from all genres about the universe, both without and within.

I tell students that reading is an opportunity to go to the “mind movies.” If they read actively, the world their imaginations create and explore will always be more fantastical than the $150 million Hollywood adaptations. The overwhelming majority of my students agree: the book is better than the movie. The creative combination of words creates vivid characters, emotions, and ideas that the reader may have never encountered otherwise. Despite the infinite possibilities of real or imaginary explorations, there is so much to relate to and learn in the textual mindscape. I impart to my students that nothing quite compares to having a great book to look forward to daily.

Maya Angelou nails it in her poem, “I Love the Look of Words”:

Popcorn leaps, popping from the floor
of a hot black skillet
and into my mouth.
Black words leap,
snapping from the white
page. Rushing into my eyes. Sliding
into my brain which gobbles them
the way my tongue and teeth
chomp the buttered popcorn.

When I have stopped reading,
ideas from the words stay stuck
in my mind, like the sweet
smell of butter perfuming my
fingers long after the popcorn
is finished.

I love the book and the look of words
the weight of ideas that popped into my mind.
I love the tracks
of new thinking in my mind.

If one is genuinely reading actively, the power and the metaphorical yumminess of words should truly pop. There’s always the student that doesn’t like reading or argues, that “the movie is better.” But this indicates passive interaction, which is the wrong way to “play the reading game”- it’s no different than playing a video game: you have to work with the controller (your mind) to make any progress and have a rewarding experience. One must actually eat the popcorn to experience it, not watch someone else eat it and infer what it’s like.  

In this day and age of endless streaming entertainment and incredible video games, it’s more important than ever to unplug and lose oneself in the printed word.

So reading should be viewed as a joy unbound, not a chore to endure through schooling. Of course, if a student wants to be a better reader, then read. But a lifelong love of learning, that education is ongoing beyond a diploma or degree, is where true mastery lies. If life is supposed to be wondrous and enjoyable, then the oxygen for academic, professional, and spiritual success lies in instinctively wanting to read.

If you are what you eat, then you breathe what you read. Even if you think this blog entry is poppycock, check out the science. Like breathing, reading is a proven regimen for a healthy mind, body, and soul.

So, what’s on your nightstand?

~~

Curtis Eames is the founder and Lead Instructor of CurtisE Learning. He is a firm believer that every student can learn, and works to each student’s strengths while developing areas that need improvement. A literature analysis and writing stickler, he works hard to improve skills and ensure college readiness. Curtis' energy and sense of humor make his sessions popular- he portrays academics in a fun light, akin to what he calls the "mental and spiritual gym" where one learns how to learn while maintaining a relaxed and enjoyable environment. When not working in education, Curtis continues to pursue acting and is currently penning two screenplays. He loves tennis, guitar, cooking, travel, and, most of all, making his wife and kids giggle.