You Never Read the Same Book Twice

I would rather read the best hundred books over and over again until I absorbed them, rather than read all the books.

—Naval Ravikant

For many, reading becomes an exercise in vanity, measured by the quantity of books read. Instead, it is better to focus on quality, and to actually apply the lessons learned. Rather than chasing new books, it is often more valuable to revisit what has previously had a big impact.

Rereading does more than just reinforce ideas. Each time you return, you are a different person with new perspectives. That shift reveals new insights you did not gain the first time.

One of the biggest epiphanies in my life came from rereading 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson while travelling in Portugal. Many of the rules in the book have deeper philosophical meaning that I did not appreciate until I was older.

When I first read Mastery by Robert Greene in university, many of the ideas felt abstract and distant. When I reread it years later after starting my career, I saw the ideas in a different light. I gained new insights while reinforcing the important ones.

Rereading is not about repetition, but rather iteration. Each pass deepens your understanding and reinforces what has provided value. Instead of constantly chasing new books, return to the ones that have already shaped how you think, and let them shape you further.

Food for Thought

I highly recommend the podcast Naval Ravikant did with Joe Rogan. It’s one of my favourites, and is where the quote above comes from. There are so many gems throughout that episode.