A girl said: “In the past 5 years, I have been writing English articles for more than 500, but I can’t tell there’s improvement. I’ve got no idea what English books to read as I will fall asleep when I read classic novels.”

This reminded me when I was learning English in China; I’ve got exactly the same feeling.

I would like read English articles very much, but all the newspapers and books I’ve found which matched my English level was either too shallow or too difficult for me, eg, Middle School English Newspaper or China Daily.

And when I read classic English books which were put on my bookshelf for years including Gone with the wind, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, I felt the story were far away from my real life which also involved lots of unknown vocabularies.

In the end, I had to stop at chapter one.

At the moment, if books don't catch my attention, I might have to return to the library very soon because I can’t concentrate on what I am reading, I don’t feel excited at all.

However, there are a few days I don’t go to bed until 1:00am because I feel falling in love with books which touch my heart so much.

Therefore, please don’t waste time asking people which English books you should read, please have a try,  which articles  or books make you feel good. It’s just like you are having ice-cream and you don’t wanna go to bed without finishing it, then go for it, that’s the one you should read.

Please read books which match your personalities or personal interests.

If you wanna lose weight, read English articles about that, if you are interested in fashion, then read English magazines, if you eager make more money, buy English books regarding how to make you rich.

You can’t read any book only for the purpose improving the English language by ignoring your inner needs; you will definitely fall asleep immediately.

For me, at this stage, I am focusing on self-development as that kind of book makes my heart racing, I can't live without it.

Without reading books, it’s hard for me to get innovative ideas for English writing except for the traveling ones, but I need personal traveling experience for that.

So I have to keep reading, otherwise, I will get frustrated as I can’t finish the task by posting 2 articles per week, my ideas will be run out shortly.

But I will never regret it as reading makes me happy, the inner happiness, it’s a free luxury meal I don’t need pay for except the time and effort.

By the way, if you can’t find nice articles online, and then you need to buy some, you will gain more later on from investing books.

Most important thing, I am growing through reading and writing.

It not only tells my strengths and weaknesses but also teaches me how to increase self-confidence, how to become a positive person, how to go through hardship and what is happiness.

Everything you are concerning about without an answer, they are all in the books, and they will be your true friends forever.

Therefore, the purpose of reading is not only for writing better articles, it’s more about how to become a better and happier person you deserve.

If your aim is only for getting certificates, passing IELTS and finding a better job, after that, you never use it again. It’s just like you learn how to play the piano for 10 years, only for a level 10 certificate for showing off or for entering into a better uni, then stop playing it ever since.

That’s a waste because you are not enjoying the beautiful music or the wonderful words.

There are so many English books with outstanding ideas, which haven’t been translated into Chinese, you should read them.

You buy the latest version of iPhone or the most fashionable LV bags, why not read the original version of English books. You might get great ideas which will totally change your insight, lifestyle and increase your knowledge.

Next to food, our minds and souls must be nourished by words—Bible

(Sorry, I don’t have religion, but I enjoy some words from the bible.)

Leaders are good readers, all the successful people with whom I have had contact are good readers.

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.

- Jim Rohn -

I have just read an article which was written by a very popular Chinese online writer: “You think my writing is easy to follow up for a few sentences or paragraphs, if you read 2 to 5 books/ per week, then after 7 years, please come compete with me.”

Again, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said: “My challenge for 2015 was to read a new book every two weeks.” 

You see, how busy he must be, but he still read books in order to learn different cultures, beliefs, histories and technologies.

From the people who close me, my Dad haven’t had formal Uni education(he’s got MBA later on), but he’s the most knowledgeable person I’ve known in real life and he’s also the successful leader for his business. Because he has never stopped reading in his free time, he bought books for his spiritual food more than enough to read in his lifetime.

And quite a lot of people get an impression after talking with him for a fewhours, which is just like read more than 10 years’ books.

So how powerful it is for being self-educated.

Again I love what Jim Rohn said: you are what you read.

That’s so true, from my personal experience, before I came to Australia; I bought all the books I could find from book shops regarding Chinese people living overseas.

I was encouraged and inspired by their stories, in the end, I made my way to study in Australia.

Without reading those books, I wouldn't have the idea and courage being an overseas student in my 30s.

Therefore, please spend at least 30 minutes a day reading books; your life will different from the ones who don’t read at all.

And please remember to write down the good ideas that come your way, they might be the treasure you’ve got from some else’s life experience.

As we rarely have a chance listen to the stories of successful people in our daily life, but they are all on the books waiting for you to read.

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