| You don't have to spend a lot on books to find books | | | | difficult to understand. Don't be afraid to select books |
| you will enjoy reading. In fact, one way to save money | | | | that are written in the simpler language and make |
| on books is to purchase soft cover editions rather than | | | | them easier for you to understand, particularly if you |
| hard cover. This can save approximately 50 percent | | | | are reading about a topic you are not very familiar |
| on your book budget while still enabling you to | | | | with yet. Reading is about understanding and |
| purchase new releases. | | | | comprehending, not showing off or pretending to be |
| Reading frequently is the single best way to sharpen | | | | more sophisticated by selecting books that you think |
| and improve your reading skills. Some people-including | | | | will impress someone. |
| children and teenagers-say they don't enjoy reading, | | | | With that being said, one critical way to sharpen your |
| but the fact is, they simply haven't found the kinds of | | | | reading skills is to keep a dictionary handy when you |
| books they enjoy reading. They may also be having | | | | are reading. Before you actually look up a word that |
| some difficulty with reading and, therefore, find it | | | | you do not understand or recognize, first read the rest |
| challenging or frustrating. | | | | of the sentence, skipping the word you do not know. In |
| The thing is, there are books available today about | | | | fact, go ahead and read the rest of the paragraph. |
| every topic under the sun! And everyone is interested | | | | Often the rest of the sentence or paragraph will give |
| in something, so the first step to improving your reading | | | | you clues about what the word means and you may |
| skills is to find books about topics that interest you. This | | | | be able to figure out the meaning on your own. After |
| could be gardening, woodworking, hunting, fishing, | | | | you think you know what the word means-or if you |
| paranormal events, relationships, self-improvement, | | | | can't figure it out from the context of the other |
| history, sports, entertainment, movie stars, or any of a | | | | text-look up the word in the dictionary. |
| million other subjects. You might also enjoy reading | | | | Ask yourself if the word meant what you thought it |
| fiction or made up stories rather than non-fiction books. | | | | meant. If not, reread the sentence and the paragraph |
| The important thing is to browse through lots of | | | | again now that you understand what it means. This will |
| different books, flip through them, read the back or | | | | ensure you comprehend what you are reading. |
| inside cover flaps, and select books on topics that | | | | You don't want to read too far along in the text if you |
| interest you. | | | | do not understand a word. This can cause you to get |
| It's also important to select books that are written at | | | | confused about what you are reading or to lose |
| your reading level. You can get books on most | | | | interest in what you are reading. Reading should be |
| subjects written in simple, easy-to-read language. | | | | enjoyable. The more you read, the better you will |
| Likewise, you can probably find a book written in | | | | develop your reading skills, and the more you will read. |
| technical jargon or high-level language that makes it | | | | It's a win-win situation! |