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I’ve been thinking lately about how we consume books.
With the pace of modern life—and the rise of AI—the edge belongs to those who can read smarter, not just more.
So I started experimenting with a new way to read.
A method that moves fast, but still extracts value.
It’s called the 10-20-40 Method.
It’s a form of optimal stopping—a way to extract signal without drowning in noise. You give each book a fair shot, but you don’t waste hours trying to wring meaning from fluff.
Here’s how it works:
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First 10 minutes – Skim the front/back cover, table of contents, conclusion, and maybe a review or two. You’re not trying to absorb it all—just get a sense of the terrain.
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Next 20 minutes – Flip through the chapters. Look for structure. Highlight insights that jump out. You’re mapping the skeleton of the book.
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Final 40 minutes – Choose 2–3 chapters and go deep. Take notes. Argue with the author in your head. Apply the idea to something real.
That’s it. One book. About 70–90 minutes total.
At first, it felt almost disrespectful—like I was cheating.
But then something surprising happened:
I started learning faster.
Seeing patterns across books.
And remembering more.
So I ran the idea by an AI to check my thinking (as I often do), and we mapped out the pros and cons together.
What Happens If You Do This Every Day for a Year?
Let’s say you read just 1 book per day using 10-20-40.
That’s 365 books a year.
Add in a second book and you’re looking at 730 books.
Here’s what would likely happen:
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You'd build a mental model library faster than most people do in a lifetime.
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You'd spot BS quicker—pattern recognition levels up fast when you're sampling hundreds of sources.
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You'd start creating at a higher level, combining insights across disciplines.
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You'd rewire your thinking from sheer exposure to high-quality ideas.
- And... you'd probably start getting asked how you seem to “know something about everything.”
Not all books are created equal.
Most won’t survive the test of time. The Lindy effect reminds us that the longer an idea has survived, the longer it will survive.
So I’m learning to read fast—but linger on the timeless ones.
But of course, there are trade-offs.
What Are the Downsides?
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You risk shallow learning if you never slow down to reflect or apply.
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You could burn out or start seeing reading as a chore.
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You might hoard knowledge instead of using it—the intellectual equivalent of overpacking for a trip and never leaving the house.
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And some books—especially the great ones—deserve to be read slowly. Felt. Lived.
So here’s the twist I’m adding to my routine:
A Sustainable Reading Rhythm
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Weekdays → One book per day using 10-20-40. Write down one quote, one insight, and one possible action.
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Weekends → One slow, deep read. No skipping. Just full immersion.
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Monthly → A Power Synthesis Day: review your notes, revisit the biggest ideas, and translate 2–3 into action, content, or conversations.
This blend gives you speed and depth.
Quantity and quality.
Knowledge and wisdom.
It’s early days, but I’m loving the results so far.
I’m also starting to think of books like relationships: you can only maintain so many.
Just like Dunbar’s number suggests a limit to stable friendships, maybe you only need 150 truly great books. The kind you revisit again and again.
Books are meant to be used—not worshipped.
This protocol is helping me actually use them, and get through my reading backlog.
So here's the challenge:
Try the 10-20-40 method on one book.
See if it works for you.
Then take one idea and do something with it.
Until next time,
Nick
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