"Some books should be tasted, others devoured"

Some books are meant to be nibbled at, while others you just can't put down until you've read every last word. The core idea here is that not all books are created equal, and different books serve different purposes. Sometimes, a quick skim is all you need. Other times, you find a book so compelling that you dive in deep and lose track of time.

Think about the last time you were in a bookstore or browsing online. There's a sea of titles, each one vying for your attention. Some books, like a fun beach read or a gripping thriller, you might devour in one weekend. Others, like a dense textbook or a philosophical treatise, are better suited for selective reading—picking out the juicy bits that interest you the most.

This idea isn't new. Francis Bacon, a philosopher from the 17th century, made this distinction to help people navigate the overwhelming amount of information available, even in his time. He knew that time is precious and we should spend it wisely, especially when it comes to reading.

Now, let's imagine a real-life scenario. Picture yourself as a college student with a gigantic reading list. You've got a novel for your literature class, a thick biology textbook, and a couple of scholarly articles. If you tried to read every single word of everything, you’d never sleep! So, you might devour the novel, getting lost in its world—every chapter pulling you in deeper. But the biology textbook? You’d probably "taste" it, focusing on key chapters or sections that are most relevant for your exams. The scholarly articles? You might skim them, looking for main arguments and conclusions.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by evaluating what you need from the book. Is it for pleasure, education, or research? If it’s for enjoyment, let yourself get immersed. If it’s for learning, zero in on the parts that will give you the most bang for your buck. Don’t feel guilty about not reading every word—that’s the whole point.

Now, let me tell you a story to drive this home. My friend Sarah loves to read. She’s got this crazy work schedule but somehow finds time for it. One day, she picked up a self-help book everyone was raving about. She started reading it cover to cover but soon felt overwhelmed by all the advice. So, she changed her approach. She began skimming the chapters, marking bits that resonated with her. By the end, she had a notebook filled with actionable tips, and she still had time to read a novel that weekend. She tasted the self-help book but devoured the novel.

In short, knowing when to nibble and when to feast can make your reading life more enjoyable and productive. So, the next time you pick up a book, ask yourself—do I want to taste this, or will I devour it?