In this day of smartphones, Twitter, and the Internet, it may be ignorant to say people don’t read. They still do, perhaps not as much as they used to. Whether it’s magazines, school material, or just a novel, reading is not a dying skill. However, one reason for declining interest in reading is not technology, but rather people don’t remember much of what they read. We don’t read well, and it’s noticeable.
Reading proficiency is a good skill to have, but takes time to cultivate. When much of the information we consume is in graphical or pictorial form, reading well takes to take a back seat. However, it is not too late to work on your reading skills.
Read with purpose
You should have a purpose for your reading, and constantly try and figure out if it's being achieved as you read. Continuous checking ensures that you stay on track and can recall the most relevant parts of the material.
Understanding your purpose should be easy. Just ask yourself, "Why read this?" If it's for entertainment purposes, it's not much of an issue. But if you are reading to "understand why certain government policies should be supported," you need to ensure that what you read meets this goal.
In a school environment, a lot of guidance is given when it comes to reading assignments. But you won't always have school. In such a situation, it's best to formulate a good guess about what the material you read.
Theresa Beatty, a family and divorce mediator, is an avid reader. She established and ran a book club called Diva's Book Club.