These are excerpts from the author’s book “Deep,” which contains eight of his small books published in the form of Wisdom Literature covering different aspects of life: Facing troublemakers, dealing with pain, personal financial issues, gastronomy, reading, criticizing, inspiring, and feeling always good to go.

Series 5: Reading.

A Unique Contest

• If reading must be a contest, it is certainly not about who reads a greater number of pages or books.

• It is okay to participate in reading contests, strive to win first place, and enjoy the trance of victory. But the most important thing is to continue exploring and achieving some of the genuine knowledge purposes away from showy reading and the thrill of breaking records.

• There is an inescapable amount of ostentation that exists within all of us. But don’t let bragging grow and overwhelm you so that it appears as if it were a fundamental motivator for your actions.

• Reading, in particular, loses a lot of its value as a result of ostentation, whether on the intellectual level or on a purely personal one.

• Reading contests are not purposes in themselves. If you find yourself pushed for any reason to participate in a contest, do not miss using that as an opportunity to strengthen your skills in some aspect of reading.

• Strive to get inspired in reading contests by those who demonstrate outstanding qualitative abilities in the challenge, not necessarily by the one who was ranked the first place.

• You don’t necessarily need to wait for any reading contests, which all have their terms and conditions that are indispensable for any competition. Create the reading challenge you desire and race yourself in the areas and skills of reading you need in your own way.

• If you find yourself wanting, or even compelled, to take on a reading contest, don’t just focus on what will get you to first place. Focus on what makes you stand out in your own way.

• It is easy to decide who has read more, but it is hard to judge who has read better.

• In reading contests it is important to focus on what the judges want. But amid the challenge, do not forget it is your love of books and your devotion to reading that will essentially save you in critical competition situations. Most important, your love of books and your devotion to reading are what will remain as assets and constant motivations when the competition ends, whatever the outcome.