Whether entering through the fiction or nonfiction portal, the rabbit hole of learning is addictive. An ‘ah-ha!’ epiphany only lasts a moment until you realize your discovery was common sense. It still provides a nice buzz, keeps you turning pages and moving on to the next book. The trick is to make the insight last beyond the initial buzz.
In the business world, there are plenty of insight-to-action models available. Most are guided by data science. Data is not limited to statistics. Taking notes as you read, for instance, is a form of data. Synthesizing and summarizing are, likewise, paths to memorializing a lesson. These exercises prompt action that will continue after you’ve turned the last page.
After finishing each book, answer this question: “In what ways will I interact differently with my environment as a result of what I have learned?”
As examples, here are three titles from my nightstand: a recent nonfiction, a classic fiction, and a nature travelogue. For each book, I have summarized the lesson learned and identified a commitment to action.
The Experience Machine
Insight: Accrued experience alters the predictive function of our brain and shapes perception.
Action: I will challenge the tendency toward confirmation bias and be more open-minded.
I Know This Much Is True
Insight: Despite similar backgrounds, people adapt to life’s challenges uniquely.
Action: I will endeavor to be curious about the broader context before making judgements.
Around the World in 80 Trees
Insight: The forests across our planet tell the story of adaptation and interdependence.
Action: I will widen the lens to appreciate the environmental context of our place in the world.
Our reading selections are personal, subject to taste, and often chosen primarily for entertainment value. Not everyone reads to fuel growth and learning, yet no one is unchanged after taking in a work of art. Is it enough to think and feel differently or should insights be elevated to action? If my DNA has been altered, how will that show up for my teammates?
