How to Choose a Good Book

It is rightly said that, books are one’s best friend. The amount of knowledge they provide is simply amazing. Books transport you to a different world, to a different era altogether. They have their own charm, which is known only to book lovers. They offer such wide variety of knowledge to the readers that they can satisfy anybody’s interest. It is said that there is a book for everyone. However, the task of choosing a good one solely depends upon the reader. Not every person is fond of thrillers and the person who likes suspense novels, may not find romantic novels fascinating. There is a difference between reading books for the sake of information and for the sole purpose of amusement. A person, who is new to reading books, may have to struggle to find the genre of book(s) which would interest him/her the most. Nevertheless, once you find the book for yourself, it will surely entertain, thrill and enlighten you. If you want to know how to pick a good book, read the article below.

Choosing A Good Book

The first thing to do is to look at the cover. Read the title as well as the cover illustration.
If the book looks interesting from the outside, read the first page and use the five finger rule, which states that if there are five or more words on the page that you don't understand, then the book is probably not for you.
If you like a particular author read the latest book written by him.
You can even go for a book from a series you enjoy reading.
Choose a book that is based on a theme, topic or subject you are interested in.
You can even ask someone to recommend a good book to you. It can be anybody like your older sibling, your mom, your dad, your best friend, even your teachers. It’s better to ask someone, who knows you personally, specially your interests.
Read book reviews in newspapers and magazines. This will give you a fair idea about the new books in the store, as well as, how popular they are. Often the subject of the book is also given, which helps you great deal in making your pick.
Joining a book club can also help, as you will get to know about new books, which you might never have had the motivation to read otherwise.
If a library or bookstore near you has a computer, it will be easy for you to find books of your interest.
You can even ask the librarian or book seller to help you out to find the specific book you are looking for.
Once you have found your kind of book, read a few chapters just to make sure you don't get bored right away. You can also read random pages to get an idea.
If the title of a particular book catches your attention, sit and read the first few pages and find out if the book interests you.
Look for some books in your house which you may have read in school or college. Go through them once again. You may have forgotten about them but reading them once again may arouse your interest. The next time you buy a book you are more likely to pick a book from the same genre.

Tips To Consider

Make a reading list of your own. When a book has been suggested to you, write down its name instantly and use it as a reference once you're in the library or a bookstore.
If you liked the book that you have already finished reading, try to find more books in the same genre. However, do not stick to a single category. Explore more and try to read different books. After all, variety is the spice of life!
It is not possible for you to remember all the books you want to buy. So, it is recommended that you make a list before heading towards a bookstore.
If you have a lot of spare time in hand, spend as much time as possible in the library or bookstore, to find out the next book you are going to read. If you want to buy a book, dedicate enough time to choose the right book as you do not want to waste money on a book, which is of little or no interest to you. Spend wisely!

For many people reading books is more than a hobby. It is a passion. But, not all are readers from a very young age. Some people acquire the taste of reading books much later in their lives. The above are some instructions which can be of great help for new or first-time readers.

How to Cite

How To Choose A Good Book

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Art & Entertainment'