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What do the worlds most successful people have in common? They read. A lot. Most CEOs and executives read four to five books per month. Theyre not just doing it because they love murder mysteries or sci-fi adventures, theyre doing it because reading is a key ingredient to success. Reading has a multitude of personal and professional benefits that you may not have considered.

Want to learn more? Weve gone ahead and listed below some of the major benefits you can gain from reading, as well as some handy resources that can help you read more in less time.

Leaders must stay ahead of the curve and keep up with the most up-to-date and important information of the day. Knowing trends and developments in your industry will help you make educated decisions that can drive your company forward. Reading keeps you in the know and allows you to think more critically about decisions that need to be made.

When it comes to staying in the know on business trends in particular, many leaders are turning to Readitfor.me, a book summary service that condenses reads on productivity, management, and more relevant topics into quick, 12-minute summaries. Perfect for those who want to read more but might not have the time, Readitfor.me makes it easy to keep up with todays trending business ideas. Lifetime memberships are currently on sale for $99.99, or 88 per cent off its usual $840 price.

Reading encourages your imagination, thereby cultivating creativity. Authors keep us on our toes by introducing us to new worlds, offering challenging opinions, or proposing alternative world views. Creativity allows you to think outside the box to find solutions that may not seem obvious to others. Reading forces you to get comfortable living outside the box.

According to a University of California, Berkeley study, readers are excellent at analyzing information. Readers are well-practiced in deciphering and interpreting language, which makes them excellent at handling abstract information and analyzing situations. Those are incredibly handy skills in business.

The more you read, the more your vocabulary and grasp of language will improve, allowing you to speak more confidently. However, youll also gain a better understanding of sentence structure and rhythm, allowing you to write better. Reading teaches you how to write persuasively and concisely. Employers like employees who can both speak and write effectively.

When you read, you interact with an authors world through his or her perspective. Youre constantly comparing that perspective to your own, thereby gaining an appreciation for alternative viewpoints and opinions. This allows you to develop empathy and interpersonal skills.

Communication is a major cornerstone of leadership, and if your goal with reading is to become a better leader, Soundview Executive Book Summaries can also help. Working with leading book publishers and best-selling authors, Soundview is another book summary service that extracts the key takeaways from vital leadership concepts like management, motivation, HR, and entrepreneurship. You can get a 1-year subscription now for $49.99, or 49 per cent off the usual $99 price.

Reading is an escape. Life is full of stressors, from running a household to meeting a deadline, and reading offers you a lifeline. When you can just curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book, it can do wonders for your mental health.

Reading introduces you to new people and places constantly. When you frequently put yourself outside of your comfort zone by reading, you develop new perspectives and learn new things. The more you know, the more capable you are, and the more interesting you are to talk to.

If you want to take a more general approach to your reading goals, both 12min Micro Book Library and CatchUp Book Summaries can help. Both services sport bite-sized book summaries from a variety of genres and topics, and theyre both on sale now. You can get lifetime access to CatchUp for only $29 (90 per cent off the usual price) today or lifetime access to 12min for $39 (88 per cent off the normal price) as well.

Prices subject to change.

More here:
Seven reasons why you should be reading as much as the world's top business leaders - Financial Post