Let me paint you a picture.

You’re standing in a bookstore the size of Texas. So many books whisper “Read me! I’ll fix your life!” You grab one, devour it, then realize…you remember nothing. So, you grab another. And another. Until you’re buried under a mountain of unapplied wisdom, screaming “WHY CAN’T I ADULT?!”

Been there? Cool. Let’s get off of that hamster wheel.

The “Brain Buffet” Problem – How to Stop Reading Everything and Start Reading Anything

Most of us didn’t fall in love with reading because we were handed the right book at the right time. 

We fell in love with reading because, at some point, we realized it could be a lifeline. A way out of confusion, boredom, or even despair. 

But somewhere along the way, the endless buffet of books became less like a feast and more like a trip to an all-you-can-eat salad bar where nothing quite hits the spot. You nibble here, you graze there, and you leave feeling weirdly unsatisfied, maybe even a bit bloated with information you’ll never use.

Know this, reading is only transformative when it’s in dialogue with your life. If you’re just consuming words because you “should”, you’re not reading, you’re anesthetizing yourself. 

That’s how I used to read…out of obligation, not curiosity. The result? A graveyard of half-finished books and a gnawing sense that I was missing something essential.

Why do we do this? 

Because we’re conditioned to believe that “more” is always better. More books, more podcasts, more knowledge. Wisdom isn’t about hoarding answers, it’s about asking better questions. The real art is knowing what question your life is asking right now and finding the books that answer the call.

Here’s the dirty secret of self-help: Most advice is useless…to present-day you. 

That book on scaling to $10M? Useless if you’re still figuring out how to charge $100. 

That meditation guide? Worthless if you’re too fried to sit still for 30 seconds.

So, what’s the fix? Become a problem-first reader.

The “Problem-First” Framework

Step 1: Identify Your Burning Building

Start by asking yourself: “What’s keeping me up at night?” 

Is it the anxiety of not knowing where your business is headed? The quiet ache of wanting to be more creative, more present, more alive? 

Be as specific as possible. “I want to be happier” is too vague. Try, “I want to get more restful sleep” or “I want to finally launch that side project without self-sabotage.” The more honest you are, the more likely you’ll find a book that feels like it was written just for you.

Step 2: Seek Out Books That Are Mirrors, Not Manuals

Once you’ve named your problem, resist the urge to grab the latest bestseller just because everyone else is reading it. 

Instead, look for books that reflect your current struggle. Look for books that feel like they’re holding up a mirror to your life, not handing you a generic instruction manual. 

Sometimes this means re-reading an old favorite with new eyes. Sometimes it means picking up something totally unexpected. Trust your intuition here. If a book keeps popping up in your life– it was mentioned by a friend, referenced in a podcast, staring at you from a bookstore shelf, there’s probably a reason why.

Step 3: Embrace the Timing Paradox

Here’s where I get a little philosophical. Sometimes, the universe serves you a book before you’re ready for it. You might read something now that only makes sense years later. 

That’s not wasted time; that’s planting seeds. As much as we want reading to be a linear path from confusion to clarity, it’s often a spiral. 

You circle back, you see things differently, and you realize that “irrelevant” book from last year is suddenly exactly what you need. Be patient with the process. Not every book you read has to pay off immediately.

Step 4: Curate, Don’t Collect

Finally, treat your reading list like a playlist, not a trophy shelf. Curate books that speak to your current season of life. Archive the rest for later. Use a “Parking Lot” doc, a note on your phone, or a service like Readwise to keep track of intriguing titles you’re not ready for yet. This is your permission slip to stop feeling guilty about unread books. They’ll be there when you need them.

Case Study: When I was struggling with content creation, I ignored every marketing book except Building a StoryBrand. Why? It directly addressed my specific confusion about messaging and saved me hours of temporarily irrelevant reading.

Pro Tip: Use Perplexity as your “Book Sommelier”.

Prompt: “I’m struggling with [your pressing problem]. Give me 3 book recommendations and 3 key questions to ask while reading each of them.”

The Goldfish Effect – Why You Forget 92% of What You Read (And How to Fix It)

Your brain isn’t broken, it’s efficient. 

Evolution didn’t wire us to remember every fact, quote, or clever metaphor we encounter. It wired us to survive, to remember where the berries grow, and which mushrooms are a one-way ticket to the afterlife. 

That’s why you can recall your childhood phone number but not the key insight from last night’s reading binge. 

Most of what we read, our brains quietly file under “Nice to know, but not essential for survival.” And so, poof, it’s gone, like your memory of 10th grade algebra.

The Memory Matrix

For many of us, reading has become a form of intellectual hoarding. 

We collect information the way squirrels stash acorns, convinced that someday, when the intellectual winter comes, we’ll need every last nugget. 

But unless you’re actively using what you read, your brain will Marie Kondo that knowledge right out of your head. If it doesn’t spark immediate joy or utility, it’s out.

So, how do you make sure the good stuff sticks? 

Enters what I call the Memory Matrix: a practical, slightly nerdy, and surprisingly fun system for turning fleeting insights into lasting wisdom.

Active Recall > Passive Highlighting

First, ditch the highlighter as your main tool. Sure, it feels productive, but passive highlighting is the reading equivalent of scrolling LinkedIn and calling it networking. 

Instead, after each chapter pause and write down three questions that can only be answered by what you just read. For example: “What is Gilbert’s ‘trickster’ mindset?” or “How does this concept challenge my current beliefs?” 

This forces your brain to retrieve information, which is the secret sauce for long-term retention.

Want to take this strategy up a notch? Use NotebookLM as your personal study buddy.

Pro Tip: You can find free PDF versions of almost any book using these resources. 

The “Cornell Notes” Method for Non-Academics

Next, try the Cornell Notes method. 

Divide the page you’re taking notes on into three sections: Key Concepts (left column), Action Steps (right column), and WTF?! (at the bottom). 

This structure makes it easy to review what matters most and keeps your notes actionable, not just archivable.

Spaced Repetition for Busy People (Which is Everyone)

Finally, schedule a 10-minute “Brain Dump” each week. Literally block it off on your calendar. 

During this time, review only the action steps from your notes. The stuff that’s actually going to move the needle in your life or business. 

If you’re not applying what you’ve read within 7 days, your brain will file it under “TL;DR,” and it’ll be lost to the ether.

Why Knowing ≠ Doing (And How to Bridge the Gap)

If reading alone could change your life, we’d all be billionaires with six-packs and Zen-level calm. 

But you and I both know the truth…there’s a Grand Canyon-sized gap between knowing and doing. That gap is where most dreams go to die, which is why we have to discuss these 2 common pitfalls: 

1. the “Perfect Implementation” paradox

2. the All-or-Nothing mentality

Pitfall 1: The “Perfect Implementation” Paradox

Here’s our dilemma: We read a book, get inspired, and then immediately feel pressure to follow the author’s advice to the letter. 

“If I can’t do it exactly like James Clear or Tim Ferriss, why bother?” 

It’s as if we believe the universe is handing out gold stars for perfect mimicry. Spoiler: it’s not. In fact, the universe is far more interested in your messy, imperfect attempts at progress than in your ability to recite someone else’s morning routine verbatim.

The truth is, wisdom is not a one-size-fits-all garment. It’s more like a thrift store find you have to tailor so it will fit your life, your quirks, and your current season. 

Mastery, as any craftsman or artist will tell you, is born out of experimentation, adaptation, and a willingness to look a little foolish along the way.

Whenever you encounter a strategy or tip, pause and ask yourself, “How can I remix this to fit my reality?” 

Maybe the book says to meditate for 30 minutes at dawn, but your toddler wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and thinks silence is a personal insult. Your remix? Five mindful breaths while your coffee brews. The point isn’t to win at someone else’s game; it’s to play your own, using the best rules you can borrow.

Pitfall 2: The “All-or-Nothing” Death Spiral

Now, let’s tackle the All-or-Nothing mentality. 

This mindset barks, “If you can’t overhaul your entire life today, don’t bother starting.” 

We convince ourselves that small steps don’t count, and only grand gestures matter. But here’s the truth…1% better every day is infinitely more powerful than 100% perfect NEVER.

Think about it. The most profound transformations in nature happen incrementally. Trees don’t sprout overnight, rivers carve canyons over millennia, and you…yes you, will build your ideal life one micro-action at a time.

The Micro-Habit Hack

Here’s how I developed the habit of writing so I could start publishing this newsletter:

1. Identify the smallest possible action (e.g., “Write 50 words” not “Write a book”).

2. Pair it with an existing habit (e.g., “After I pour my tea, I write one paragraph”).

Celebrate when the new habit is firmly rooted in your daily routine (e.g. “I treated myself to a nice facial after my first 4 newsletters were published.”)

Bridging the Gap: From Knowing to Doing

Here’s a little secret…results don’t come from reading more, they come from testing, tinkering, and being willing to look silly as you figure it out. 

The books you read are blueprints, not commandments. Your job is to build, brick by brick, using what works and discarding what doesn’t.

And when you inevitably stumble (because you will), don’t fall into the trap of self-blame and guilt. Instead, treat every misstep as data. The only real failure is refusing to try at all.

Your Action Plan (Start Today)

1. Pause all books. Identify your “burning building”. Only resume reading what directly addresses it.

2. Pick one idea from your pertinent reading material. Remix it for your reality. Shrink it to the smallest possible step. Start that step today, no matter how imperfectly. Reflect, adjust, and repeat.

3. Build a “Knowledge Parking Lot” doc and brain dump all non-urgent insights there. Leave it until you need it.

4. Schedule “Implementation Sprints” one day a week to your review notes. Pick one tactic to test the following week.

Remember: Reading without application is mental masturbation. And nobody wants to admit they’ve been f*cking themselves.

If you found value in this newsletter and you’re not subscribed yet… 

Hit that subscribe button and share this newsletter with someone who’s also on a journey of self-mastery and self-actualization as an entrepreneur.

Stay Masterful,

Caroline