Now, let me tell you how you are going to set that purpose
Ask yourself these questions:
1) What.s the primary goal of my reading this book?
2) After reading the book what changes do I expect in my
thoughts and actions?...maybe you want to read to kill some
time in a wholesome way.
3) How the contents of the book will help me in the long-run,
i.e. how worthwhile it is to read the book?
4) If the reading is supposed to create a value for me, then what
is it?
5) How much of the details about the topic do I look for in the
book?
6) Do I only look for the gist and the salient features of the
book?
7) Do I want to remember some precise chapters whenever I
need?
8) To serve my purpose of reading is it necessary that I read the
entire book?
9) Can I get what I look for by going through one or just some
of the chapters?
To meet my purpose of reading how much time am I willing
to commit? Remember, when you set a time for reading, it
helps in increasing your attention.
To sum up, do some introspection and find out whether you want to
read to get a fair idea about the subject or to enrich yourself with the
finer details or simply to pass some time to take pleasure in and
unwind yourself.
So, you can find here that unless you cut out the purpose of your
reading, it might end up as a wasteful and inert exercise. It.s like you
are out on a trip without knowing where to go.
There is another factor, which you cannot take apart from purpose.
It.s time-management. Recollect what Francis Bacon said..Some
books are to be tasted.others to be gulped down.some few to be chewed
and digested.. This is an era of information. You cannot be expected
to read and grasp every material that you come across at the same
speed. This is neither possible nor desirable. Thus, it.s very necessary
that you learn to sort out what to read and what not to and then
categorize as Bacon suggested.