What I keep in my reading kit
For anyone who reads a decent amount, you always want to be able to engage with what you read. To me, that is half the fun. Marking up a book. Underlines, highlights, additional notes…all of it. Why read if you don’t learn?
Over the last couple of years, I have pretty much settled in on a reading kit. I struggle to read anything non-fiction without it. Especially if it is deep into a research project. To be honest, if I don’t have these things with me it has actually gotten tough to read, or at least focus on what I am reading and working on.
To fix this I built out a reading kit that stays in my bag at all times. I also keep a decent stash of these things in my truck office box, but that is for another post.
Here is my reading kit.
7 color book tabs | Amazon Link
I use a markup color system when I read paper books. When I find something that I think needs marking up for the future I just throw one of these tabs on the page. This color code has been edited enough over the last few years and it is solid.
Orange - quote
Yellow - content (matches another project or longer thought I’m working on)
Green - preaching (this would fit a future message or is something that needs to be saved)
Blue - important (not to me necessarily, but to the larger purpose of the book)
Pink - big idea (more to me, not necessarily the book)
Purple - save in readwise
I buy these in massive quantities and leave them EVERYWHERE. Every book I am reading has at least one of them stuck inside it.
Post-It Notes | Amazon Link
Don’t get the cheap generic ones. They aren’t worth it. I also don’t care what color I am using, but I always have at least one color and one white. There is no reason for this other than the odd aesthetic part of marking up a book that I enjoy.
I use the post-it notes when I want to really add some sort of note or think through something the book is saying. I just stick it on the page and let it hang out a little bit.
Pilot G2.05 | Amazon Link
I use the .05 for general writing and for books. I like the .38 for Bible reading.
Post-it Brand Flags | Amazon Link
These are the heavier, almost plastic-backed flags. I don’t really use these for books, but I will use them in my Bible. I also use them in my reading notebook to create sections. They are removable and I’ve had some I use to move and mark things that are years old.
Drafting Triangle | Amazon Link
I used to keep a cheap plastic ruler with me, but these seem to hold up better. I don’t actually use it that much…but when I want one, I really want one. I don’t keep this in my reading kit for reading necessarily, but if I find myself making some ad-hoc chart while I am taking notes it is nice to have it with me.
Muji A5 Notebook | Amazon Link
I am almost 95% paperless. There are three situations where I still use paper for most things. One of those uses is when I am reading anything as part of a larger research project I like to give it a paper notebook. Yes, I could use my iPad and Goodnotes 5 for this…and it would probably organize it better, but I like to keep the paper for this as well as when I am sitting down for a longer reading session I really like to not have any digital distractions. This helps me keep a running index of thoughts and specific notes from the book, as well space to think through connected ideas.
Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag | Amazon Link
I bought one of these once when I was in a pickle trying to get all these things together. The good side of it is the silicone keeps the book tabs from unattaching themselves from their clear plastic back. If I stick this in one of my usual cloth zip bags they don’t last. I keep all of the things above (besides the Muji) in this in my backpack at all times. I like knowing I never don’t have the basic kit with me.
Do you keep a reading kit?