My Daily Reading List

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I read a lot. Books, magazines, blogs, and especially the Web versions of newspapers. I spend about two hours a day reading. That’s not as much as it sounds. I read for forty-five minutes in the morning and then for an hour while I am running. (Technically, I guess, this isn’t reading. I listen to books on my iPod, thanks to Audible.com)

Safari

I am often asked what is on my daily reading list. First, there are several things I read via my Web browser. These are things I don’t like to read via an RSS feed. They include:

By the way, these are all stored in a Safari Bookmarks Bar in a subfolder called “!Daily.” The exclamation sign insures that it sorts first in the list. When I am ready to plow through my daily reading, I click on the list and select “Open in Tabs.” Each URL is then opened in a Safari tab.

Daily Reading List

You can do a similar thing in Firefox (available in Mac or Windows flavors) or even Internet Explorer 7.0 or Maxthon if you you are still chained to Windows.

I spend no more than 30 minutes on this reading list. I force myself to read fast. Sometimes, I can do it in 20 minutes. If an article looks like it will take longer, I save it in a “Research” folder for reading later.

When I finish my Web list, I go to my list of RSS feeds. I use a program on the Mac called endo (yes, no initial cap). It is made by the same people who did ecto, the blogging software that allows me to write my posts offline. I highly recommend both programs.

There are scores of news readers available. NetNewsWire is another popular one for the Mac. I don’t have any experience with Windows news readers, so I’m afraid I can’t be much help. However, I did find an article on About.com that will get you started.

In the screenshot below, you can see some of my categories:

Endo

I track about 60 feeds, but here are some of the more interesting feeds:

What’s on your daily reading list? Use the comments section below to share some of your favorites.

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Category: Productivity
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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  • Anonymous

    Digg.com – news articles that are posted in order of their popularity according to the users. Most articles are technology based.

  • http://project83.com Nick Francis

    Hey Mike, there is a web-based RSS reader that is an absolute essential for me called Newshutch. This application is fantastic for people that access their feeds from multiple computers, because it keeps my read/unread posts synchronized. It also makes use of some very clever AJAX so that you never have to refresh your browser window.

    I just thought you might be interested, since you keep up with so many feeds.

  • http://kinnon.tv Bill Kinnon

    Michael,

    After using a number of different RSS readers (including Sage & NetNewsWire), I’ve become addicted to Google Reader. It’s cut the time I spend on RSS feeds in half. I love the ability to create a link blog from the links I find most interesting. And I love the fact that I can access my feed reader from any computer anywhere. Robert Scoble has become one of the biggest evangelists for Google Reader – and I read his link blog daily.

    endo looks cool and I too am an ecto user – but you do need to check out Google Reader.

  • http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com Los

    Hey Michael. I’m new to your blog. My daily top 5 RSS feeds are
    Geeks Guide to Getting Things Done
    Ethos
    Guy Kawaski
    Seth Godin
    and Tony Morgan
    But I have to admit I have spent an hour or so perusing your archives. You might just move onto the list.
    Keep Blogging!!!
    Carlos Whittaker

  • http://russ-ramblings.blogspot.com Russ N.

    Mike,

    Creating Passionate Users is on the top of my must-read list: http://headrush.typepad.com/

    Russ

  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Brittany

    I read the BBC news daily as saying updated the world’s news is becoming just as important as being updated on the local news. I’ve found that the BBC reports on quite a few more world events than can be found in the Wall Street Journal, NY Times and other such publications. Staying up to date on such events brings perspective not only to my job (I market books to English-speaking intl. markets), but to my personal life as well, as I strive to be aware of the situations facing others more than the situations I face.

  • http://www.newsinjector.com Vilmantas

    The SPAM filter doesn’t allow to post URLs. Therefore a text version.

    Software related:
    http://www.joelonsoftware.com – Joel On Software
    software.ericsink.com – Eric Sink

    Other:
    http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/ – Steve Pavlina
    headrush.typepad.com – Creating Passionate Users
    sethgodin.typepad.com – Seth Godin
    dilbertblog.typepad.com – The Dilbert Blog (Scott Adams)
    http://www.michaelhyatt.com/fromwhereisit/ – From Where I Sit
    http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/ – Escape from Cubicle Nation

  • http://www.cameronconant.blogspot.com cameron conant

    Mike,

    When do you have time for living? I don’t know how you do it! Very impressive. I spend most of the day reading my own writing, which I think is making me less intelligent.

    Cameron

  • http://www.plannedtvarts.com Rick Frishman

    Mike
    I am so impressed. I have a bog http://www.rickfrishmanblog.com but I don’t update it as often as you do! Keep up the fabulous work.I read your blog and Terry Whalin’s every day- and of course I love publishers lunch.
    Congratulations!
    Rick

  • http://thedabblingmum.com/writing Dabbling Mum

    Your list seems daunting, as if it would take me a good three hours to get through. You must “fast read”.

    The only daily read I have is to read my Bible, a few pages of the most recent book I’m reviewing, the few private groups I belong to, and emails.

    As for monthly reading, that’ll be TheDabblingMum, FundsForWriters, WritersWeekly, Layers Magazine, Photoshop Pro, Fitness Magazine, and a few SEO e-zines (which names forsake me at the moment.) I have several blogs bookmarked, too.

  • http://twitter.com/AnnieMueller Annie Mueller

    fyi – The ecto/endo links in your post are outdated. Here’s a good link (at least as of today) for ecto: http://illuminex.com/ecto/ and for endo: http://infinite-sushi.com/software/endo/

    Thanks for all your great content here!