His greatness is attributed by his biographers and critics not alone to his profound medical knowledge and insight but to his broad general education,for he was a very cultured man.He was interested in what men have done and thought throughout the ages.And he knew that the only way to find out what the best experiences of the race had been was to read what people had written.But Osler’s problem was the same as everyone else’s,only more so.He was a busy physician,a teacher of physicians,and a medical-research specialist.There was no time in a 24hour day that did not rightly belong to one of these three occupations,except the few hours for sleep,meals,and bodily functions.
Osler arrived at his solution early.He would read the last 15 minutes before he went to sleep.If bedtime was set for 11:00 P.M.,he read from 11:00 to 11:15.if research kept him up to 2:00 A.M.he read from 2:00 to 2:15.Over a very long lifetime,Osler never broke the rule once he had established it.We have evidence that after a while he simply could not fall asleep until he had done his 15 minutes of reading.
In his lifetime,Osler read a significant library of books.Just do a mental calculation for half a century of 15-minute reading periods daily and see how many books you get.Consider what a range of interests and variety of subjects are possible in one lifetime.Osler read widely outside of his medical specialty.Indeed,he developed from this 15-minute reading habit an avocational specialty to balance his vocational specialization.Among scholars in English literature,Osler is known as an authority on Sir Thomas Browne,seventeenth century English prose master and Osler’s library on Sir Thomas is considered one of the best anywhere.A great many more things could be said about Osler’s contribution to medical research,to the reform of medical teaching,to the introduction of modern clinical methods.But the important point for us here is that he answered supremely well for himself the question all of us who live a busy life must answer:How can I find time to read?
The answer may not be the last 15 minutes before I go to sleep.It may be 15 minutes a day at some other time.In the busiest of calendars there is probably more than one 15-minute period tucked away somewhere still unassigned.I’ve seen some curious solutions to the problem of finding time for reading.
During army days in the last year of the war,I discovered a PFC in my squadron who seemed unusually well read.I found in his 201 file a remarkable civilian and military biography.His four years of service included two overseas,all meritorious but without heroics.Had all of his recommendations for promotion gone through he would have had not only his commission,but probably the rank of captain.
But here he was,still a private first-class—because despite the military emphasis on education,efficiency,loyalty,and all other criteria for determining promotion,accident plays a most important part.Every time this PFC had been recommended for promotion,except once,he had been transferred or come up against tablel of organization limitations,or a new change in regulations,or a superior officer who had filled out the forms incorrectly or forgotten them in his third right-hand drawer.And so he had remained a PFC,and had taken his reward in reading.The amount he did in the army was prodigious.
I was curious about his method.And one day,before I asked him,I found a partial answer.Every day the enlisted men put in an hour of drill and formations.During that time at least one fairly long period of rest was called.Imagine my surprise on my first visit to the drill field when,at the command“rest!”I saw one man in the whole long line pull out a paper pocket book and begin to read,standing up.
When I talked with him,I found that from boyhood he had developed the habit of carrying a little book in his pocket from which he read every minute he was not doing something else.He found a book especially useful and relaxing during the periods of waiting which all of us experience daily—waiting for meals,buses,doctors,hair cuts,telephone calls,dates,performances to begin,or something to happen.There were his 15 minutes a day,or more.There were his 20 books a year—1,000 in a lifetime.
No universal formula can be prescribed.Each of us must find our own 15minute period each day.It is better if it is regular.Then all additional spare minutes are so many bonuses.And,believe me,the opportunity for reading-bonuses are many and unexpected.Last night an uninvited guest turned up to make five for bridge.I had the kind of paper book at hand to make being the fifth at bridge a joy.
The only requirement is the will to read.With it you can find the 15 minutes no matter how busy the day.And you must have the book at hand.Not even seconds of your 15 minutes must be wasted starting to read.Set that book out in advance.Put it into your pocket when you dress.Put another book beside your bed.Place one in your bathroom.Keep one near your dining table.
You can’t escape reading l5 minutes a day,and that means you will read half a book a week,2 books a month,20 a year,and 1,000 or more in a reading lifetime.It’s an easy way to become well read.