--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you have to read a lot. I think…" description: "\"I think you have to read a lot. I think if you're going to write about something you better have read at least 100 books on that topic.\" — Larry Winget" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/larry-winget-7803_book_i-think-you-have-to-read-a-lot-i-think-i_2377150.png" --- # I think you have to read a lot. I think if you're going to… ![“I think you have to read a lot. I think if you're going to write about something you better have read at least 100 books on that topic.” quote by Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/larry-winget-7803_book_i-think-you-have-to-read-a-lot-i-think-i_2377150.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/larry-winget-7803_book_i-think-you-have-to-read-a-lot-i-think-i_2377150.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/larry-winget-7803_book_i-think-you-have-to-read-a-lot-i-think-i_2377150.png) > “I think you have to read a lot. I think if you're going to write about something you better have read at least 100 books on that topic.” [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading extensively builds knowledge depth, enabling credible writing on a subject. **In simple terms:** Read many books to write well. Key Takeaway Read widely before writing. Themes knowledge writing credibility Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type advice motivational When to use this quote - authoring articles - academic papers - journalism - content creation Key Concepts research expertise Questions to Reflect On - How many books are enough for expertise? - Do you prioritize depth over breadth? A Different Perspective Reading alone doesn't guarantee insight without critical analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [100 Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/100-books-348376/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Going Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-write/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Read 100](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-100-456145/) [Read Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-lot/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Topics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/topics/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [All authors secretly hope that their works will be read in 100 years' time and 200 years, and that they will somehow survive into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sjon/all-authors-secretly-hope-that-their-works-will-be-read-in-100-years/) [Sjon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sjon/) > [I probably read 100 times more than I write, but that way when I move my characters through it, I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-probably-read-100-times-more-than-i-write-but-that-way-when-i-move/) [Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/) > [“Most people have a list of 100 books to read before they die, or 100 places to visit. Not me. I have a list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/most-people-have-a-list-of-100-books-to-read-before-they-die-or-100/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I finished 1,100 books in six weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-bream/i-finished-1-100-books-in-six-weeks/) [Shannon Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-bream/) > [I can write 100 books on the wisdom and lessons from stories in the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-can-write-100-books-on-the-wisdom-and-lessons-from-stories-in-the/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“Libraries have ludicrously large “limits” on items you can check out (the Denver Public Libraries, for instance, let you check out 100 books at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/libraries-have-ludicrously-large-limits-on-items-you-can-check-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mother was almost entirely responsible for my cultural education. She took me to the library once a week, and by the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-berkoff/my-mother-was-almost-entirely-responsible-for-my-cultural-education/) [Steven Berkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-berkoff/) > [I fall for all those lists of 100 books you must read, and go out and buy most of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-fall-for-all-those-lists-of-100-books-you-must-read-and-go-out-and/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“You will not publish 100% of the books you don’t write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-kirin/you-will-not-publish-100-of-the-books-you-don-t-write/) [M. Kirin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-kirin/) > [You must think about building a 'granth-mandir' in your village. Why is your village lacking such a 'granth-mandir'? Start with 50 books...100 books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/you-must-think-about-building-a-granth-mandir-in-your-village-why-is/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [When I'm writing a book - say I'm going to write a parenting book. I'll go out and buy the 100 top parenting books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/when-i-m-writing-a-book-say-i-m-going-to-write-a-parenting-book-i-ll/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [In a fit of pique, I said to my agent, 'I'm going to write something you can sell.' The idea was to write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/in-a-fit-of-pique-i-said-to-my-agent-i-m-going-to-write-something-you/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [You know, we never really know what we're going to write next. Which is part of the excitement when we go in and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harris/you-know-we-never-really-know-what-we-re-going-to-write-next-which-is/) [Steve Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harris/) > [I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/i-think-writer-s-block-is-simply-the-dread-that-you-are-going-to/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-really-had-a-lot-of-dreams-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-think-a-great/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by Larry Winget > [I think shorter books are going to become more and more of the trend. So I don't think you have to write big, big,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/i-think-shorter-books-are-going-to-become-more-and-more-of-the-trend/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [All talk is just that: talk. All the words written on these pages are just that: words. If you want things to get better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/all-talk-is-just-that-talk-all-the-words-written-on-these-pages-are/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [No matter what I'm talking about, I can involve you into the story where you think it's you doing it. You're living it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/no-matter-what-i-m-talking-about-i-can-involve-you-into-the-story/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [And most importantly, ask more from yourself! This is the real key. Ask what you can do to help. Ask what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/and-most-importantly-ask-more-from-yourself-this-is-the-real-key-ask/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [Be the kind of person others admire, can count on, trust, and enjoy spending time with. After you have developed that reputation, people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/be-the-kind-of-person-others-admire-can-count-on-trust-and-enjoy/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [“Larry’s short list for doing better: Stop complaining about your results. (No one really cares, anyway.) Whining about the problem only prolongs the problem.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/larry-s-short-list-for-doing-better-stop-complaining-about-your/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [Branding is nothing but knowing who you are and what you do that makes you stand out from everyone else, then communicating that through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/branding-is-nothing-but-knowing-who-you-are-and-what-you-do-that/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [The world, and therefore the workplace, is full of idiots. And the reality of life is that when you get rid of one idiot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/the-world-and-therefore-the-workplace-is-full-of-idiots-and-the/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [I'm not so good at just throwing out facts and figures and education and all that. I tell stories to captivate, that give people...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/i-m-not-so-good-at-just-throwing-out-facts-and-figures-and-education/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [“Nobody ever wrote down a plan to be broke, fat, lazy, or stupid. Those things are what happen when you don’t have a plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/nobody-ever-wrote-down-a-plan-to-be-broke-fat-lazy-or-stupid-those-2/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [Learn what you are good at and exploit it in service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/learn-what-you-are-good-at-and-exploit-it-in-service-to-others/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [Be confident. There is no one who is not attracted to confidence. Women dig it. Men love it. Confidence adds hair, drops ten pounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/be-confident-there-is-no-one-who-is-not-attracted-to-confidence-women/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [If it's a good idea, do it today. Not tomorrow. A good idea rarely gets better over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/if-it-s-a-good-idea-do-it-today-not-tomorrow-a-good-idea-rarely-gets/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [I think one of the mistakes typically with authors is they have written more books than they've read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/i-think-one-of-the-mistakes-typically-with-authors-is-they-have/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [As your employer, if I see that you have to work hard to get your results, yet your coworkers achieve their results with little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/as-your-employer-if-i-see-that-you-have-to-work-hard-to-get-your/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) [Explore all 87 Larry Winget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. 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