Most tools – almost all tools — are about a sphere or context of application that is beyond the tool itself.
For example, telescopes are generally used, not simply to explore more telescopes, but rather to explore stars or other objects that are far away.
in most cases, the best way to use a tool is to expand beyond the tool itself
The same principle applies to books. Books are tools that are often focused on non-book and non-reading phenomena.
So don’t get so focused on or obsessed with the tool that you forget about the context and the phenomena that the tool is actually for.
One helpful application of this principle:
If you’re trying to read a book and you find that you’re having difficulty getting through the book or having trouble even being motivated to work with the book, one thing you can do is to identify the phenomenon that the book is focused on. And then you can interact with that phenomenon via a non-book channel.
In other words, if you’re reading a book that is about swimming pools and about swimming and you find that you’re having a little block getting into the book, put the book down and go to the swimming pool. Go swimming. Feel the water. Walk around the pool.
And then, go back to the book.
Now, as you read, remember that this (swimming and swimming pools) is a phenomenon with which you already have a relationship.
Just because you are only picking up a book for the first time, that does not mean that you are starting from zero in your understanding of the book’s contents.
Approach the book as a tool that is helping you to connect to a phenomenon or a context with which you already have familiarity.
Do not overlook the power of your existing baseline. Recognize and connect to it. Use it.
Do not artificially set your baseline to zero. (Unless doing so will be helpful to you; sometimes it is.) Realize that your experiential baseline is often far above zero.
(and yes, all of the above points are true for working with subliminals)