Reading is an essential task for keeping up with the latest trends and news in the constantly changing legal environment while also learning how to be more effective with the business side of the legal profession. However, busy schedules can make it difficult to make time to read the documents, law blogs, and books that you want. Here are three tips for utilizing your Mac to get more reading done.
1. Mac’s Text to Speech Feature
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Macs have a built in text to speech feature so that you can have your Mac read your documents or text out loud without having to buy any additional software. This can be turned on by going into System Preferences and Speech. In the Text to Speech section check the box that reads “Speak the selected text when the key is pressed”. Then click on the “Set key” button to choose a combination of keys that you want to use to have your Mac read a selection of highlighted text. You can choose multiple voices and adjust the speed of the voice. This could be great for reading documents while you are doing other tasks that don’t require your full attention such as working out or organizing your desk. It also works on PDF documents.
2. Kindle App for Mac and iPod Touch
The Kindle App for Mac allows you to access and read books in your Kindle library. It also syncs with other devices so it knows your location in a book if you recently did some reading on your Kindle device. The Kindle App for iPod Touch and iPhone is probably more useful because you can access your library of digital books when you are on the go to get some quick reading squeezed in while you are waiting in line or have some spare time.
3. Download Audible books into iTunes
If you are not using Audible yet, you could easily double the number of books you read each year with audiobooks. Audible has thousands of audiobooks that are compatible with iTunes and they have an extensive library on law related topics and business books. You can also store audiobooks on your portable devices like iPads or iPod Touch. That way you can be catching up on your reading while you are at the gym or commuting to work. You can also play audiobooks in the background on your Mac to keep you going when you are doing tedious work. Audiobooks can also help you with falling asleep if you listen to an author with a calm voice like Malcom Gladwell, author of Outliers.
About the Author: Charles Sipe is a writer for Criminal Justice Degree Schools, a free resource site on criminal justice degrees and careers.