IELTS cue card: «Describe a book you read that you found useful», пример ответа

Describe a book you read that you found useful.

You should say:

what the book is

when you read it

what it is about

and explain why you found it useful.

I'd like to talk about Atomic Habits by James Clear. It's a non-fiction book about how small daily habits shape your life, and it's been translated into dozens of languages, although I read it in English.

I read it last winter, about two months before my university exams. A friend recommended it when I complained that I kept putting off revision, and I finished it in about a week, which is fast for me.

The main idea is that tiny improvements, even one percent a day, add up over time, and that it's more effective to build a system than to set big goals. For example, instead of saying "I'll study for five hours", you make studying easy to start by having your books already open on the desk.

The reason it was so useful is that I actually changed my routine because of it. I started leaving my phone in another room while I studied and doing just twenty minutes of English vocabulary every morning with my tea. Those twenty minutes didn't feel like much, but by the time the exams came I'd learned several hundred new words.

I still use some of those habits now, so I'd say it's one of the few books that has had a lasting effect on me.

Do people read less than they used to?

I'd say people read just as much, but differently. We read constantly on our phones, messages and articles, but fewer people sit down with a long book, mainly because our attention is split between so many things.

Are e-books better than printed books?

They're more convenient, especially for students who can't afford lots of books. Having said that, many people, me included, remember more from paper, perhaps because there are no notifications interrupting you.

What kinds of books are popular in your country?

How can parents encourage children to read?