How to (actually) REMEMBER What You Read - 7 Tips

Summary

In this insightful video, Parker Had, a philosopher and theologian, shares seven effective strategies to enhance memory retention from reading. He emphasizes the importance of marginalia, or annotations within books, to help conceptualize and remember information. Parker also introduces the concept of a personal compendium, a comprehensive collection of information from the books one reads. He encourages viewers to maintain a personal dictionary to expand vocabulary and a reading log to keep track of books and reading dates. Additionally, Parker suggests writing book reviews for personal reflection and using commonplace books to collect and analyze quotes. Lastly, he recommends practicing active recall by discussing the content with others, which solidifies the information in memory. These tools are designed to not only remember what has been read but also to internalize and apply the knowledge gained.

Takeaways

• 📚 Marginalia: Writing notes in the margins of books can help conceptualize and remember information.
• 📒 Personal Compendium: Creating a separate notebook for notes can serve as an encyclopedia or index for the information you're learning.
• 📖 Personal Dictionary: Collecting new or impactful words in a personal dictionary can expand your vocabulary and help recall the context in which you found them.
• 🗒 Reading Log: Keeping a log of the books you read and when you read them can help you remember your reading history.
• 📝 Book Reviews: Writing your own reviews of the books you've read can reinforce your understanding and provide a personal summary of the content.
• 📒 Commonplace Books: Collecting quotes and sayings in a commonplace book can help you remember key ideas and concepts from your readings.
• 🤓 Active Recall: Discussing what you've read with others through active recall can solidify your understanding and memory of the material.
• 🔍 Symbol Usage: Using symbols to mark key points, main ideas, or sections to revisit can be an effective way to navigate and remember your readings.
• 📈 Skill Acquisition: When reading to acquire new skills, heavily annotate the text to facilitate frequent returns to the material for practice and understanding.
• 🎓 Academic Application: For academic or professional reading, taking detailed marginal notes and summarizing arguments can be crucial for in-depth comprehension and later reference.
• 📈 Growth Mindset: Engaging in continuous learning and applying these tools can contribute to personal and professional development.

Q & A

What is the first tool mentioned by Parker to help remember what you've read?

The first tool mentioned is marginalia, which refers to writing marginal notes or annotations directly in the books you're reading.

According to Parker, how does taking marginal notes benefit the reader?

Taking marginal notes helps the reader conceptualize the information they are learning in the moment and aids in remembering the information and concepts upon revisiting the material.

What is the significance of using symbols when marking up a text according to Parker's experience?

Using symbols like an eyeball or a square root can help to quickly identify key points, main ideas, or sections that require further review or memorization.

What does Parker suggest for readers who do not want to make annotations directly in their books?

For those who prefer not to annotate directly in their books, Parker suggests creating a personal compendium, which is a separate notebook where you can collect and organize information from your readings.

How does Parker use a personal dictionary to enhance his reading experience?

Parker collects new or interesting words he encounters while reading into a personal dictionary. He looks up the etymology, provides definitions, and often includes the context or citation where he found the word, which helps him remember and incorporate the word into his vocabulary.

What is the purpose of maintaining a reading log according to Parker?

A reading log helps you remember the titles of the books you've read and when you read them. It can also serve as a record of your reading progress over time, providing a sense of accomplishment and a reference for future reading plans.

Why does Parker recommend writing book reviews in a dedicated notebook?

Writing book reviews in a dedicated notebook allows Parker to have a summary of his thoughts on each book in his own handwriting. This process helps him remember the content and themes of the books and provides a personal analysis or reflection.

What are commonplace books and how do they assist in remembering what you've read?

Commonplace books are collections of quotes and wise statements that a reader finds insightful or memorable. They can be general, containing a variety of quotes, or specific to a particular genre, book series, or concept. These books help solidify the reader's memory of the material and provide a source of inspiration or reference.

How does active recall contribute to the process of remembering what you've read?

Active recall involves discussing the material you've read with others without referring to your notes. This process forces you to think about and articulate what you've learned, which helps solidify the information in your memory.

What is the role of a commonplace book in Parker's approach to learning and remembering philosophical ideas?

A commonplace book serves as a repository for Parker to collect and reflect on philosophical arguments and key quotes. It allows him to engage with the material deeply, providing a space for his own analysis and commentary, which aids in long-term retention of the ideas.

How does Parker use the platform Brilliant to enhance his understanding of artificial intelligence and related philosophical concepts?

Parker uses Brilliant to access interactive lessons in math, data science, programming, and artificial intelligence. The platform's hands-on problem-solving approach helps him build a foundational understanding and engage with the subject matter in a way that complements his philosophical inquiries.