How to ACTUALLY Read Books like AYANOKOJI (Absorb Books like a Sponge)

Summary

This video offers strategies to improve reading efficiency and retention, highlighting techniques like skimming chapters, using a finger as a reading guide, and minimizing subvocalization. It emphasizes note-taking and connecting lessons to personal experiences for better long-term memory retention. The video encourages a mindset shift towards viewing reading as a valuable opportunity for growth, rather than a chore. It also suggests choosing books that genuinely interest you and building consistent reading habits. Practical advice includes integrating learned lessons into daily life and participating in discussions to solidify understanding.

Takeaways

• 📚 Books are the gateway to excellence and are essential for growth and knowledge.
• 🤔 The problem many face is that they read, but little information sticks in their mind.
• 📖 Skimming chapters before reading them thoroughly helps improve comprehension and speed.
• 👁️ Use your hand or a tool like a pencil to guide your eyes when reading, which reduces muscle strain and increases reading speed by 10-20%.
• 🚫 Subvocalization limits reading speed; reducing it allows for faster reading as information goes directly from the page to the brain.
• 📝 Taking notes after reading, paraphrasing key lessons, and connecting them to your life ensures long-term memory retention.
• 🎨 Using visual aids like AI-generated images or hand-drawn symbols reinforces the information through multiple neural pathways.
• 📅 To apply what you've read, choose one key lesson each week and make it a visual reminder on your wall or screen background.
• 💡 Changing your mindset about books is essential; approach books with curiosity and excitement, similar to how you view video games.
• 📈 Start with books you genuinely find interesting, as this will help you build and maintain a consistent reading habit.

Q & A

What is the main problem addressed in the video?

The main problem addressed is that many people read books but struggle to retain the information effectively.

What is the first strategy suggested to improve reading comprehension?

The first strategy is to skim through the chapter before reading it in-depth. This helps increase reading speed and comprehension by providing context for a deeper understanding later.

Why is using a guide (like a hand or pencil) while reading important?

Using a guide helps reduce muscle strain on the eyes, increases reading speed by 10-20%, and prevents regression, allowing smoother eye movements while reading.

What is subvocalization, and how does it limit reading speed?

Subvocalization is the habit of silently pronouncing words while reading, which limits reading speed because you can only read as fast as you can talk. Overcoming this can lead to faster reading.

What is recommended if you want to integrate information into long-term memory?

To integrate information into long-term memory, the video suggests taking notes by paraphrasing lessons in your own words and connecting the information to your personal life.

How can using imagery enhance memory retention?

Creating an image, either using an AI generator or drawing, related to the lesson you're trying to remember can reinforce memory by activating different neural pathways, making the information easier to recall.

What is the importance of picking a book that genuinely interests you?

Choosing a book that genuinely interests you is important because it increases the likelihood of consistent reading. Starting with a book that is boring or difficult can lead to losing interest quickly.

What does the video suggest about reading literary fiction?

The video suggests that reading literary fiction improves emotional intelligence (theory of mind) and enhances visual and verbal processing, which helps in clearer thinking and speaking.

How does the video suggest changing your mindset around reading?

The video suggests reframing reading as an opportunity to refine your mind and soul. Instead of pressuring yourself to read a large amount, even reading a single page daily can be beneficial.

What is the additional resource offered by the video for continuing the reading discussion?

The video offers access to a book discussion section on the creator's Discord server, where viewers can engage in discussions about the books and reading techniques.

Outlines

00:00

📖 The Power of Reading and Strategies for Effective Learning

This paragraph emphasizes the profound influence that reading has on people, claiming that those who read move the world. It compares the reader to a figure who excels at reading due to effective strategies and introduces the idea that many readers struggle to retain information. The author promises to bridge this knowledge gap, but emphasizes that the responsibility lies with the individual to apply the advice. Additionally, it offers a bonus list of books from the *Classroom of the Elite* series for those without a current reading plan.

05:01

🚀 Skimming and Guiding Techniques for Faster Reading

The second part explains how to improve reading speed and comprehension through skimming, a method of previewing chapters to grasp the text at a surface level. It introduces the idea of using a finger or pencil as a visual guide to reduce eye strain and regression. This technique, it claims, can increase reading speed by 10-20%. An example is given to highlight how guiding eye movements can enhance smoothness and comfort during reading.

⚡ Overcoming Subvocalization and Speed Reading Tips

This section focuses on the common issue of subvocalization, which slows down reading to the pace of speech. It suggests that, through speed reading practice, words can be processed directly by the brain without verbalizing them. The paragraph acknowledges the difficulty of eliminating subvocalization but proposes using speed reading software and videos for improvement. It clarifies that the goal is not to read the entire book rapidly, but to efficiently reach the most valuable parts and slow down when necessary.

📝 Note-Taking for Long-Term Memory Retention

Here, the video encourages taking notes as a non-negotiable step for retaining key information from books. The recommended strategy involves paraphrasing key lessons and linking them to personal life on note cards. This, it explains, helps solidify the information in long-term memory. The section also introduces the idea of using AI-generated images or hand-drawn pictures as mnemonic devices, reinforcing the learning through visual aids. This combination of techniques activates different neural pathways, making the lessons easier to remember.

🎯 Practical Application and Weekly Lessons

To enhance the practical use of what one reads, this part advises selecting a key lesson each week and displaying it prominently, such as on a wall or computer background. The analogy of a book being like a 'garden, storehouse, or party' is used to describe the richness of books, which are portrayed as sources of counsel and wisdom. The paragraph stresses that changing one's mindset about books is essential for maintaining a reading habit, contrasting those who view books as a chore with those who see them as exciting opportunities for personal growth.

📚 Finding Enjoyment in Reading

This part discusses how a shift in mindset can make reading more enjoyable and sustainable. It encourages choosing books based on genuine interest rather than social validation. The video argues that even reading fiction without deep meaning is beneficial, as it enhances emotional intelligence and cognitive skills. The act of reading itself improves mental processing and clarity of thought, and framing oneself as a 'reader' can help build the habit. The advice is to start small, even if it means reading just one page a day.

💬 Engaging with Others to Solidify Learning

The final part of the video encourages active engagement with others to reinforce what one has read. It invites viewers to join discussions in the author's Discord server, particularly in the book section, where readers can share thoughts and insights. Additionally, it mentions that a list of books from the *Classroom of the Elite* light novel is available on the Discord server, offering further reading resources. The invitation to join the community is provided with a free link in the video description.

Keywords

💡Skimming

Skimming refers to quickly browsing through a text to get a general sense of its content. In the video, it is presented as an essential first step to improve reading speed and comprehension. By engaging with the text at a surface level, the brain is primed to understand more when reading deeply later. This technique helps set context for the material and allows for quicker understanding of key points.

💡Subvocalization

Subvocalization is the habit of silently pronouncing words while reading. The video suggests that this limits reading speed because you can only read as fast as you can mentally speak. Reducing subvocalization can help improve reading efficiency, allowing words to go directly from the page to the brain without the intermediary step of speaking them.

💡Speed reading

Speed reading involves techniques that help increase the speed at which a person can read without compromising comprehension. The video highlights it as a way to move quickly through less important sections and slow down for valuable parts. Speed reading software and videos are recommended for training, and it is presented as a way to cover more content effectively.

💡Note-taking

Note-taking is described as a non-negotiable activity for retaining information in long-term memory. The speaker advocates for writing brief paraphrased notes after reading valuable sections, connecting them to personal experiences. This process helps the brain recognize the importance of the information and increases retention. Additionally, using creative techniques like AI image generation to reinforce the notes is recommended.

💡Mnemotic device

A mnemonic device is a tool used to aid memory retention by associating new information with an image or symbol. The video encourages using AI-generated or hand-drawn images to solidify important information from books. By engaging multiple neural pathways through visual representation, the information becomes easier to remember.

💡Long-term memory

Long-term memory is the ability to retain information for an extended period. The video focuses on strategies to move information from short-term to long-term memory, such as paraphrasing notes, connecting lessons to personal experiences, and using visual mnemonic devices. Effective note-taking and consistent review are suggested methods to enhance this process.

💡Mindset

Mindset refers to the attitude and approach one has towards a particular activity, in this case, reading. The video stresses the importance of shifting one’s mindset to view books as valuable tools for personal growth, similar to how someone might view video games. By changing the mindset towards books, readers are more likely to enjoy the process and stay consistent with their reading habits.

💡Engagement

Engagement involves actively interacting with the content of the books being read, such as discussing the material with others or applying the lessons to real life. The video promotes community engagement by encouraging viewers to join discussions about books and share insights, helping reinforce what they’ve read and deepening their understanding.

💡Theory of mind

Theory of mind is the ability to understand and empathize with others' thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. The video mentions that reading literary fiction specifically improves this cognitive skill, which enhances emotional intelligence. By regularly engaging with fiction, readers can better grasp social cues and complex emotional states.

💡Consistency

Consistency is emphasized as key to developing and maintaining a reading habit. The video advises readers to take small steps, such as reading a single page a day, to build a sustainable habit. Consistent reading, even if minimal, ensures more progress over time and helps maintain a reader’s motivation.

Highlights

Books are the gateway to excellence and personal development.

Skimming a chapter before reading it thoroughly helps improve reading speed and comprehension by engaging with the text at a surface level.

Using your hand or a pencil as a guide while reading reduces muscle strain, speeds up reading, and prevents regression.

Subvocalization limits reading speed to the pace of speech; eliminating this can improve reading efficiency.

Training to bypass subvocalization using speed reading tools or techniques allows words to go directly from the page to the brain.

Slowing down when encountering powerful or interesting parts of a book allows for deeper engagement.

Taking notes by paraphrasing and connecting the information to your own life helps embed content into long-term memory.

Creating visual mnemonics, such as AI-generated images or self-drawn illustrations, reinforces memory retention by engaging multiple neural pathways.

Pinning a weekly lesson on your wall or setting it as your background screen aids practical application of the content you've read.

Viewing books as an exciting opportunity to gain insights—like how video games are seen by enthusiasts—can transform your mindset toward reading.

Many people lose interest in reading because they are forced to read books they don’t enjoy, especially in school.

Finding a book that genuinely intrigues you is key to developing a consistent reading habit.

Even reading novels without deeper meaning can improve emotional intelligence and enhance cognitive abilities like visual and verbal processing.

Framing yourself as a reader and seeing reading as a way to refine your mind and soul creates a positive, long-term habit.

Reading even just one page a day is still progress, and this slow, steady approach can be more effective than setting high, intimidating goals.

Transcripts

show me a family of readers and I will

show you the people who move the world

just like a and aoji you already

understand that books are the gateway to

Excellence the problem is that when you

read somehow barely anything actually

sticks in your mind it's like you are

working 10 hours a day at the factory

only to be rewarded with a $2 check the

difference between you and Ian ooji is

that he was taught all the gate kep

strategies to read effectively in the

white room this video will fill this

information Gap however let me be clear

I can only act as a coach on the

sideline ultimately it is you and only

you who must step onto the field and

score the goal

also if you currently do not have an

idea of which book you want to read then

as a bonus I am going to give you a list

with all the books that were mentioned

in classroom of the elites light novel

you can then implement the strategies

you learned in this guide right away

okay so how do you read more effectively

first you skim through the chapter you

want to read this will increase your

reading speed and improve your

comprehension because you engage with

the text at a surface level which

provides context for more in-depth

reading later on skimming primes your

brain to better understand the material

when you read it more thoroughly after

that when you start reading it is vital

to use your hand or something like a

pencil to guide your eyes I cannot

emphasize the importance of this enough

without a guide which your eyes can

follow you will have more muscle strain

read slower and have problems with

regression to illustrate imagine a

circle around my body and trace it with

your

eyes how was it when you ask someone to

do this in real life you will see that

their eye movements are anything but

smooth now do the same again but use

your finger as

guidance this probably felt smoother and

more comfortable on your eyes so when

you read from now on use your finger to

brush along the lines just doing this

will increase your reading speed by at

least 10 to 20% moreover one thing that

is holding your reading speed back is

subvocalization if you subvocalize you

can only read as fast as you can talk

however when you have optimized the

speed of your reading the words go

directly from the page to the eyes to

the brain how can you achieve this well

there is no easy answer but you can

train this ability by regularly using

speed reading software or watching speed

reading videos here is one

[Music]

example obviously you don't want to read

the whole book as fast as you possibly

can it is more about quickly getting to

the valuable parts of a book when you

notice that the part you are at is

really powerful or interesting slow down

now if you are reading a book you want

to integrate into your long-term memory

then take notes is a non-negotiable the

way I like to do it is to take a note

card after I have finished a chapter or

section that I evaluate as valuable and

then first paraphrase the lessons in my

own words here a few sentences are more

than enough then next to that I write

the connection of the information to my

own life once your brain recognizes that

what you wrote is important it will just

stick lastly if I really want to hammer

that information into my brain then I

use an AI image generator to create an

image which is in some way related to

the lesson you can get creative here and

use symbolisms also you can draw the

picture yourself if you are talented at

Arts this memonic device Nails the

memory into your head by activating

different neural Pathways and thereby

reinforcing connections to the

information you're trying to remember if

you write note cards this way you will

be surprised by how effortless the

information will go into your long-term

memory also a powerful way to increase

the practical application of what you

have read is to then pick out one lesson

of the week which you pin on your wall

or set as your background screen a book

is a garden an orchard a storehouse a

party a company by the way a counsel a

multitude of counselors if you don't

change your mindset around books I doubt

that you will stay consistent in your

reading habit do you know what separates

a aoi and you in this domain a Koji

views books as you view video games he

actually looks forward to discovering

new books to get insights into the minds

of the most brilliant thinkers it is

understandable that most of us have lost

this appreciation for books I would go

as far as saying that the majority of

students have not read more than three

books outside the books they have to

read for school so we are being forced

to read books in school we are not

interested in and at home books have a

hard time competing with super

stimulating electronic devices that if

you have watched this video up to this

point you are not satisfied with doing

it the average way and it is definitely

possible to change your mindset around

books first I recommend that you

actually pick out a book which you are

genuinely intrigued by if you start your

reading habit with some kind of

philosophical text you are not

interested in which you just chose

because of social validation and wanting

to seem smart then you will most likely

stop after some time what you have to

understand is that even reading novel

with no deeper meaning is beneficial if

you can actually stick to it in fact

research actually shows that

specifically literary fiction improves

theory of mind or your emotional

intelligence also the act of reading

itself enhances Visual and verbal

processing which allows us to think and

subsequently speak with more clarity so

find a book which you are interested in

and then look forward to reading it

consciously frame yourself as a reader

and reading it as an opportunity to

refine your mind and soul also don't

pressure yourself to read 30 pages a day

even if you pick up your book to just

read one page a day you are still

reading more than most okay bro now it

is time to take action read something

and then engage in discussions about the

content with others head over to the

book section on my Discord server where

you can do just that additionally I've

also shared the list of books which were

mentioned in the light novel in my

Discord server join my community for

free using the first link in the

description