I learned a system for remembering everything

Summary

The video script explores the challenge of retaining information from the numerous books we read. The host, struggling with memory recall, interviews Ryan Holiday, a prolific reader and author, to uncover his methods for remembering what he reads. Holiday shares his system of active reading, which involves taking notes, highlighting key points, and organizing these notes on note cards by theme, effectively creating an 'external brain.' The video emphasizes the importance of not only reading but also engaging deeply with the material, and the benefits of having a system for retaining and categorizing information. It concludes with the host's experiment adopting Holiday's system, highlighting the value of taking time to digest and apply what is learned, and the potential of both analog and digital methods for memory enhancement.

Takeaways

• 📚 Reading and retaining information from books can be challenging for many people, but there are strategies to improve memory recall.
• 🧠 Our memory is often unreliable and tends to prioritize frequently or recently used information, which can make recalling specific details difficult.
• 💡 Ryan Holiday, an international bestselling author, suggests being kind to oneself and recognizing the value in remembering even just one or two impactful ideas from a book.
• 📒 Holiday's reading method involves folding pages, making notes, highlighting, and transferring key points to note cards organized by theme, effectively creating an 'external brain'.
• 🔍 The process of note-taking and organizing information helps reinforce memory through heuristic memory processing, which prioritizes information based on usage and relevance.
• ✍️ Writing down ideas and categorizing them not only aids in memory retention but also provides a tangible way to review and apply the knowledge.
• 📈 The effectiveness of memory retention systems is rooted in how our brains process and sort information, making it easier to recall what we deem important or frequently used.
• 📖 Ryan Holiday prefers an analog approach to reading and note-taking, suggesting that physical engagement with the material can enhance recall compared to digital methods.
• 🤔 Matt D'Avella, the video's host, experimented with Holiday's system and found that while it slowed his reading process, it potentially made the information more 'sticky'.
• 🌐 The video also promotes Squarespace as a tool for bringing ideas to life, highlighting its ease of use and customizable features for building websites.
• 🔄 The importance of starting with an imperfect system and evolving it over time is emphasized, as the act of engaging with the material is more crucial than achieving immediate perfection.
• 🔍 Looking ahead, Matt D'Avella is planning to explore building a 'second brain' using digital systems to manage and organize the information consumed, suggesting a future blend of analog and digital memory techniques.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker is addressing in the video?

The speaker is addressing the issue of poor memory recall when it comes to remembering the content of books they have read.

What is the significance of the number of books Ryan Holiday has read?

The significance is that despite reading over 3,000 books, Ryan Holiday demonstrates exceptional memory recall, which the speaker is interested in understanding and adopting.

What is the first step of Ryan Holiday's system for remembering what he reads?

The first step is to take notes while reading, highlighting and folding pages to mark important sections.

How does Ryan Holiday organize the information he has gathered from books?

He transfers the most impactful information onto note cards, writes down the thoughts or stories that inspired him, and then categorizes these note cards by theme.

What does the speaker believe is the advantage of using an analog system for note-taking?

The speaker believes that there is an advantage to going analog as it allows for a deeper engagement with the material and may enhance recall.

What is the role of heuristic memory processing in retaining information?

Heuristic memory processing helps prioritize information that is frequently used, recently used, or likely needed for decision-making, which aids in retaining more of what we read.

What is the main takeaway from the video regarding the process of reading and learning?

The main takeaway is that becoming a better learner involves putting in the work, reading, taking notes, studying, and making use of the information taken in, and enjoying the process.

How does the speaker feel about the process of taking extensive notes while reading?

The speaker feels that the process is slow and methodical, which can be frustrating at times, but they understand the importance of digesting and engaging deeply with the information.

What is the speaker's approach to organizing their notes after reading?

The speaker plans to take their best notes and put them onto note cards, then organize these into different categories and themes, creating a systematized way of storing the information.

What is the speaker's opinion on the necessity of remembering everything from a book?

The speaker realizes that it's not necessary to remember everything; rather, the key is to store important information outside of the brain in an organized manner.

What advice does Ryan Holiday give to the speaker regarding the number of takeaways from a book?

Ryan Holiday advises the speaker to be kinder to himself, emphasizing that even one or two important takeaways that could change one's life are valuable, considering the cost of the book.