How to Remember More of What You Read

Summary

In this video, the creator explores how to better remember and apply what you read, drawing from two categories of books: academic and practical. Techniques like pre-reading, highlighting effectively, note-taking, summarizing, and using secondary sources are discussed to improve retention of factual information. For actionable books, combining learning with practice is emphasized, such as using music theory or cryptography exercises. The importance of interest and engaging in different mediums like documentaries is highlighted to boost recall. The video concludes with the advice that integrating knowledge takes time, urging a balanced approach to learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pre-reading helps prime your brain to focus on the most important information by skimming through the table of contents, subheadings, and summaries.
• 😀 Highlighting is effective if done after understanding the material first, focusing on key terms, main points, and examples without over-highlighting.
• 😀 Taking notes after reading a section helps reinforce what you've learned, focusing on important details and summarizing them.
• 😀 Summarizing what you've read at the end of a chapter helps distill the most important points and improves long-term retention.
• 😀 Seeking secondary sources like podcasts, videos, or museums can complement what you're reading and increase interest and recall.
• 😀 For more actionable books, blending reading with practical application is key to retaining and using the knowledge, such as practicing music theory or cryptography.
• 😀 Applying what you learn in a practical context, like playing an instrument or solving puzzles, solidifies your understanding better than just memorization.
• 😀 Interest plays a crucial role in effective learning; if you're more engaged, you're more likely to remember and recall information.
• 😀 After reading a section or chapter, take a break or go for a walk to let the information marinate and integrate into your knowledge base.
• 😀 Consuming information from multiple mediums (like documentaries) on the same topic enhances recall by reinforcing knowledge in diverse ways.
• 😀 To remember better, make learning enjoyable and integrate what you're learning into your interests or hobbies, like through educational games or experiences.

Q & A

What is the concept behind 'book gum' from the show Jimmy Neutron?

Book gum is an invention from the show Jimmy Neutron that contains the entire text of a book in a stick of gum. When you chew it, you instantly know the text of the book. The idea is to ingest knowledge quickly and effortlessly.

What is the main focus of the video in relation to reading?

The video focuses on how to remember what you read more effectively, especially when reading academic books or practical, actionable ones, and suggests techniques to improve recall and application of the information.

What are the two types of books discussed in the video?

The two types of books discussed are: 1) Academic books, which contain facts and concepts that need to be memorized, and 2) Practical books, which teach actionable skills that can be applied in real life.

What is 'pre-reading' and why is it important?

Pre-reading is a technique where you skim the table of contents, chapter subheadings, and review questions before reading the chapter. This helps prime your brain to focus on the most important information, improving comprehension and retention.

How should highlighting be done effectively?

Highlighting should be done sparingly and only after you've fully read and understood the material. Over-highlighting can dilute the effectiveness of the technique, as it makes it harder to focus on key points.

What is the benefit of taking notes after reading a section?

Taking notes after reading helps reinforce the material by allowing you to capture key terms, main points, and examples. It encourages active engagement with the text, improving retention and comprehension.

How does summarizing what you read help with memory?

Summarizing helps distill the most important information from what you've read, reinforcing the material in a concise format. Writing a summary ensures you focus on key points, aiding in long-term recall.

Why is seeking out secondary sources of information useful?

Secondary sources, such as podcasts, videos, or additional books, complement the material you read and can increase interest and understanding. The variety of mediums helps reinforce the information and keeps learning engaging.

How does mixing reading with doing improve recall?

Mixing reading with practical application helps solidify the information by putting it into practice. Actively engaging with the material through exercises or real-life scenarios deepens understanding and strengthens recall.

What was the personal example used to illustrate the concept of mixing reading with doing?

The speaker discussed learning music theory from a book by writing interval patterns on paper, then practicing those patterns on the piano. This hands-on practice helped reinforce the theory and improve understanding.

What is the final tip provided in the video for better learning?

The final tip is to take breaks after reading to allow the information to 'marinate' and integrate into your existing knowledge. Giving yourself time to process and absorb the material helps prevent information overload.