I learned a system for remembering everything

Summary

在这段视频中，主持人探讨了如何提高记忆力和信息回忆能力。他通过采访阅读过3000多本书的畅销书作家Ryan Holiday，了解到了一种有效的阅读和笔记系统。这个系统包括边读边做笔记、整理和归类信息。主持人亲自尝试了这个方法，并分享了他的体验。视频还提到，记忆不仅仅是关于完美回忆，而是关于消化信息、批判性思考以及找到重用和再利用所学知识的方法。

Takeaways

• 📚 阅读并记住书籍内容是一种令人向往的能力，但并非人人都能做到。
• 🧠 人的记忆力差异很大，有些人记忆力很差，有些人记忆力出众，甚至有人拥有过目不忘的能力。
• 📖 阅读非小说类书籍的目的在于吸收和实践书中的见解，而不仅仅是为了记忆。
• 📝 有效的记忆系统包括阅读时做笔记、阅读后复习笔记以及按主题分类和归档笔记。
• 📈 我们的大脑通过使用频率、最近使用情况和决策需要来决定保留哪些信息在显性记忆中。
• 📚 通过阅读、做笔记、学习并使用所学信息，我们可以成为更好的学习者。
• 📖 作者Ryan Holiday通过折叠书页、做笔记和将重要信息转移到卡片上来提高记忆。
• 🔍 实践Ryan的系统可以帮助我们更好地消化信息、批判性思考，并找到重用和再利用所学的方法。
• 📅 阅读是一个享受的过程，不应该急于求成，而应该慢慢享受与作者的对话。
• 📋 记忆并非偶然发生，需要系统化和组织化地存储信息。
• 🔧 无论是采用类似Ryan的模拟系统还是数字化系统，最重要的是开始行动并持续改进。

Q & A

视频中提到的记忆超能力是什么？

视频中提到的记忆超能力是指能够阅读书籍并几乎记住书中所有信息的能力。

为什么作者阅读了很多书籍但记忆效果不佳？

作者认为自己的记忆力不佳，可能是因为没有采用有效的记忆和复习策略，导致无法长期记住阅读内容。

Ryan Holiday阅读了多少本书？

Ryan Holiday阅读了超过3000本书。

Ryan Holiday的阅读和记忆系统包括哪些步骤？

Ryan Holiday的系统包括三个主要步骤：阅读时做笔记，阅读结束后复习和修改笔记，以及按主题分类和归档笔记。

为什么Ryan Holiday认为纸质书籍比电子书和音频书更有助于记忆？

Ryan Holiday认为，远离屏幕，坐下来深入与书本内容互动，有助于提高记忆。

视频中提到的“外脑”是什么？

“外脑”是指通过笔记卡片等方式，将从书本中提取的信息进行系统化和组织化，以帮助记忆和回顾。

作者在实验Ryan的系统后有什么感受？

作者发现这个过程虽然缓慢且系统化，但有助于更好地消化信息、批判性思考，并尝试重新利用所学知识。

视频中提到的“第二大脑”是什么？

“第二大脑”是指将我们消费的信息放入一个智能的数字系统中，以帮助管理和回顾信息。

为什么作者认为记忆系统很重要？

作者认为记忆系统很重要，因为它可以帮助我们更好地学习和记忆信息，而不是仅仅依赖于大脑的有限记忆能力。

视频中提到的Squarespace是什么？

Squarespace是一个网站建设平台，它提供了易于使用的界面和模板，帮助用户创建和管理网站。

作者在视频中提到的“记忆和学习探索”是指什么？

作者在视频中提到他正在探索如何通过建立一个系统来提高记忆力和学习效率，这包括使用笔记卡片和可能的数字系统。

Outlines

00:00

📚 探索记忆力的奥秘

本段讲述了作者对于记忆力的困惑，以及他决定研究世界上最聪明的人是如何记忆信息的。作者通过与阅读过3000多本书的Ryan Holiday对话，了解到了一种有效的阅读和记忆方法。这种方法包括在阅读时做笔记，阅读结束后复习和整理笔记，以及将笔记按主题分类。作者尝试了这种方法，并分享了他的体验和感受。

05:02

🧠 大脑如何处理信息

这一段落解释了我们的大脑如何通过启发式记忆处理来决定保留哪些信息在我们的显性记忆中。作者提到，通过阅读、做笔记、学习并利用所学信息，我们可以成为更好的学习者。Ryan Holiday认为，虽然他喜欢听有声书和电子书，但他认为传统的阅读方式有其优势。作者通过实践Ryan的方法，发现这是一个缓慢而系统化的过程，但他享受这个过程，并认为这有助于更好地消化和理解信息。

10:03

📅 持续进步的系统

最后一段讲述了作者对记忆和学习探索的持续兴趣。他提到，尽管他的系统可能会随着时间的推移而发展，但关键是始终保持学习和改进。作者鼓励观众开始建立自己的系统，无论是模拟的还是数字化的，并强调开始行动比追求完美更重要。他还预告了即将发布的关于如何通过智能数字系统构建“第二大脑”的视频。

Keywords

💡记忆能力

记忆能力指的是个体存储、保持和回忆信息的能力。在视频中，提到了人们记忆能力的差异，有些人记忆力差，有些人记忆力超群，甚至有人拥有摄影记忆。视频探讨了如何提高记忆力，以便更好地吸收和实践所阅读的内容。

💡信息吸收

信息吸收是指个体从阅读、学习等活动中获取知识的过程。视频中提到，阅读非小说类书籍的目的在于吸收和实施其中的见解，而不仅仅是为了阅读本身。

💡笔记系统

笔记系统是一种帮助人们记录、整理和回顾所学信息的方法。视频中，Ryan Holiday分享了他的笔记系统，包括阅读时折页、做标记、将重要内容转移到卡片上，并按主题分类。这种方法有助于提高记忆和理解。

💡外部大脑

外部大脑是指使用外部工具或系统来存储和组织信息，以辅助记忆。在视频中，Ryan Holiday通过将书中的重要思想和故事记录在卡片上，创建了一个外部大脑，帮助他更好地记忆和回顾所学内容。

💡记忆加工

记忆加工是指大脑对信息进行筛选、整理和存储的过程。视频中提到，我们倾向于记住经常使用、最近使用或可能需要用来做决策的信息。通过有效的学习和笔记系统，可以提高信息的记忆加工效率。

💡阅读速度

阅读速度是指个体阅读文本时的速度。视频中提到，虽然细致地做笔记会降低阅读速度，但这样做有助于加深对内容的理解和记忆。

💡数字阅读

数字阅读是指通过电子设备如电子书或音频书进行的阅读活动。视频中提到，虽然数字阅读方便快捷，但可能不如纸质书那样有助于记忆。

💡实践应用

实践应用是指将所学知识应用到实际生活或工作中。视频强调了阅读的目的不仅仅是为了记忆，更重要的是能够将所学内容付诸实践。

💡信息管理

信息管理是指对信息进行有效收集、组织、存储和检索的过程。视频中提到了使用笔记卡片来管理信息，这是一种信息管理的方法，有助于提高记忆和学习效率。

💡学习系统

学习系统是指一套帮助个体更有效地学习和记忆的策略和方法。视频中，Ryan Holiday的笔记系统就是一个学习系统的例子，它通过分步骤的笔记和整理，帮助个体更好地吸收和回顾所学内容。

Highlights

想象一下，能够拿起任何一本书，阅读并记住几乎所有内容。这种超凡的记忆力可能听起来像小说，但在现实世界中，有些人似乎拥有惊人的信息保持能力。

作者阅读了数百本书、博客和新闻通讯，但记忆力很差。

作者决定研究世界上最聪明的人是如何记忆信息的，并揭示他们的系统以便自己使用。

大多数人的记忆力是杂乱无章且不可靠的。

Ryan Holiday，国际畅销书作家，阅读了超过3000本书。

Ryan Holiday的阅读方法是在阅读时折叠书页、做笔记，然后将喜欢的内容转移到卡片上，并按主题分类。

作者尝试了Ryan的系统，通过做笔记、复习和整理笔记来提高记忆力。

我们的大脑通过使用频率、最近使用或可能需要做出决策的信息来优先处理信息。

Ryan Holiday认为，使用纸质书比听有声书或电子书更有助于记忆。

作者在阅读过程中放慢了速度，以确保记忆和理解。

作者完成了Ryan Holiday的最新书籍《Courage Is Calling》的阅读并做了大量笔记。

作者意识到，你不可能偶然记住事物，需要系统化和组织笔记。

Ryan Holiday有七个盒子的笔记卡片，每个盒子对应他写的一本书。

Ryan Holiday的系统是Rob Greene的结合体，你也可以有自己的版本。

重要的是开始行动，而不是被完美主义所困扰。

作者计划在未来几周内探索如何通过将我们消费的所有信息放入智能数字系统来构建第二大脑。

Transcripts

- Imagine being able to pick up any book,

read it, and remember almost everything from it.

This kind of superpower memory recall might feel

like fiction, but there are people in the real world

that seem to carry an incredible ability

to hold on to information

and I'm definitely not one of them.

I've read hundreds of books, blogs, and newsletters,

but my ability to recall any of it is terrible.

So I decided to finally look into this blind spot,

to learn about how the smartest people

in the world remember information

and to uncover their systems so I can use them for myself.

This video is brought to you by Squarespace,

I'll talk more about them later in the video.

If I were to show you a non-fiction book

that you've read over the past year,

whether it was for school, work,

or your own personal development,

how likely are you to be able

to remember five facts from the book?

How well could you explain the book to someone else?

All right, let me give this a try for myself.

"Steal Like An Artist" being creative means getting inspired

by other people and you should steal like an artist.

It's really a book about-

(lip trills)

I just read this book so this one's a little bit unfair.

What else was it?

What else was in this book?

Great ideas are really simple and clear.

I think that's all I got.

I can't even remember one of the 48 laws.

I just read it, I just read this book like a month ago.

There's not much of a point of reading non-fiction books,

particularly books about personal development

if you're not actually going to absorb

and implement the insights,

but remembering everything might be a bit of a stretch

for the average person.

After some research, I discovered that our ability

to remember things varies wildly from person to person.

Some have terrible memories, others exceptional,

and even others have photographic memories.

As you might have guessed, the average memory is

body, messy, and often unreliable.

It's easier for us to remember events that provide

a deviation from our typical sensory experience.

Like getting hit in the face with a ball,

that interesting thing you learned from that self-help book,

not so much, but my question is can we change that?

I knew exactly who I needed to speak with.

I read online that you've read

over 3,000 books is that true?

- I don't know, I think it's probably bad form to count,

you know, like with the romantic partners.

- I don't know about you, but that number,

well, it wouldn't take me very long to add up.

Ryan Holiday is the international bestselling author

of great books like "The Obstacle Is the Way"

and "Ego Is the Enemy" and while I can't remember much

of what I read in these books,

I do remember them being really good.

Ryan, thanks so much

for being here. - Of course.

- [Matt] One of the things that I was struck by

when I first interviewed Ryan back in 2019,

was his memory recall.

He pulled quotes and stories effortlessly

from the books that he's read over the years.

- Eisenhower, he had this line, he said,

"William James talked about this.

I have a quote in the intro from Blaise Pascal.

Buddha and Marcus Aurelius and Seneca and Confucius and-"

- I seriously needed to know his secret.

So I jumped on a video call with him so we could get

to the bottom of it.

One of the main reasons why I wanted to chat with you is

because I have this problem where I read a non-fiction book

and then I completely forget about everything.

Like I can look at that book and be like,

"I don't remember one or two things from this book."

How can we get better at remembering what we read

and putting into practice what we read?

- First off, I'd be a little kinder to yourself.

Having one or two things that you take from a book,

if those are important things that could change your life,

you know, you paid $11 for this book like is it so bad

that you only got two life changing things from it, right?

So like I think sometimes people are like,

"I don't have perfect recall of the book,"

I mean, the book was supposed to take you on a journey

and leave you with something.

I started in publishing as a research assistant.

I work for this amazing author named Robert Greene

and he showed me a way of reading

that I practice to this day that I think could be valuable,

which is basically, as I read a book,

I fold pages as I'm reading and then I make notes to myself.

I'm highlighting the things that I'm liking

and then what I do as a writer because I want to use a lot

of this information is I then transfer the stuff

that I really liked or that really impacted me

and I put them on note cards and so I just write the thought

that I had that it inspired or I write down the story

and then I sort those note cards by theme.

So I'm kind of creating like an exterior brain

that organizes the stuff that I took from the books.

- So I decided to put Ryan's system to the test

and try it out for myself and what better book to start with

than "Courage Is Calling,"

that's Ryan's latest book by the way.

All right, so I've got my tools here, highlighter, pen,

my post-it bookmarks here, and a stack of note cards

and, of course, my book, let's see how this works.

So when you really break down Ryan's system,

there are three main parts.

First, take notes while you read,

second, revisit and revise your notes

when you're finished with the book,

and third, categorize and file your notes.

The reason why this kind of system is so effective

at helping us retain more of what we read comes down

to how our brains process information.

Over time, we've developed a sorting process

to help us determine what information to hold onto

in our explicit memory.

That's the type of long term memory that's concerned

with recollection of facts and events.

Thanks to what's known as heuristic memory processing,

we tend to prioritize information that is frequently used,

recently used, or likely to be needed to make decisions.

So becoming a better learner is all about putting in

the work, reading, taking notes, studying,

and making use of the information that you're taking in.

In other words, having a system like Ryan's

and while Ryan said that he enjoys audiobooks and eBooks,

he thinks that there's an advantage to going analog.

- I do tend to find that people who are like,

"Oh, I listen to a lot of audiobooks or I listen to-

I read a lot of eBooks," the recall's not there.

They're like, "I do my highlights,

but they just go somewhere on my computer."

I think there is something about getting away

from the screen, sitting down, and engaging deeply

with the world in front of you.

(gentle music) (mug thuds)

- All right, so I have completely finished reading

"Courage Is Calling" and I have taken

extensive notes throughout.

So I am a slow reader in this process of taking

thorough notes throughout the entire book,

definitely slow me down even more probably by 30 or 40%,

but the idea is that hopefully,

this will make these memories and ideas just

a little bit more sticky.

Now, I need to go through this entire book

and take all of my notes, all of the best notes

that I've taken and put them down onto these note cards.

So this video is sponsored by my friends

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where you teach people how to improve their memory.

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So now, that I've gotten two thirds of the way

into this note taking experiment, it's become clear

that this is a very slow and methodical process.

If you're anything like me,

this can make you feel a bit antsy,

but what I continue to remind myself is that this isn't

about becoming superhuman and devouring books in a day.

It's about taking the time to digest the information,

think critically about it, and to try to find ways to reuse

and repurpose what I'm learning and really more importantly

to actually enjoy the process.

- Reading is a pleasurable activity, I enjoy doing it

and so you would never hear someone be like,

"Dude, I have the fastest sex

you would not believe it," right?

Or like, "You should see how fast I can scarf down food

at this fancy restaurant."

I'm having a conversation with Ernest Hemingway

or Marcus Aurelius or Doris Kearns Goodwin,

these are like the best people in the world at what they do.

I wanna enjoy that like I'm gonna take my time doing it.

- So I have finished taking the best ideas, note stories,

and quotes from this book and put them down onto

about 20 to 30 note cards and now, is the point

in the process where I need to go through

and organize all this.

One thing that I've realized from this process is

that you don't remember things by accident,

which means I need to systematize and organize

all of these notes into different buckets, categories,

and themes.

It's probably too early to tell

whether this system will improve my memory in the long run.

I have a feeling I'm still gonna be

on the goldfish end of the memory scale,

but I've learned something even more important

over the past few weeks of following this system.

You actually can't remember everything you want to,

you just need to store it outside of your brain.

Oh, and if you're wondering

whether I'll keep this up myself, maybe,

but I don't know if it'll look exactly like this.

I don't know how many boxes of note cards I can have

at my place and still keep my sanity.

How many boxes of note cards do you have?

- Well, at least one for every single book

that I've written, but I'm looking I have one, two, three,

four, five, six, I have seven in my office right now.

My system is an amalgamation combination of Rob Greene's

and yours can be your own spin on mine.

- [Matt] Whether you decide to follow an analog system

like Ryan's or go digital,

the important thing is to just get started.

- You're better off starting imperfectly

than being paralyzed by the hope

or the delusion of perfection.

My system has evolved over the years,

it will continue to evolve.

Maybe there's some version in the future

where it does become digital,

but right now, this is what works for me

and the main thing is that I'm doing it always

and I'm getting better as I go.

- Thanks so much for watching this video,

if you liked it, don't forget to hit Subscribe

and especially that little Notification Bell

so you get future videos from me

that way you don't have to work too hard to remember

to watch my videos later.

By the way, my exploration into memory

and learning is only just beginning.

Stay tuned in a couple weeks for new video

about how to build a second brain

by taking all the information we consume

and putting it into an intelligent digital system.

- It's the complete ecosystem of apps

that you use to manage information.

- [Matt] Thanks for watching and I'll catch you next time.