How I take notes from books

Summary

In this video, the creator shares his effective note-taking system for non-fiction books, emphasizing the importance of comprehension during reading. He outlines a four-step process: read, highlight, record, and synthesize. The creator uses Roam Research for note organization and emphasizes the value of adding personal thoughts and questions to the notes. The video also features a sponsorship by Trade Coffee, which allows viewers to discover new coffee roasts tailored to their preferences.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of taking detailed notes from non-fiction books to enhance comprehension and retention.
• 🌞 The best time for the speaker to read and comprehend material is in the morning, suggesting individual preferences for reading times can impact effectiveness.
• 🖊️ While reading, the speaker highlights key areas and uses symbols in the margins to guide later note-taking, showing the value of active reading strategies.
• 🔖 The use of different symbols for various purposes, such as examples, further reading, quotes, and questions, helps in organizing thoughts and ideas systematically.
• 📝 The speaker takes notes in an outline style using Roam Research, highlighting the utility of digital tools in creating interconnected knowledge webs.
• 🔗 The Roam Research app is praised for its linking system that allows easy connection between different notes, mirroring the way the brain organizes information.
• 📚 The speaker's note-taking process involves synthesizing new information with existing knowledge, underlining the significance of connecting new learning to prior understanding.
• ☕️ The video is sponsored by Trade Coffee, which allows subscribers to discover new coffee roasts tailored to their taste profiles, showing an example of personalized consumer experiences.
• 🎁 The speaker offers a special promotion for the audience to try Trade Coffee with a discount and free shipping, illustrating the integration of sponsorships in content.
• 🤔 The speaker's approach to note-taking and learning embodies Bruce Lee's quote about adapting, rejecting, and adding personal insights to the learning process.
• 🔄 The iterative nature of the speaker's note-taking process, from reading to synthesizing, reflects a continuous cycle of learning and personal growth.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about the speaker's method for taking notes from non-fiction books, including a four-step process: read, highlight, record, and synthesize.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of good comprehension during reading?

The speaker emphasizes good comprehension because it is crucial for taking effective notes. Without proper understanding of the material, the notes taken will not be useful.

What is the first step in the speaker's note-taking process?

The first step is 'read', where the speaker focuses on promoting the best possible comprehension by reading in the morning and adjusting the reading environment as needed.

How does the speaker handle the second step of the process, which is highlighting?

The speaker highlights while reading, using a pen to mark areas in the margins and underlining key terms to draw attention to important ideas later when taking notes.

What tools or methods does the speaker suggest for those who do not want to write in the margins of physical books?

The speaker suggests using eBooks, where highlights can be made through apps like Kindle or iBooks, or using book flags to mark places in a book non-destructively.

What system of symbols does the speaker use while reading and highlighting?

The speaker uses stars for general highlights, 'Ex' for examples, 'F' for further reading, 'Q' for quotes, question marks for passages that need further investigation, and writes short notes in the margin for thoughts to elaborate on later.

What is the third step in the speaker's note-taking process called, and what app does the speaker use for this step?

The third step is called 'record', where the speaker uses the app Roam Research to take notes in an outline style, utilizing its linking system to create an interconnected web of knowledge.

How does the speaker describe the fourth and final step of the note-taking process?

The fourth step is 'synthesize', where the speaker connects the newly learned information with what they already know, adding their own thoughts and opinions in italics within the notes.

What quote by Bruce Lee does the speaker reference to describe their approach to learning and note-taking?

The quote by Bruce Lee is 'Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.' This embodies the speaker's approach to the learning process.

What is the promotional offer mentioned by the speaker for Trade Coffee, and how can viewers take advantage of it?

The promotion for Trade Coffee offers 30% off the first bag and free shipping for the first 100 people who use the provided link in the description and take the coffee quiz.