7 Ways to Retain More of Every Book You Read

Key Concepts

• Reading Benefits: Reading can reinterpret past experiences and internalize knowledge for compounding growth.
• Purpose: Focus on strategies for reading to learn and retain information.

Strategies for Reading Comprehension

1. Quit More Books

• Skim First: Assess a book's value quickly by skimming.
• Be Selective: Life is short, read only valuable books and quit average ones without guilt.
• Recommendation: Start more books but only finish the great ones and consider rereading them.

2. Choose Books You Can Use Instantly

• Immediate Application: Select books that offer ideas you can apply immediately to reinforce learning.
• Motivation: Books related to current life or work are more likely to be remembered.

3. Create Searchable Notes

• Note-Taking: Highlight, transcribe, and store notes in a searchable format like Evernote.
• Digital Notes: Options vary by format: audiobooks, ebooks, and print.
• Searchable System: Use tools like Post-It Notes or index cards for organization.

4. Combine Knowledge Trees

• Link Concepts: Relate new information to existing knowledge.
• Integration: Connect ideas from different books to form a comprehensive understanding.

5. Write a Short Summary

• Summarize Briefly: Condense the book's main ideas into three sentences.
• Feynman Technique: Explain the book's content simply as if to a beginner to reveal gaps in understanding.

6. Surround the Topic

• Read Varied Perspectives: Avoid forming beliefs based on a single source.
• Broaden Understanding: Read multiple books on the same topic for a well-rounded view.

7. Read It Twice

• Rereading: Revisit books as they offer new insights over time.
• Reinforcement: Repeated exposure to ideas helps cement them in the mind.

Additional Insights

• Value of Lifelong Learning: Knowledge grows over time with continuous learning.
• Recommendations: Check out book summaries and reading lists for guidance.

Conclusion

• Continual Improvement: Aim for incremental wisdom with each reading.
• Next Steps: Explore further reading materials for growth and insight.