Reading Is Easy, You Should Focus On Retention
Simple principles to gain the most value from everything you read
A few years ago I started to read extensively. I started to read 20–30 books a year until I reached 60–70 and got to the point that I was just reading for the sake of having a high number of books on my reading list. Once you develop the habit of reading daily you’re able to crunch 2 to 4 books a week, simply because you start reading faster. But is it enough to fly through pages in order to learn from them everything they have to offer?
Needless to say that once I realized my fallacy of stacking up a number of books I needed to increase my retention from those readings. Otherwise, I am wasting valuable time without gain. If you think you’re suffering from the same mistake, use these practices to increase your retention while reading.
Take notes
Regardless if it’s paper or digital book, both formats have options for you to do that. You might think about what notes you suppose to take? Well, any thoughts or reflection will do, maybe even when you dislike or disagree with the idea or statement, mark why you think otherwise. Pose question if you haven’t understood the idea presented.
For paper books, you can also use stick notes to mark pages where you left a note or two. Once you’re done with the book, you can come back later to read through your notes again.
Explain
Once you’re done with your read time, try to explain what you’ve read to someone. Don’t try to memorize the exact words, but use your own interpretation of it.
Maybe there was a new principle or point that you liked (or disliked) which could be good to you or someone else. Have a discussion about it with another person. This will definitely help to imprint important ideas in your memory.
Review
This can be done in a few ways. One, just simply write a review online about the book, what you’ve liked, and what are your main takeaways (for this you can use your already-made notes within the book’s pages).
Or you could simply write your summary of the book on the sheet of paper and just put it inside the book. Also, you could wait a week before doing it, in this way your thoughts on the book will settle in your memory and you will be able to make a more objective view on it.
Re-read
Good books are meant to be digested multiple times. I have no doubt you heard the expression “Each time I read it, I find something new to learn”. Sometimes reading the second time could feel that you’re reading a new book. We tend to miss a lot when reading. Fight this disadvantage by re-reading material.
Others
Read other’s people reviews, summaries, and extensive analysis. Maybe you missed some important message or maybe you want to have a discussion with that person about your disagreement with the idea. Either way, this will help you to get as much as possible from your read.
Final thoughts
Note that these practices could be applied not only to nonfiction books or even not to books in general. Every good story has at least a few important takeaways for all of us.
Don’t let those golden ideas slip through your mind without internalizing it for your own benefit. Even if your eyes see, it doesn't mean that you retained it.
