“In my whole life, I have known no wise people (over a broad
subject matter area) who didn’t read all the time – none, zero.”
— Charlie Munger
One of the best ways
to learn it to learn from the experiences of others. And one of the
best ways to do that is to make friends with the eminent dead.
Through trial and error, over the years, I’ve come across several
frameworks that help us improve how we read.
While there are
thousands of hacks and shortcuts on the internet, most of them only
offer the illusion of speed, retention, or improvement.
It turns out you
don’t need a lot of frameworks anyways. A few, well-tested ones,
can vastly improve your comprehension, speed, and ability to connect
and apply what you are reading to critical thinking, problem-solving,
and creativity.
How to Read
Reading the words is
the easy part. You were taught how to do this in elementary school.
But just because you read the words doesn’t mean you read well.
Ideally, the way you read is tailored to whether you’re reading for
entertainment, information, or understanding. The Levels of Reading
will help you read more effectively and efficiently.
What to Read
Knowing how to read
is only half the battle. Too much of what we consume these days is
the mental equivalent of junk food. Quality matters more than
quantity. The Pot-Belly of ignorance talks about the importance of
selecting your reading material wisely.
Arthur
Schopenhauer’s timeless advice on reading is also worth reading (be
quick to start books, quicker to stop them, and read the best ones
again right after you finish). Montaigne’s rule with reading was
the promiscuous pursuit of pleasure.
Whatever you do,
don’t read what everyone else is reading. Rather than read new
books, focus on old ones.
Each year I keep a
reading list of the books I’ve read and loved. The books range in
subjects from history and biographies to hard sciences and the
occasional work of fiction.
I know you’re
busy. While I start hundreds of books a year only the ones I like
make the list. Sometimes, I don’t like the entire book, just a part
of it. I note when this is the case and why.
Taking Notes While
Reading
Think of reading as
a conversation between you and the author. One of the ways you can
process a conversation with someone who is not there is to write in
the margins. It’s ok to question the author or disagree. This is
how we think.
I use a very simple
process to take notes while reading:
At the end of each
chapter write a few bullet points that summarize what you’ve read
and make it personal if you can — that is, apply it to something in
your life. Also, note any unanswered questions. When you’re done
the book, put it down for a week.
Pick up the book
again and go through all your notes. Most of these will be garbage
but there will be lots you want to remember. Write the good stuff on
the inside cover of the book along with a page number.
Copy out the
excerpts by hand or take a picture of them to pop into Evernote. Tag
accordingly.
Remembering What you
Read
Why is it that some
people seem to be able to read a book once and remember every detail
of it for life, while others struggle to recall even the title a few
days after putting down a book?
The answer is simple
but not easy.
It’s not what they
read. It’s how they read. Good reading habits not only help you
read more but help you read better.
Here’s the FS
system for remembering what you read.
But the most
effective approach that I’ve found, and tested on thousands of
people, is called the blank sheet. It’s the single easiest change
you can make to reading that will 10x your ability to recall what
you’re reading.
Here’s how it
works:
Before you start
reading a new book, take out a blank sheet of paper. Write down what
you know about the subject you’re about to read — a mind map if
you will.
After you are done a
reading session spend a few minutes adding to the map (I use a
different color ink).
Before you start
your next reading session, review the mindmap (I use mine as a
bookmark sometimes.)
Put these mind maps
into a binder that you periodically review.
Reading More
The way to get
better results in life is to learn constantly. And the best way to
learn is to read effectively and read a lot. If you’re short on
time, here is how to find more time to read. Reading habits don’t
need to be complicated, you can start a simple 25 page a day habit.
Above all else
remember that just because you’ve read something doesn’t mean
you’ve done the work required to have an opinion.