(This is part 3 of a 3 part series on reading. Click to read part 1 & part 2)
Isn’t it frustrating when you read a book and then forget what it is about?
It feels like such a waste when someone sees a book in my bookshelf, asks me about it, and I can’t remember anything. I want to put off like I’m smart and know more than I do.
“Uh, ya…that was a great book!” I say uncomfortably.
You don’t want to waste your reading. You want to remember it!
That’s our goal this week. We need a couple of quick tweaks in order to:
Read Memorably.
If you follow the two strategies from the past two weeks (Read Strategically & Read Consistently) you are already going to remember more of what you read. Plus, you are going to be implementing this into your life. What’s our goal? Should we repeat our phrase again…? You read to APPLY!
These tweaks, while reading, will help drive the main points home and make them more accessible for you and easier to recall in the future.
Tweak #1 – Mark it up!
Use a pen, dog-ear pages, and GET AFTER THIS BOOK!
Some people don’t like to mark in a book because they like to keep in clean. Remember, you are using this book. Don’t let the book use you.
Don’t worry about the $0.75 you might lose on the resale value at Half Price Books because it’s underlined. You want this book to change your life more than you want the extra pocket change.
Do more than just underline. Make marks in the margins so you can quickly flip through the book later and see which pages you wanted to remember. I’ll use symbols like *** or ^^^ and long ||| in the margins so it catches my eye when I’m flipping through.
If you use Kindle it’s even easier to highlight. But don’t just highlight. Use the “note” feature to jot down thoughts and questions. Later go to the Notebook section to see all your highlights and notes. **HINT: I’ve used this to lead small groups by writing discussion questions for the highlighted sections I wanted to discuss. They’ll show up in order like a Leader’s Guide!
If there is a good application to make write a chapter summary on the first page of each chapter. 1-2 sentences so you can remember what you want to apply. Writing it down helps you internalize it more.
What if you could pull any book off your shelf and instantly see the main point of each chapter!? It’s a simple tweak that pays off.
Tweak #2 – List your reads!
Open up a word document or note on your phone and start a list of what you read. At the end of each book, scan through your major chapter summaries and add them to it. Every month or so you can browse back through and check your applications.
This is a tweak that takes a few extra minutes but makes a big difference! This is a major goal for me to do more consistently.
The reading list will keep you accountable and will inspire you as you see quality content accumulate on the page. Apps like GoodReads can be helpful to write summaries and keep them organized. You can also add friends to help hold you accountable.
Can you imagine looking back at the end of a year and seeing 20-30 great books with summaries of what you applied from each?
This document also makes it helpful to recommend books to friends or disciples you are helping lead spiritually.
Tweak #3 – Go Public!
Tell someone what you learned.
The learning pyramid tells us you will only remember 10% of what you read! However, you can retain up to 90% of what you learn when you teach someone else! After I read a book I try to tell my staff or my wife something that stood out to me. That helps clarify the lessons in my mind.
You could text someone and say, “Hey I just read _____ and thought this point was interesting.” Maybe they’ll dialogue with you about it.
Use social media! I’ve started posting what I’m learning on Twitter. It helps me. It forces me to simplify and filter my thoughts on what I’m learning.
Going public forces you to sum up the main thoughts and internalize them. Once you’ve communicated your ideas to someone else you’re well on your way to remembering what you learned!
In conclusion:
We would all love to read faster and better!
What has been getting in your way might be some old reading habits you learned in 3rd grade. You don’t need to read like you’re preparing for an exam. No one is quizzing you on this!
It’s time to move on. Your growth and improved life are at stake!
Read to apply.
Use the book, don’t let the book use you.
Reading Strategically, Consistently, and Memorably will vastly improve the amount you read and the quality of your reading.
Let me know what you believe is going to help you the most!
