How to read and not forget
- BirdieChao
- Jun 11, 2017
- 4 min read
This is Birdie's 12th personal article
Guys, the holiday season is here. I bet every single one of you is having your holidays right now. Whichever kind you are having, I wish you an awesome holiday ahead! However, if you are like me, going to make use of your holiday to improve yourself. This article is specially written for you.
Reading is non-questionable the most cost efficient way for self-improvement. Of course, it’s not limited to personal development, but to whichever field you want. For example, cooking, traveling and a lot more.
Just with few bucks you can buy the book and what you get in return is a tremendous amount of knowledge and value that can help you to get yourself to the next level. The more ridiculous thing now is, a lot of those books are free. With the existence of internet and libraries everywhere, there is no reason for us not to read.
But, there is one problem with reading.
Have you realise that you always forgot what you read? Maybe after a year? A month? A week? Or maybe right after you finished reading?
Now you know what I mean. We are not getting what we are supposed to get out of the book. I’m not saying the maximum meaning you absorbed every single juice of information in the book, I’m saying you are not even eating the golden nuggets that are in the books.
You might have tried to highlight the golden nuggets in the book. This will make it easier for you when you come back and refer to the book. But how often did you go back to the book?
With that being said, how can we read and secure those values from the book into our head?
The answer is. Make those values and information you read become yours. You might have a question mark now. How is it possible to make those values become yours?
It is actually very simple. There’s a method in how to read a book and own it. Allow me to share with you. RIA are the initials of the method. Read, Interpretation and Appropriation.
Reading
Reading is very straight forward, you just read. Get the very first level of understanding. And once you encounter something that you feel interesting or valuable. You can go ahead to highlight or anything and move to the next step.
Interpretation
Interpretation means the you interpret what the phrase you highlight means. Try make a deeper understanding about what is the phrase trying to say. Then, rephrase it into your own words. That’s the first step of owning it. Once you rephrase it, you created the phrase and you will remember it better.
Appropriation
Appropriation has 2 different methods. The best way is to do both method.
First method: You find something that’s has happened to you which can connect you with the phrase. Make yourself connect with the new knowledge you’ve just learn. Then write it down.
Second method: Think of an application on how you can integrate the new knowledge into your life. Only when there’s action taken with the knowledge you’ve learnt. Then you’ll really own it and not only that, you will be better because of that.
Now, that’s the methodology. However, there’s few different ways on the actual implementation. Having “Post It” stickers at every learning point. Use a memo to note down everything and of course the traditional way of having a physical notebook to jot down everything.
Personally, I think, having a physical notebook will be better. It might not be the most cost efficient choice as will need to buy notebooks. But the action of writing things down will enhance this process of learning. Furthermore, the notebook will become your personal treasure. Treasure of knowledges.
The of using your notebook steps go like this.
1. When you start to read a book, write down the book name on the top of the page. It marks the start of the book’s value that you obtained.
2. When you found something interesting in the book. Go to the notebook. Write down the actual phrase followed by a phrase of you own.
3. Then write down a past experience that you can connect with the phrase you just wrote.
4. Lastly write an application that you can implement into your life to make yourself better.
Seems like what I’m just repeating myself. But the most important thing is this. Remember I said we should at least get what we are supposed to get. It might not have to be every juice?
So, after finishing the book, read the notebook again. Highlight those you think are the more important or valuable points then start implementing the actions you said into your life.
Normally, bloggers at this point of time will give their own recommendation of book and what so ever. But I’m not someone who loves to read a lot. I just started reading like last year. And I just bought my notebooks for this technique. So, I think I can’t really give any recommendation YET.
But what I can recommend is go to the library near your house or look online for e-books. And just start in whatever field you like. You can even have multiple books for different purposes. For me, I have 2 notebooks. One for learnings from books. And one from things online or maybe anywhere else.
So, let me give you guys a challenge. Before next week, get your journal ready and choose a book to read. Then by the end of your holiday. Have at least of 5 learnings that you learnt from the book you chose and share it with me through this google form.
I'll send this link again when the holiday ends and then by the following week, I will share with you on the different learnings that each and everyone of you have!
Before that, stay awesome, stay tuned.
It's your choice
To live in your dreams or to be living your dreams
-BirdieChao
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