The Power of Retaining More from Every Book You Read

The Power of Retaining More from Every Book You Read

Reading has the incredible power to change how we interpret our past experiences. As Patrick O'Shaughnessy wisely says, "Reading changes the past." It allows us to gain new perspectives and insights that can reshape our values and beliefs. This is why it is crucial to not only read more books but also to retain more from each book we read.

Patrick Collison, the founder of Stripe, puts it beautifully when he says, "Life is too short to not read the very best book you know of right now." So how can we make the most out of the books we read? Here are seven ways to retain more from every book:

1. Start more books, quit most of them, and read the great ones twice.

One way to improve reading comprehension is to choose books that you can immediately apply to your life. By putting the ideas you read into action, you solidify them in your mind. Practice is a highly effective form of learning. So don't be afraid to start multiple books and quit those that don't resonate with you. But when you come across a truly great book, read it not just once, but twice. Returning to these books cements the ideas in your mind and allows you to uncover new insights with each reading.

2. Keep searchable notes to emphasize important points.

Taking notes on what you read is essential for retaining information. You can do this in whatever way works best for you. It doesn't have to be a complicated system; the key is to emphasize the important points and passages. One effective way to do this is by using a digital note-taking app like Evernote. It offers instant searchability, easy accessibility across multiple devices, and the ability to create and save notes even offline. By storing your notes in a searchable format, you can easily revisit ideas whenever you need them.

3. Summarize the book in just three sentences.

As soon as you finish a book, challenge yourself to summarize the entire text in just three sentences. This constraint forces you to distill the main ideas and think about what was truly important about the book. Ask yourself: What are the main ideas? If you were to implement one idea right now, which one would it be? How would you describe the book to a friend? This exercise not only helps with retention but also improves your ability to communicate and share knowledge with others.