Using Spaced Repetition and Active Recall with Books to Hack Your Brain

Using Spaced Repetition and Active Recall with Books to Hack Your Brain

"You'll forget most of what you learn. What should you do about that?"

The comparison between our memory and Neo's ability to download information in The Matrix is quite striking. However, unlike Neo, we quickly forget nearly everything we read. It's as if what we read flows through us like sand slipping through open fingers. This is a significant problem because nonfiction books hold vast amounts of human potential, yet so little is realized due to our forgetfulness.

One powerful technique that can help us retain information from books is active recall. Active recall, also known as quizzing, testing, or retrieval, is the process by which we challenge our minds to retrieve a piece of information rather than simply passively reviewing or re-reading it. When we read a book, the passive approach to remembering the information would be to occasionally re-read a certain passage. While this is better than never revisiting the material, research consistently shows that active recall testing is far more effective.

The key to forgetting less lies in systematic review, and the best way to review is through active recall. By actively engaging with the material, we force our brains to work harder, making the information more likely to stick. This can be done by asking ourselves questions about what we've read, summarizing the main points, or discussing the material with others. By actively retrieving the information, we strengthen the connections in our brain, leading to better retention.

Another technique that complements active recall is spaced repetition. Spaced repetition involves spacing out reviews of previously learned material according to an algorithm designed to optimize the limited time we have for review. Each time we review a piece of information, we provide feedback to the algorithm, which then estimates the optimal time to show us that information again. This ensures that we review the material when we are on the verge of forgetting, reinforcing our memory and increasing the chances of long-term retention.

Spaced repetition is the complete opposite of cramming, which we all know is an effective method for passing a test in the short term but a terrible way of truly learning something. Instead of cramming all the information in a short span of time and quickly forgetting it, spaced repetition allows us to review the material over a longer period, reinforcing the concepts and making them more ingrained in our memory.

While we eagerly await the development of Elon Musk's Neuralink, a technology that may revolutionize our ability to absorb information effortlessly, we can still make use of the combination of books, Readwise, and Mastery to enhance our learning process. Readwise is a tool that integrates with e-readers and helps us review the highlights and annotations we've made while reading. By combining active recall with Readwise, we can quiz ourselves on the key points of a book, reinforcing our memory of the material. Mastery, on the other hand, is a technique where we aim to teach what we've learned to someone else, solidifying our understanding and memory even further.

In conclusion, the unfortunate reality is that we forget most of what we learn. However, there are actionable steps we can take to combat this forgetfulness. Incorporating active recall into our learning process, whether through questioning, summarizing, or discussing, can significantly improve our retention. Pairing active recall with spaced repetition, a technique that optimizes the review of previously learned material, enhances our ability to remember information in the long term. Additionally, tools like Readwise and techniques like Mastery can further support our learning journey. So, let's harness the power of spaced repetition and active recall with books to hack our brains and unlock our full potential.