How To Remember What You Read — Evidence-Based Techniques
Simple ways to supercharge your learning experience while reading.
🙏 Thanks in advance for reading this review. It’s part of a series called "Book Club" where I curate insights and ideas from my favourite books.
We've all been there – you finish reading a fantastic book, only to realize that the content seems to evaporate from your memory like mist in the morning sun. The frustration is real. You invested time, effort, and sometimes money, and you can’t even recall any valuable lesson a few days later.
There can be many reasons for this and a few might even require professional help. In this article, my goal is to share practical strategies and techniques I use, in hopes that it helps you remember what you read, ensuring that key insights stay with you long after you've closed the book.
Understanding How Memory Works
Understanding the inner workings of memory is the cornerstone for improving our reading retention. At its core, memory comprises three crucial processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Encoding: This is the initial step where information from the external world is converted into a format that the brain can understand and store. When you read a book, your brain encodes the text by transforming written words into neural signals.
Magic, isn’t?
Storage: The encoded information is then filed away in various types of memory stores. In the context of reading, two primary memory systems come into play – short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). STM is like your brain's scratchpad, holding onto information temporarily, typically for a few seconds to a couple of minutes. LTM, on the other hand, is where information is retained for an extended period, ranging from hours to a lifetime.
Retrieval: This is the process of accessing and recalling stored information when needed. Think of it as searching your mental archives to bring forth what you've read.
One key for retrieval lies in the brain's remarkable ability known as synaptic plasticity or, more broadly, neuroplasticity. These terms refer to the brain's capacity to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout our lives.
When we read and engage with new information, our brains create and strengthen neural pathways, making it more likely that this information will be stored in LTM.
Now let’s look into ways of optimizing the encoding, storage, and retrieval processes to enhance reading retention.
Getting Ready To Read
1. Define Reading Goals
Independently of the genre or purpose of your reading, without committing to a reading time, the book will not read itself. Start by shifting things around in your schedule to accommodate time for reading.
An even bigger trap that I often find myself in is setting very ambitious goals that are unrealistic with my current routine. I remember challenging myself in the past to read a book per week. This only left me feeling miserable, nothing else. I didn’t even believe in the target myself and whenever I eventually finished a book in a week, the retention was so poor that it had lost its purpose.
Lastly, set clear intentions for every book you read. From the review, title, table contents or introduction, determine which answers you expect to get from the book and this will prime your mind to seek for them.
2. Set The Ideal Environment
Straightforward, but always worth emphasizing. Your reading environment can make or break your reading experience.
Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can immerse yourself without constant interruptions. Silence your phone, and let the world outside your book fade away.
Reading Actively
Reading isn't a passive activity; it's a dynamic interaction between you and the text, allowing you to become an engaged participant in the narrative.
1. Engage With The Text
Active reading begins with engagement. Dive into the material with a curious and open mind. Ask questions as you read. Mentally challenge the author's arguments or ideas. Visualize the scenes or concepts being described. This kind of mental participation keeps your brain active and attentive.
2. Highlight And Take Notes
One of the most effective techniques for active reading is highlighting and taking notes. Use a highlighter or a digital tool to mark key sentences, important details, or passages you find intriguing. Jot down notes and summaries in your own words using the book margins or if like me you hate writing on books, simply use the Notes app on your phone.
The key is to create notes that are clear, organized, and concise, making it easier for you to revisit. In the next section, we'll explore the concept of spaced repetition and how it can be a game-changer for retaining what you read.
Using Spaced Repetitions
At its core, spaced repetition is based on the psychological principle known as the spacing effect. This effect suggests that we remember information more effectively when it's presented to us at intervals over time, rather than cramming it all at once. The duration of the intervals depends on how long we would like to retain the content.
Here's how it works:
Initial Learning: When you encounter new information, your brain begins the process of encoding it into memory.
Review at the Right Time: Instead of reviewing that information repeatedly in a short span (massed practice), you identify the ideal moment for you to review it again. This timing is crucial because it falls right before you're likely to forget it.
Strengthening Memory: By reviewing at the perfect moment, you're reinforcing the memory, making it stronger and more durable. Over time, this spaced review leads to long-term retention.
Talking About It
Reading doesn't have to be a solitary endeavour. Discuss your views with a friend, colleague, or fellow reader.
Sharing your thoughts and insights not only solidifies your understanding but also exposes you to different perspectives, enriching your comprehension.
Identifying Barriers To Retention
1. Procrastination
You can’t retain the content you didn’t read - would you agree?
Whether it's checking your social media feed or tackling less important tasks, procrastination can quietly steal precious reading hours. Stay alert!
2. Multitasking
Many of us believe that multitasking is a superpower, but in reality, it's a memory killer. When you split your focus between reading and other tasks, your brain struggles to encode and retain information effectively.
Embrace single-tasking. Dedicate a specific time for reading without the interference of other activities.
3. Mindless Reading
We spoke about this before. Racing through books like a Formula 1 car might give you bragging rights, but it often results in shallow comprehension and forgettable content.
Slow down, engage with the material and read actively.
4. Overlooking Review
Completing a book feels like an accomplishment, but if you don't revisit the material, you'll forget it faster than you'd like to admit. Many readers skip the crucial step of reviewing what they've read.
Implement the power of spaced repetition. Schedule periodic reviews of the notes you’ve taken.
Conclusion
Reading retention is a skill that can be nurtured and honed with practice. So, set forth with the knowledge that each book you read is an opportunity to sharpen your memory and enrich your life.
I hope this article gave you enough evidence and practical tips, to help you dive into your next book with double the confidence and curiosity.
Thank you so much for your time! Hours of research go into each article and case study, your support would mean the world to me:
More:
Reference(s):
Queensland Brain Institute. (n.d.). What is synaptic plasticity? The University of Queensland Australia. Retrieved from https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain-basics/brain/brain-physiology/what-synaptic-plasticity
Courtney E. Ackerman. (2018, July 25th). What Is Neuroplasticity? A Psychologist Explains [+14 Tools]. Positivepsychology.com. Retrieved from https://positivepsychology.com/neuroplasticity/#google_vignette
Practical Psychology. (2022, December 06th). The Spacing Effect. Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/spacing-effect/
Jennifer E. Davis. (2023, January 26th). Multitasking and How It Affects Your Brain Health. Lifespan. Retrieved from https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/multitasking-and-how-it-affects-your-brain-health#:~:text=It%20essentially%20tires%20it%20out,distractible%20and%20prone%20to%20errors.