There is a wide difference between "looking at words in a book until you've seen them all" and reading profitably. Good reading habits vary between people; what is important is that the reader understands the author's main thesis, arguments, and takes time to synthesize views with his. Readers should weigh an author's ideas and determine to what extent they are true, false, or plausible. As well, try to organize information for future use and synthesis.
The basic method I use is as follows. I read at a fairly comfortable pace, bracketing "}" in the margins around portions which suggest new, unusual, or strong arguments and points. I also bracket questionable points and well-said statements. Beside these brackets I write something to note the subject. This aids my ability to find or recall various portions. (I stopped using highlighters because they didn't give me contextual information like brackets do, and the coloring is visually distracting and inefficient.) I often pause for several minutes thinking about what I'm reading, so it's not a race to me.
Memory and comprehension are helped by discussing what I'm reading with others, or writing about what I'm considering. Having finished a book, I like to return after a few months and look over the bracketed portions. I might do this several times with books which have the greatest concentration of such content.
I also use a database for storing passages and quotes. This allows me to type terms, such as "justification", and see every passage I've bracketed with that term from all my books; I can also narrow the search by author. While time consuming, this is very helpful in reconsidering or contemplating subjects, or for reference during conversations and debates. It's an investment that I use enough to consider worthwhile.
Another point is quality of content. When I was eleven or twelve years old I read a sentence from a biography of Abraham Lincoln which has never left me. In essence, it said that Abraham read very few books in his youth but all of them were classics; he would walk sixteen miles to get his hands on a quality book. Mastery of 300 truly influential and ennobling books is superior to skimming 10,000 forgettable and redundant titles.
Lastly, it's a good idea to follow the educational advice of those whom we admire. They got there through a course of study and probably know what books will be most formative and useful.
Hope this helps. God bless your studies!
The basic method I use is as follows. I read at a fairly comfortable pace, bracketing "}" in the margins around portions which suggest new, unusual, or strong arguments and points. I also bracket questionable points and well-said statements. Beside these brackets I write something to note the subject. This aids my ability to find or recall various portions. (I stopped using highlighters because they didn't give me contextual information like brackets do, and the coloring is visually distracting and inefficient.) I often pause for several minutes thinking about what I'm reading, so it's not a race to me.
Memory and comprehension are helped by discussing what I'm reading with others, or writing about what I'm considering. Having finished a book, I like to return after a few months and look over the bracketed portions. I might do this several times with books which have the greatest concentration of such content.
I also use a database for storing passages and quotes. This allows me to type terms, such as "justification", and see every passage I've bracketed with that term from all my books; I can also narrow the search by author. While time consuming, this is very helpful in reconsidering or contemplating subjects, or for reference during conversations and debates. It's an investment that I use enough to consider worthwhile.
Another point is quality of content. When I was eleven or twelve years old I read a sentence from a biography of Abraham Lincoln which has never left me. In essence, it said that Abraham read very few books in his youth but all of them were classics; he would walk sixteen miles to get his hands on a quality book. Mastery of 300 truly influential and ennobling books is superior to skimming 10,000 forgettable and redundant titles.
Lastly, it's a good idea to follow the educational advice of those whom we admire. They got there through a course of study and probably know what books will be most formative and useful.
Hope this helps. God bless your studies!
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© Michael Spotts:. 2011
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You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this article in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and that you do not charge any fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For printed copies, as well as web posting, please include the following statement:
By M. Benjamin Spotts:.
Copyright © The Open Life
www.theopenlife.com
Titus 3:3-8
© Michael Spotts:. 2011
———————
You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this article in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and that you do not charge any fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For printed copies, as well as web posting, please include the following statement:
By M. Benjamin Spotts:.
Copyright © The Open Life
www.theopenlife.com
Titus 3:3-8
3 comments:
This was very useful and interesting. I always enjoy hearing other peoples reading habits. It helps me to hone my study habits.
So, what are the "300 truly influential and ennobling books"?
That will require a future blog post, especially because I don't yet have the experience and authority to say. ;)
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