I set a goal this year to read fifty books. I’m up to twenty-eight books and seven ahead of schedule. That is a lot of books and most of them are nonfiction.
Here is the challenge: reading more books means there is more to remember.
Since I have increased the number of books I read, I’ve seen or heard of other people I know reading the same books.
When those conversations occur, we get put to the test.
How much can we remember?
What were the biggest takeaways from reading the book months or even years later?
When I read, I like to highlight passages that summarize or articulate clearly the author’s point in a certain section of their book. That way, when I go back and reread the book later I can focus on the important points.
I used to keep an Evernote note with the three most important takeaways, an outline of notes, and questions I had before reading the books. Since I’ve increased my reading speed, though, I have gotten out of this practice.
I replaced that practice with something better and more effective: this daily learning log.
If you want to remember what you read, you have to write.
When you learn something new, teach it to someone.
We learn by teaching.
Creativity > Consumption
The ideas that inspired a morning blog post here have been solidified in my memory. These ideas have made a much bigger impact on the way I live because I have written about them and taught them to others.
Whenever you read a book, talk about it with other people.
Teach what you learn even if no one is listening or watching.
You will remember more and allow the books to have a much greater impact on who you are and how you live.
