A question I often get from professionals is how can I remember more of what I read? Reading nonfiction can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to absorb a lot of information. It’s not uncommon to forget what you’ve read or struggle to remember key concepts. However, with the right strategies, you can remember more of what you read.
Change Your Approach to Reading
The first step to remembering more of what you read is to change your approach to reading. Many people think they have to read nonfiction books cover-to-cover, but this isn't always necessary. In fact, most nonfiction books contain extraneous information that doesn't contribute to the reader's understanding of the text. To be more strategic in your approach to reading, focus on the most important information and avoid getting bogged down in irrelevant details.
Apply the 80/20 Rule
According to educator Russell Stauffer, only four to 11 percent of the text on the average page of a nonfiction book carries meaning. The rest is context and examples. This means that you can read 20 percent of a nonfiction book and still understand 80 percent of the text. To apply the 80/20 Rule, you need to identify which sections of the book to read.
Prepare Your Mind
This is not something most professionals do because they were never taught to prepare their minds for reading nonfiction books. However, this step is key to remembering more of what you read. There are many techniques for you to use to prepare your mind, but I’ll mention only a couple. Besides, I’ve written about this countless times, so perhaps you know this by now.
Do brain gym exercises because they connect both sides of the brain. A quick internet search will give you examples. Jumping jacks and marching bands are examples of brain gym exercises.
You can also listen to binaural beats audio. I have apps that are both free and paid that I use for this.
Set a Purpose for Reading
Before you read, it's important to set a purpose for your reading. What do you want to learn or achieve by reading the book? Identifying your purpose will help you focus on the most important sections of the book and avoid getting sidetracked by less relevant information.
Craft Questions to Answer
Once you've set your purpose, it's helpful to craft a set of questions to answer. What information do you need to know to achieve your purpose? What are the key concepts or takeaways you're looking for? Having a clear set of questions in mind will help you stay focused and remember information more effectively.
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Preview the Material
After you've set your purpose and crafted your questions, it's time to preview the material. Read the preface, foreword, and introduction. Pay close attention to the table of contents and look for chapters and sections that align with your purpose and answer your questions. This will help you stay focused and avoid getting bogged down in irrelevant details.
Take Active Notes
As you read, take active notes on key points, quotes, examples, and other relevant information. This helps you remember the most important information and provides a reference for when you need to revisit the material. Don't just copy down what you're reading; instead, write it in your own words to internalize the information and make it your own.
Summarize What You've Read
After you've finished reading, summarize what you've read in your own words. This consolidates the information and makes it more memorable. Distill the key concepts and takeaways into a few bullet points or sentences. This helps you identify any gaps in your understanding and allows you to go back and review those sections.
Review Your Notes
To remember what you read, review your notes a few times. Pick out the big ideas and think about how you can apply them to work and life. Practice active recall of your notes without looking at them to see how much you remember. I often practice active recall before I go to sleep.
Conclusion
Remembering more of what you read is about being strategic in your approach to reading. Instead of trying to read the book cover-to-cover, focus on the most important information and apply the 80/20 Rule. Set a purpose for your reading, craft questions, and preview the nonfiction book.
By engaging with the material and using visual aids, you can deepen your understanding and make the information more memorable. Finally, by practicing retrieval, you can reinforce what you have learned and make it more likely that you will remember it in the long term. With these strategies in mind, you can become a more effective, engaged reader, and remember more of what you read.
Next Steps
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- Download Unlock Your Genius Power Reading Tips Sheet
