How do I read thick non-fiction books faster?

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Mikhail Kotykhov

Thanks for the good question, Peter.

Two hints here.

(1) When you read the book, use pen and paper to visualize the things you read. Draw some simple graphs, mind maps to make sure you understand these concepts before you move on to the next one. Yes, at first, you might feel this slows down your reading, but in the longer-term you will see the benefits. You will spend less time later on revision and learning things you forgot.

(2) This one was suggested earlier by Madsen Sparler - get a friend or a colleague to study it with you. Share opinions, ask questions. This will help increase the effectiveness of learning and reduce the time spent on revision.

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Auren Hoffman

One way is to listen, rather than read, books. When listening, comprehension is lower but you can get through more books because you can listen while driving, working out, or doing the laundry.

I've found that about half the books I want to read are available on Audible. One strategy is to read the "heavy" books (science, math, deep philosophy, etc.) and listen to the "lighter" books (biographies, business books, Gladwell, Michael Lewis, etc.).

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Robert Charles Lee

Scan the contents page so that you'll have a mental 'roadmap' of what's to come.

Scan the "foreword" of the book (or "preface," depending on the structure) because very often this is where the author attempts to tell the reader what he wants to achieve with the book.

For each chapter, scan all of the headings and subheadings first so that you'll have a sense of the technicalities and connections. Then read the wretched thing. Write marginal notes in pencil while you're reading. Don't use highlighters (because you'll only distract yourself.) At the end of each chapter, write a personal summary of the whole chapter (also in pencil).

Medical studies trick: For the essential "must-know" stuff, put a solid triangle shape next to the material. Accompany that with marginal notes, or refer to index cards.

Editorial trick: For stuff that you judge to be non-essential or skippable, you put a outline circle shape next to the material. That becomes a ready-to-see cue to skip.

Legal trick: The stuff that you've been told (by the teacher?) to skip or not worth the crap, just "lance it" -- one vertical line through the middle of the text in pencil.

Yes, the pencil and index cards are your best friends here.

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