Using the index card while reading helps me remember the goal of paying attention to the theme of consciousness – the core reason I’m reading the book in the first place. Sure, some of them might be entertaining, but here’s what matters: This single card keeps my attention focused on the goal of reading the book. So I use one index card as I read and jot down first the page number and then the quote or idea. The second style involves cramming everything on to just 1-2 index cards per book.įor example, when going through certain books, like some novels I’ve read for a research project on consciousness, there’s no need for multiple index cards.
I always add the page number in case I need to find my way back to the place in the book for context. Each card thereafter will feature a quote, key point or my own observations. Next, I will make the first card have the title and name of the book. I usually decide on how many notes I will take from each chapter to keep things simple and follow the “less is more” principle. The first way involves capturing individual ideas on individual cards. Two of my favorite include using index cards in different ways. I have written a lot about many unusual note taking techniques. Mental note taking using a Memory Palace.Why?īecause it is one of the best possible techniques you can do to really switch on the power of fully engaged reading.
How to be an Active Reader: 7 Proven Active Reading StrategiesĪs you go through each of the following strategies, I suggest you take notes. The success of these projects required reading actively in each of the following ways we’re about to cover in depth. Īll of the books I read for this project are compiled in the bibliography of The Victorious Mind: How to Master Memory, Meditation and Mental Well-Being. Some of my personal case studies have involved the Advaita Vedanta research project that led to my TEDxTalk, Two Easily Remembered Questions That Silence Negative Thoughts. Whereas passive reading might involve just picking up the latest book to hit the market, active reading involves researching books that belong to a specific example. For example, as I teach in How to Memorize a Textbook, a goal might be to extract and remember three points per chapter. The most important aspect is that you have a specific goal in mind. Using memory techniques like the Memory Palace during or shortly after reading.Specific steps followed in a particular order.What Is Active Reading?Īctive reading is distinguished from passive reading, an activity where you read just to read.īy contrast, the active reading process involves strategies. So if you like the best of both proven research and lived experience, you’re in the right spot to learn how to read better and faster. Second, I’ll share techniques I learned as part of my journey towards getting two MAs, a PhD and working for decades as a research and writer. On this page, we’re going to cover what I consider to be the best active reading techniques. The question is… what exactly are these strategies and how can you use them effectively? You’ve probably heard that you need active reading strategies in order to understand and remember more. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS