I find that I retain the most information when I build myself a “story” of it. A kind of narrative makes it easy to relate from one piece of knowledge to another, and also interject new tidbits as you find them. Things like obsidian lend themselves really nicely
Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
41–50 of 62 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#42I think one needs to be clear about what type of content one is learning. Is it rote memorization like anatomy? Or is it more conceptual like system design?
It seems to me that you want to apply memorization techniques, or even high school paper writing techniques, to material highly conceptual in nature...
I don't think that's appropriate.
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#43Explain it to somebody else.
When I took my Instructor Methodology class to become a Firefighting Instructor, I recall the gentleman who ran the class exposing me to the quote (which I've come to embrace wholeheartedly) that goes "You don't really understand something until you've taught it to somebody else."
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#44When I used to be an overintellectualizing, overacademizing nerd, I would use complex and regimented notetaking and review systems. The whole gamut from trendy notetaking wiki-type apps to flashcard spaced-repetition apps like anki. These things made me feel like I was learning. Flashcards and notetaking itself were fun games. I felt like I'd stumbled onto this hyper-optimized efficient way to learn whatever I wanted…
"One learns from books and example only that certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things." (Frank Herbert, Children of Dune)
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#45I have a method that works really well. I only read books on kindle, and i use kindle highlights. After I finish a book, I usually wait about 1 month or so, then I download the kindle highlights and turn them in to Anki flash cards and review them every day. The type of cards i make are 1. vocab i didnt know 2. interesting paragraphs 3. other examples using cloze SMS works, and this method definitely works, but it's…
My approach is similar! However, my cards are more made for spaced reading than for spaced repetition studying. As such, each card just corresponds to a highlight. (Also replace Kindle with Google play books)
does your method work well ?
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#46I listen to a lot of non-fiction audiobooks. Over time, I've realized it's pretty much pointless to try to "lock-in" knowledge. There's simply too much information and generally a lot of noise, relative to the real-world problems I'm solving. I now read books with a few intentions: * Don't read for facts. Read for patterns and mindsets. * Spend enough time in the book to absorb a mindset from it. I don't need all 8.5…
This is the way. Let the book flow through you and change how you think. Embed that stuff deep in your neural network, if you will. You can always look up facts later if you need them. What matters is getting the vibes and an intuitive feel for the material. Directional understanding is what I am for. Details, that’s what search is for. I also like to read in audio, then get a paperback copy if I think later I’ll nee…
> I also like to read in audio
I envy you. I just can't "read" in audio. I understand and retain almost nothing. Same with lectures, etc. Actually reading appears to be an essential component for me.
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#47I have success retaining information by explaining it to another human being. This can lead to me rereading sections and keeps me engaged with the content. This is consistent with what I have read from "Your Memory : How It Works and How to Improve It" by K. Higbee.
It's said that "the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else", and I think there's a huge hunk of truth there!
I don't use your method to help digest books, but I use it heavily when I'm working through a particularly difficult programming problem. And I've found that the less the person I'm explaining to knows about the subject, the more effective the process is. I think it's because it forces me to break the problem down to the bare fundamentals so they can understand what I'm saying.
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is the way. Let the book flow through you and change how you think. Embed that stuff deep in your neural network, if you will. You can always look up facts later if you need them. What matters is getting the vibes and an intuitive feel for the material. Directional understanding is what I am for. Details, that’s what search is for. I also like to read in audio, then get a paperback copy if I think later I’ll nee…
> I also like to read in audio I envy you. I just can't "read" in audio. I understand and retain almost nothing. Same with lectures, etc. Actually reading appears to be an essential component for me.
> I just can't "read" in audio
I used to think so too! My listening comprehension is just sad.
But it works great for the "let it flow through you" approach. It feels like I retain nothing and have no idea what I've read. But if I just try to trust my brain and repeat back or explain the content, without feeling like I know it, the words that come out of my mouth are correct.
The key may be that I do this listening while running. Keep the body busy so I don't distract myself and let the mind wander with audio playing in like a guided meditation style.
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#49When I used to be an overintellectualizing, overacademizing nerd, I would use complex and regimented notetaking and review systems. The whole gamut from trendy notetaking wiki-type apps to flashcard spaced-repetition apps like anki. These things made me feel like I was learning. Flashcards and notetaking itself were fun games. I felt like I'd stumbled onto this hyper-optimized efficient way to learn whatever I wanted…
This applies to abstract things too, like math and language. Don't bother making flashcards for theorems, syntax, or word definitions. You gotta do the work.
I sort of disagree with this, at least with the naive interpretation. That is, if one is saying that "the work" is mutually exclusive with memorizing "theorems, syntax, word definitions " then I definitely disagree. I would posit that "The work" includes (but is not limited to) doing that memorization. So I'd rephrase the original statement as "Don't ONLY make flashcards for theorems, syntax, or word definitions. You gotta do the other work too" or something close to that.
IOW, I think memorization using Flashcards (whether using Anki or not) is a valid part of the process of learning and synthesizing things. At least in my experience, it's a part that adds value for me. But I would agree that just doing that is not sufficient in and of itself.
Re: Ask HN: How do you synthesize books that you read?
#50I will probably not sound very sophisticated, but I would say I just dive in.
E.g. If I want to learn about some historical period/character, I will just read books over books about it until my brain just naturally adsorb it.
If I want to understand CS/nath topics, I will just try to implement what I want to understand until I get it.
Is it akin to banging my head against the wall until I break the wall? Yes. Is it the most efficient way? Probably not. Does it work in the end? Yeah.