I don't.
Use it or lose it.
Writing it down helps some, but for specifics, it's better to remember the shape of the information and where to find the answer, than the answer itself.
Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
41–50 of 99 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#42[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition Spaced Repetition] (Wikipedia)
Has everyone here has stated, Writing the information is a very effective way to reinforce your retention of it. You can make it even more effective by writing the information in the form of a flash card, and then using spaced repetition to reinforce the information until you have mastered it.
There are a lot of good flash card applications out there that use this technique; my favorite is [https://www.ankiapp.com AnkiApp]. (AnkiApp.com)
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#43You can't forget something if you understood it. A concept is internalized when one understood the concept. Techniques to memorize something is not effective. Even worse techniques are glorified. Then one spends a lifetime polishing the techniques to memorize what they wanted to internalize in the first place. It's a trap.
Want to memorize something? Try to really understand what's going on. You cannot forget something if you already understood it. If you can't recall it, then maybe it's not that helpful to you or you didn't understand it in the first place at all.
The techniques to memorize something effectively are organic, an effect when someone tries to learn in their own way effectively. Starting with techniques is a trap.
How many people who have used Anki or whatever forms of memorization became world class at what they do? It's a distraction.
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#44learn how to use memory palaces, its how i passed all of my non-math or non-programming classes in college.
its absolutely amazing for memorizing lists of things that seem random, or really any subject you understand but forget the specifics for. you can memorize bullet points, lists, etc.
for some background you can read Moonwalking with Einstein, and Memory, Memory, Memory
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#45I do not. The only things that stay in my brain are some common underlying principles.
It was like this in university and the academy of science when I was in physics. Now it is in the programming.
If I need to know particulars search is my help. I program very different things from firmware to desktop applications to enterprise backend servers in multiple languages. If I had to keep all those details in my brain it would explode. Usually it takes me a couple of days to warm up when I am starting work in the area that is not in my "hot cache" and then I am fine but the other stuff gets purged accordingly.
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#46One of the most successful methods I've found for me is to rewrite the material. I haven't seen anyone suggest this yet. By rewriting the material, you are recoding it. You are forcing yourself to think about the information differently: what you are doing is explaining it to yourself. This to me is far more effective than something like highlighting, because in rewriting that material, you are also clarifying your u…
Ben Franklin did something similar, he copied books by hand I think
I think he rather took short notes, then attempted to rewrite the material based on the notes, comparing to the original afterwards. This would seem to me to be much more effective than copying directly out of the book when it comes to recall.
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#47You can't forget something if you understood it. A concept is internalized when one understood the concept. Techniques to memorize something is not effective. Even worse techniques are glorified. Then one spends a lifetime polishing the techniques to memorize what they wanted to internalize in the first place. It's a trap. Want to memorize something? Try to really understand what's going on. You cannot forget somethi…
This may (may!) be true for something like math concepts that build on one another.
But in OP's example, much of the CFA and CAIA is about man-made concepts, taxes and government regulations. What does 'understanding' even mean in this context? If you 'understood' what rule XYZ means about the fiduciary duty of a financial advisor, does that mean you'll always remember it, or be able to derive it from first principles, even 20 years in future?
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#48You can't forget something if you understood it. A concept is internalized when one understood the concept. Techniques to memorize something is not effective. Even worse techniques are glorified. Then one spends a lifetime polishing the techniques to memorize what they wanted to internalize in the first place. It's a trap. Want to memorize something? Try to really understand what's going on. You cannot forget somethi…
I tried this technique in university. I ended up with B's and C's while my friends, who just memorized the exams, got magna cum laude.
Granted, I may have just been too slow to really understand the material in time for the exams, but it's worth mentioning that sometimes its better for your life to just memorize things.
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#49[ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition Spaced Repetition] (Wikipedia) Has everyone here has stated, Writing the information is a very effective way to reinforce your retention of it. You can make it even more effective by writing the information in the form of a flash card, and then using spaced repetition to reinforce the information until you have mastered it. There are a lot of good flash card applica…
FYI Ankiapp isn't related to the Anki project.
Re: Ask HN: How do you memorize things you read?
#50There is ample evidence to support the idea that testing oneself is a great method for increasing retention (review and meta-analysis: https://www.gwern.net/docs/spaced-repetition/2021-yang.pdf).
Also, you seem to have just read the CFA and CAIA once. If it is detail-heavy, there's no way for most mere mortals that is going to stick around for months. To really learn detailed, dry material in a way that sticks, you have to immerse yourself in it for much longer than that. Most people only retain details that are part of their work on a daily or at least monthly basis.