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Guide to Effective Reading

maartenvandoorn.nl

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Re: Guide to Effective Reading

#5

Post by reificator »

I'm trying to read the article but I'm distracted by the awful body text justification on mobile.

I usually justify my ebooks so I'm well aware that automated justification is hard, but this is a whole new level.

There are lines with two four letter words stretched across the line, while the next line has spaces large enough to fit two more words comfortably or vice versa.

    anineliminable aspect to learning
    that                      takes
    place after the glorious flow state.
There are lines with large spaces between words followed by lines with no justification whatsoever that just end before the right side of the screen. The unjustified lines aren't even the last line in the paragraph, and when the next line isn't the end of the paragraph it goes back to being justified!

    attention to the material at hand is
    essential. Graspingcomplex
    information is hard.
Then there's the words with no spaces between them, like graspingcomplex or anineliminable from the previous examples.

It all adds up to make the post very difficult to read. I hope it's not something intentional, like "I'll force the speedreaders to slow down and think about what they're reading.". Intentional friction never seems to have the intended effect unless the intent is to drive people away entirely.

Re: Guide to Effective Reading

#6

Post by roelschroeven »

reificator wrote: post #5

I'm trying to read the article but I'm distracted by the awful body text justification on mobile. I usually justify my ebooks so I'm well aware that automated justification is hard, but this is a whole new level. There are lines with two four letter words stretched across the line, while the next line has spaces large enough to fit two more words comfortably or vice versa. anineliminable aspect to learning that takes…

The text is full of non-breaking spaces between words instead of normal spaces, which very much restricts the browser's choice in where to put line breaks. Together with spaces sometimes completely missing between words, it makes it impossible for the browser to layout the text nicely. Trying to justify it only makes things worse.

Re: Guide to Effective Reading

#7

Post by brachika »

I like how the author specifically distinguishes between long-term memory and long-term understanding. A lot of memory helping resources that I've been checking do sell the false notion of 'you'll remember everything', when it is more 'you'll understand most of the stuff if you run on something similar in the future'.

Re: Guide to Effective Reading

#8

Post by mrtranscendence »

For what it’s worth, I’ve never met a successful academic or PhD who takes such a laborious approach to reading and taking notes for research papers. There’s not enough time in the world to spend four hours on one article, unless perhaps you’re a student ... and even then.

I had one professor whose advice (specifically for occasions when someone was visiting to present a paper) was to read until you had a question to ask, and then stop.

Re: Guide to Effective Reading

#9

Post by artfulhippo »

This is a fine guide for beginner and intermediate self-learners.

To extend it, consider how to "go beyond the text". It is not enough to read in order to think better (upgrading mental models). The wise read in order to live better.

"How can I connect the concepts in the text to an image, action, or experience?" "How do ideas in the form of words advance the progress of one's life and work?"

Knowledge (concepts, ideas, theory, language) is valuable insofar as it shapes the practice of life. When there is a clear path from learning to doing, attention, focus, and engagement are naturally piqued. And without a clear means of applying knowledge, it's natural for attention to flow towards "distractions", because at a deeper level one knows that this knowledge, while perhaps generally valuable, isn't specifically valuable in the present moment.

With the goal of extending the value of information beyond the sanitized realm of theory, reading becomes more fluid and joyful, and what were once "distractions" or "intrusive thoughts" become "flashes of inspiration" and "connecting the dots".

With earnest intention to apply newly acquired knowledge to life beyond language, one simplifies the process of integrating new knowledge with old.

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