Earlier quoted context omitted.
Spaced repetition and incremental reading don't have to be a conscious effort or implemented with flashcard systems, in fact it might be better not to, depending on your goals. After extensive practice with such systems (talking years between physical flaschards, supermemo and anki), I found it leads to shallow understanding and bad linking between knowledge bits, even though I make sure I understand before committin…
> Spaced repetition and incremental reading don't have to be a conscious effort > The valuable part looks like to be in the effort of understanding, thinking deeply and widely and summarizing. Which part of this is not conscious effort? You just made a stronger case for such automated systems, especially for people who don't have good memory or abnormal levels of discipline and motivation.
Maybe the paragraph isn't phrased in the clearest way, but I agree with this interpretation, if that is what they meant.