Your memory is overrated!
The real magic of reading lies in taking notes.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that, after years of reading books of all sorts (I’m 33 at the time of writing), it’s only recently that I’ve realised how important it is to take notes as you read—and to have an easy way of finding them later.
I came across a post online (don’t ask me where, I was doom scrolling) showing two books lying flat. Each had a little stick figure along its fore-edge. One book was full of sticky tabs marking pages where the reader had found something noteworthy and made a note. The other book was blank.
The first stick man was climbing to the top of the book using the tabs—presumably towards knowledge or enlightenment. The second was jumping, trying to grab hold of the cover to pull himself up, with little success.
A simple image, but it stuck with me. It encouraged me to follow the first stick man’s example. The picture above is my version; it may not be pretty, but it certainly is effective.
Combined with my Audiobooks, Kindle and the Readwise app, this small shift has already shown me just how much more I retain when I engage with what I’m reading.
Yup. Essential truth. David. This was a powerful perspective written reflection. It stopped me dead in my tracks.
Leo Tolstoy says something about being stopped in his tracks, while reading, and asking "Now why did the author do that?" This happens all the time. It's part of the code-breaking. When a word or phrase appears that's arresting, it does two things: it challenges my perceptions of seeing/hearing/feeling, and it moves me into new territory. By this I mean an altered state of awareness that's akin to an extended daydream, where all my senses conspire to provide fertile and syntactically engaging words or lines. It happens rarely, but when I'm there I tend to make the most of it, for days sometimes.
I do believe that you are a powerful thinker and that you have you mad skills. And because of this I wish for some sort of correspondence with you. I am going to kick it off by subscibring in the hopes you do the same. This will keep me accountable and motivated to leave comments such as this on your subsequent and previous posts. I imagine our bonded will power with these exercises will bear much fruit. David; do keep me on your long distance radar. in the joy of eternal collaboration from shore.
Sincerely, Cc