digest
Short Summary
Main recommendation: Read a book with a structured six-step method plus a bonus review to improve comprehension and memory, rather than simply reading quickly. The speaker says the average reader retains less than half of what they read, and that this system substantially increases retention. He reads about three books a week and credits the method with changing how he learns.
Key Points
- Reading speed is not the measure of a good reader; the ability to comprehend and remember is.
- Start by reading the table of contents, which he calls a road map showing where the author is going.
- Underline the key supporting evidence, add margin notes, and circle unfamiliar words to look up immediately.
- At the end of each chapter, write a two to three sentence summary in your own words.
- Set the book aside for at least a week, then return with fresh eyes and review your summaries, underlines, circled words, and notes.
- Bonus: write three main points and three big ideas (tools, resources, or strategies) from the supporting evidence.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions:
- Step 1: Take the book off the shelf and read the table of contents first.
- Step 2: Read the book and underline everything you think the author uses to support their argument.
- Step 3: In the margins, write notes such as an idea sparked for you, a book suggestion from the author, or your reaction.
- Step 4: Circle any word or phrase you don't understand and look it up immediately.
- Step 5: At the end of each chapter, write two to three sentences in your own words summarizing it.
- Step 6: Put the book on the shelf for at least a week, then return and go back through each chapter's summary, trace it to your underlines, test yourself on circled words, and review margin notes.
- Bonus: In a journal or computer, write three main points (what you'd say if asked what the book is about) and three big ideas (tools, resources, or strategies from the supporting evidence).
- The chapter-summary step adds only about 10 to 15 minutes of work, according to the speaker.
- He says a roughly 230-page book took him about 4 hours to read.
- He reports reading three books a week, blocking out Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 a.m., about 12 hours of reading weekly.
- The speaker's claims about the average reader's retention and his own results are his own statements and are not independently verified.
Bottom Line
The method's value lies in deliberate processing and delayed review: summarizing in your own words and revisiting after a break is what the speaker credits for lasting comprehension.
