Reading Methods: "Power Reading"

[Buffalo Souljah]

OK, this is from the RL IRC chat, some thoughts I had that might be useful to others, on strategies for reading effectively:
me:something I've found is a really helpful organizational tool
me: organizing my reading so that I do not chart an infinite course uphill
me: so, figure out where I am in a book in relation to the end of a section/chapter, and then order my reading so that I finish first the material that requires the least amount of time
me: so, if I'm reading one book where I'm more than a hundred pages from the end of a chapter/section, and in another, I've 30 pages to go, and in a third, only one or two, I put the first two down and focus on the last
me: then I can shift all my attention to the more daunting task of completing the remaining sections
me: (without the distratration of, "but you haven't finished Parenti's book":crying: or something like that
me: distraction*
...Additionally, I tend to have a complex system of notations involving underlining key passages (I always use a straight-edge for this) and highlighting certain important names, figures, groups, terms, events, etc, as well as
"blocking off" of certain paragraphs/sections in relation to a general idea/"theme" (if that is at all possible with the particular text) and making use of certain symbol sets (various "regular" characters in the margins that I make systematic use of) for the sake of reference/context, and to help make material more easily accessible in future readings by further distinguishing notable content. I also generally restrict my notation to one side (usually the left-hand margin) of a column of text and, moreover, I usually refrain from writing my own notes/criticisms in the actual book (primarily out of a lack of space in the margins to "come to a [significant] head").(Of course, alot of online readers and "scrapbooking' apps take the process a step further, though it is sometimes good to have a physoical copy of the actual text [what if the power goes out/your data is flushed?:blink:]....) Does anyone else have a system like this?

[StoneFrog]

I suck at reading fast, slow but stead is how i roll. I have to sit and ponder over points as they come up, its just how my brain works. If i don't im trying to think 100 different things while im reading, so i copy passages out and write my analysis on it. All by hand might i add, so not the fastest way. If i went for speed i'd have read it but not remembered or taken in any thing. I'm not some academic who prides himself on all the books I’ve read, I’d rather pride myself on my own thoughts and analysis if anything.

I wish i could read faster, its just not in me. People have always tried to give me systems to use, how i do seems to fit for me the best. I can ponder on one thing for days and look at it from many different angels and not come up with anything different than what was originally said in the original text, but i enjoy doing it so i stick at it.

[scarletghoul]

I just read a bit until i'm bored then start something else, then go back to the other thing when i feel like it. This way I have a huge pile of 'half read' things but at least when I do read them I am engaged and take things in

[Buffalo Souljah]

I suck at reading fast, slow but stead is how i roll. I have to sit and ponder over points as they come up, its just how my brain works. If i don't im trying to think 100 different things while im reading, so i copy passages out and write my analysis on it. All by hand might i add, so not the fastest way. If i went for speed i'd have read it but not remembered or taken in any thing. I'm not some academic who prides himself on all the books I’ve read, I’d rather pride myself on my own thoughts and analysis if anything.

I wish i could read faster, its just not in me. People have always tried to give me systems to use, how i do seems to fit for me the best. I can ponder on one thing for days and look at it from many different angels and not come up with anything different than what was originally said in the original text, but i enjoy doing it so i stick at it.

Remember, you're not trying to "parrot" the ideas you're coming across, but subjecting them to your crtitical "eye", so that, when you come across something daunting or something you are not in agreement with, you can infer what it is that troubles you, or where your dispute arises. Never take everything at face value--always check the facts (though facts are not, in themselves of value, which is important to keep in mind: there is always a historical continuum in which these exist, and that must be taken into account in order to bestow meaning upon what you find).

I don't think there's anything wrong with being a "slow reader"; after all, such things are merely relative among and between differernt individuals. And, furthermore, these are not things that can't ever be improved upon: for instance, I am much better able to articulate my thoughts & criticisms of any number of things today than at any point in the near or distant past, and this applies to critical engagement with texts as well. When you are able to (to varying degrees or levels of certainty) abstract from or extricate yourself from ideological paradigms and "think for yourself", then oyu will begin to see everything in a different way. I think of the phrase by Kierkegaard, I believe from the Concluding Unscientific PostscriptI, that one must, in essence, learn to "jump", while landing ultimately "in the same spot one left off". Happy readings;)!


I just read a bit until i'm bored then start something else, then go back to the other thing when i feel like it. This way I have a huge pile of 'half read' things but at least when I do read them I am engaged and take things in
Well, rather than "floaitng freely in the breeze" like that, I would say some sort of "stategery" or planning is in order. I tend to read with some emphasis on general continuity, if not by theme, then at least devoting equal time to the divergent strands. For instance, I had been reading a book on mathematics and formal systems, as well as various pieces of historiographic research. However, as soon as the number of the latter in my "docket" exceeded a certain level (that is, after I realized I was "juggling" about five different history books simultaneously), I decided to put the math book up for the time being.

Also, a little bit of discipline never hurt anyone, in general. For instance, if I read Capital only "when I felt like it", I would never get done!

[anticap]

Not exactly on-topic, but I've found that if a passage/section is particularly difficult to make sense of, it can be helpful to rewrite it in your own words (preferably simplified). You may even discover that the reason for the difficulty is because the passage/section is nonsense.

Another thing: I'm on constant hyper-alert for reification/personification (i.e., treating abstractions as concrete, and/or treating non-actors as having volition; e.g., "nation-state X thinks/says/does Y"), because it lies at the core of so much nonsense.

[leftace53]

I just read a bit until i'm bored then start something else, then go back to the other thing when i feel like it. This way I have a huge pile of 'half read' things but at least when I do read them I am engaged and take things in

This is almost exactly how I do things (not just reading, all things). I used to be a fast reader, but lately all my thoughts race in at the same time, and my attention span has taken a nose dive.

I like to keep a notebook beside me when I read non-fiction, so that I can jot down any notes or thoughts I have on what I'm reading. I also keep track of what parts I don't understand or parts of the text that I just glanced over so that I can go back to it. I tend to google things as I go along too, just so that I can learn something quickly and apply it to the rest of the reading.