The Curse of Reading and Forgetting

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Staccs

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May 14, 2010
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It bothers me that I can look at my bookshelf, digital or physical, and remember how good a book was, yet not remember the majority of the points it introduced.

This eventually leads to re-reading a book I have read before. Not as satisfying. Maybe it is because I feel it is a waste of time, comparatively, when I could be starting one of the 117 books I have on my Amazon wishlist.

I came across this article yesterday which does a good job at describing this feeling:

Part of my suspicion of rereading may come from a false sense of reading as conquest. As we polish off some classic text, we may pause a moment to think of ourselves, spear aloft, standing with one foot up on the flank of the slain beast. Another monster bagged. It would be somehow less heroic, as it were, to bend over and check the thing’s pulse.
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Full article - The Curse of Reading and Forgetting - The New Yorker

Any other heavy readers feel the same?
 


Sorry dont know that feel. I remember the points of books I read in middle school. Hell I remember the points of half the shitty posts on WF. Sometimes I wish I could unremember half the shit I read. Same goes with movies and tv. I can tell you in 10 seconds if I saw it before, even if it was 20 years ago.
 
If you have a Kindle, use the highlight and note features. You can then log in at Kindle.Amazon.com and go back over your them whenever you want.

For stuff where I need more notes, I have notebooks by category of book. A page or two of notes covers most books, and you can scan it all into your computer/Evernote later and dump the clunky notebooks.

I read a ton, and those two things have saved me a lot of time. Aside from the fact that the notes are handy to reference, the act of figuring out what I'll want to remember later has the effect of making it stick with greater frequency.
 
You won't usually remember anything out of context, just trust that it'll be there when you need it.

Our brain works via triggers and context, if you sit there and try to remember a book by looking at it or thinking about it, you're not giving your brain a queue or context... I bet you if you open it randomly and read 2 lines you'll instantly remember the takeaway.

Take notes of what's actually important and relevant to you, which will usually be just a few things even out of a thick book.

If you really really want to retain something, google 'menmnonics'.
 
zimok said:
You won't usually remember anything out of context, just trust that it'll be there when you need it.

Our brain works via triggers and context, if you sit there and try to remember a book by looking at it or thinking about it, you're not giving your brain a queue or context... I bet you if you open it randomly and read 2 lines you'll instantly remember the takeaway.

Take notes of what's actually important and relevant to you, which will usually be just a few things even out of a thick book.

If you really really want to retain something, google 'menmnonics'.
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"mnemonics", bro.
 
I have a Kindle, also read physical books. I tend to highlight on kindle, but often (especially for physical books), if anything jumps out at me, I take a photo of it with my phone. Easy, and keeps it in context.
 
Staccs said:
It bothers me that I can look at my bookshelf, digital or physical, and remember how good a book was, yet not remember the majority of the points it introduced.

This eventually leads to re-reading a book I have read before. Not as satisfying. Maybe it is because I feel it is a waste of time, comparatively, when I could be starting one of the 117 books I have on my Amazon wishlist.

I came across this article yesterday which does a good job at describing this feeling:



Full article - The Curse of Reading and Forgetting - The New Yorker

Any other heavy readers feel the same?
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I 100% feel the same.

More specifically, I can internalize information as I read it, but can't recall specific facts/details while in conversation. It makes face-to-face debates a humiliating experience. People want facts, details, examples, etc... and I struggle to recall specific information.

I think the remedy ultimately comes down to proactive information consumption. Taking notes, highlighting, organization, review etc...

I'm just too fucking lazy for half of that shit.

Fucking pathetic.
 
GimpSpack said:
I 100% feel the same.

More specifically, I can internalize information as I read it, but can't recall specific facts/details while in conversation. It makes face-to-face debates a humiliating experience. People want facts, details, examples, etc... and I struggle to recall specific information.

I think the remedy ultimately comes down to proactive information consumption. Taking notes, highlighting, organization, review etc...

I'm just too fucking lazy for half of that shit.

Fucking pathetic.
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There are many speed readers out there. I had a gf a long time ago that i could swear could read a 500 pg novel in 2-3 hrs. Maybe you're not retaining stuff cause you're just reading it fast and not thinking about what's being said as much? I've done that before and had to go back to reread it.
 
If you read something that you want to remember, I recommend writing it down. There's something about writing that stimulates the brain. Even if you don't look at your notes, you'll be able to recall the item later.

To really commit the idea to memory, play with it once you've written it down. If it's a theory, try to debunk it. If it's a concept, describe how it applies to your process.

It works for me. Maybe it'll work for you.
 
What about the subconscious mind? Sometimes we can't actively recall things but they are there.

dmnEPC said:
Sorry dont know that feel. I remember the points of books I read in middle school. Hell I remember the points of half the shitty posts on WF. Sometimes I wish I could unremember half the shit I read. Same goes with movies and tv. I can tell you in 10 seconds if I saw it before, even if it was 20 years ago.
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Then I will single-handedly ingrain myself in your memory with this post right here.
 
Never had that problem, I read a ton but if it's fiction I can remember all the characters names, personalities, relationships, inner struggles and events for the most part, which makes remembering the plot incredibly easy. Non-fiction is something else though, you definitely have to take notes on the key points of factual books so that you can accurately remember the numbers and dates that they typically throw at you. Then you should study the notes once you're done reading, or perhaps write a journal after every chapter on what you learned. It'll help with rememberance as well as comprehension, and you'll finish having gotten a lot more out of it.
 
zimok said:
You won't usually remember anything out of context, just trust that it'll be there when you need it.

Our brain works via triggers and context, if you sit there and try to remember a book by looking at it or thinking about it, you're not giving your brain a queue or context... I bet you if you open it randomly and read 2 lines you'll instantly remember the takeaway.

Take notes of what's actually important and relevant to you, which will usually be just a few things even out of a thick book.

If you really really want to retain something, google 'menmnonics'.
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'Cue' bro.
 
I love to re-read certain books. Its like entering a familiar land that doesn't exist. Imo there's nothing wrong with having to re-read non-fiction over and over until you truly Own it; if ownership is required or desired.

Memory is an odd thing. I used to think it was BS when cops said they didn't remember a shooting. Then I went Formula Ford racing and understood exactly what having No memory of something was. I mean even now I can't remember most of my first race. It took me a while until I could remember every detail of my racing. Bench racing and progressive relaxation helped a lot.
 
Human said:
"mnemonics", bro.
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wezcountry said:
'Cue' bro.
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One of my grandmother's favorite quotes was "Qui se ressemble s'assemble." (translation: Those who resemble each other, assemble together)

In honor of your self-evident commonalities and to facilitate your new-found union, I'll pull a French dictionary off my shelf.

With this dictionary, I'll handcraft my sincere thank you in the shape of a double-sided dildo made entirely out of papier-mâché.

Happy honeymoon bros!
 
zimok said:
One of my grandmother's favorite quotes was "Qui se ressemble s'assemble." (translation: Those who resemble each other, assemble together)

In honor of your self-evident commonalities and to facilitate your new-found union, I'll pull a French dictionary off my shelf.

With this dictionary, I'll handcraft my sincere thank you in the shape of a double-sided dildo made entirely out of papier-mâché.

Happy honeymoon bros!
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'Newfound' bro.
 
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