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Wider reading - how to remember?

I'm doing some wider reading at the moment, and am finding that a month or so after I finish a book, I'm forgetting a lot of the material. Obviously, I remember the main gist of the book, but I'm forgetting the detail.

Does anyone know anything that I could do to help to to remember?

Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

Sver

Make brainstorms of the books you read - read over them once every week

Reply 2

username149848

The people who are best at recalling disparate information are those who regularly have practice in doing so. Public speaking is a big one, as is improvisational acting and some people who do timed writing-exercises.

For instance, William Pitt the Younger became such an applauded orator in large part because of his school days, as when he would study languages he would read aloud and stop and think about the best, even perfect, word to use in translation. As he got better at this he got better at finding the perfect word for the right moment, which in turn made him an extremely effective public speaker. The same applies to memory - the more you develop the mental habit of recalling information, the easier it becomes.

Reply 3

necessarily benevolent

I think the main question is whether or not you want to remember any of the material. A lot of wider reading is done so as to expand your mind, think through new things, question texts at the time. Not necessary to take on bucket-loads of new information. More like a problem-solving exercise. You'll always pick up things, but there will always be a lot of things you forget. When using books to write an essay it's usually easier to remember the information (especially with a fair amount of redrafting). Generally, with experience, it'll be easier to take on new information, and it'll be second nature. So, I'd just say read as much as you can. :smile:

Reply 4

Cognoverant