How to Better Retain Information from Books, Articles, and More

How to Better Retain Information from Books, Articles, and More

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-better-retain-information-from-books-articles-1674677444

“Create a system to regularly remind you of lessons you’ve already learned. Here are three simple ways you can do that.

Take Notes As You Read

Review the Information

Trigger Lessons with Mementos

A Sample System

Here’s what a system for a book could look like:

1. Read book. Make notes in margins and highlight (or mark) segments. Wait a week.
2. Re-open book, type up notes and related quotes in Evernote and tag with an occasion I might need the information for (e.g., negotiating) or its relevant field of expertise (e.g., marketing, business).
3. If the book is related to an article idea or theme that you’re exploring, write out related quotes (or print them) on index cards and tag them appropriately in software or add them to your commonplace book.
4. Add calendar entry for four months from now to review book or related information (e.g., negotiating).
5. If a point resonates with you, print it out and tape it onto your wall. In order to keep these quotes free of noise, try to have no more than two or three quotes up there at any time.

The system also allows for flexibility. …

You Will Forget, So Re-Learn Quickly”

Stephen