Put an end to "empty reading" and let the books you read become the path you have traveled
Regarding reading, I would like to recommend "How to Read a Book Effectively" by Nobuyuki Okuno from Japan: Super practical note-taking and reading skills”.
Whether it is work or life, Okuno Nobuyuki insists on using a notebook to record. This lifestyle has aroused enthusiastic responses after being broadcast on NHK and TBS television programs. "How to Read a Book Effectively: Super Practical Note-taking Reading Techniques" is a summary of his practical experience. It teaches you step by step how to "work with books" from how to choose books - buy books - read - record - use them flexibly. place". Here we share the suggestions of Nobuyuki Okuno in three parts: reading, recording and utilization. 1. About reading
1. Different reading methods for different chapters
The "reading from beginning to end" reading method is a waste of time and cannot be absorbed efficiently. Books all have key points. Another Japanese reading expert, Toshiyuki Oiwa, also mentioned this in his "Practical Reading Guide":
The important content of a book only occupies the entire book Of the 20, the most important of these 20 is only 4.
Therefore, different chapters in a book need to be read in different ways. For most of the content, you only need to read extensively or skip reading, and focus more on the parts that you want to focus on, that are interesting to you, and that are meaningful to you. Nobuyuki Okuno gave an example in "How to Read a Book Effectively":
If you want to ride a bicycle more efficiently, you must master the trick and change gears of different sizes according to the inclination of the road surface. The same is true when reading. For difficult-to-understand parts, switch to low-end gear to read carefully, and for easier parts, use high-speed gear to browse quickly. This method of "changing gears" while reading not only does not cause fatigue, but also It can effectively shorten the reading time.
It can also be said that reading is actually a process of refining important content. It can not only remove redundant details, but also naturally mobilize the awareness of reading with purpose.
2. Based on the output of ideas
Many people read books and then put them away, and soon forget that they have ever read such a book.
You will only truly understand the content of the book when you explain it to others.
Reading is a process of input. Only when the input knowledge is integrated and refined by our own brains and output in different forms can it be remembered more deeply in our minds. There are many ways to output, such as telling others or taking reading notes. The key point is to be aware of the output of thoughts when reading.
Reading with different purposes will have completely different effects. When the purpose of reading changes from "just finishing reading" to "writing reading notes", the focus of reading also changes from "writing reading notes because of reading" to "reading to write reading notes". In this way, thinking The quality of input will be improved, and more energy will be focused on the essence of good books. This is the difference between reading aimlessly and reading with purpose. As shown in the figure below: 2. About recording
How to effectively record reading notes?
Reading notes are the most exciting part of reading. Notes can make your reading results clear at a glance. At the same time, it is also a process of organizing your thoughts, deepening understanding, and deepening memory. Nobuyuki Okuno first recommended the "hot pot style" reading and note-taking method, which is a note-taking method that advocates the coexistence of excerpts and comments. Scallion tuna hot pot is a special Japanese dish, made with scallions and tuna as the main ingredients, with the fish as the main ingredient and scallions as a side dish. The coexistence of excerpts and comments in the notes is like the relationship between fish and scallions, so it is called "Scallion Tuna Hot Pot Style" reading notes.
This note-taking method mainly records the following information:
The date when the reading notes were written
The title of the book
The author's name
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What is important to you (excerpts)
My thoughts on this article (comments)
Mark excerpts and thoughts with symbols before paragraphs to distinguish them. .
The following is for reference:
"Onion and Tuna Hot Pot Style" Reading Notes
The important thing about this kind of reading notes that is different from the excerpted notes is that it triggers you to think, not just a simple excerpt. The content in the book, and more importantly, records what you were thinking at the time, which is the source of original thinking.
In addition to the "scallion and tuna hot pot style" reading notes, the author also introduces the newspaper clipping style reading notes, which means cutting out key information from the waist of the book, information cards, bookmarks, advertising leaflets, etc. and pasting them on the book. This is also a good way to take notes while reading in a notebook. It retains the original flavor and saves writing time. But for me personally, I don’t feel that the “onion and tuna hot pot” reading and note-taking method is as effective. After all, the process of writing is equivalent to reorganizing the information I have read and my own thoughts, which deepens my understanding and memory. Although it took a while, it was definitely an unforgettable reading experience. The reading experience is more important than the book. Everyone can choose a reading and note-taking method that suits them based on their own habits and energy.
When recording reading notes, you need to pay attention to the following matters:
1. Persistence
Books are all focused, and there is no need to cover them from beginning to end. Read carefully at the end. The important thing is that no matter how long it is, you should make some effort to make an impression on yourself about the book you have read. Even if you just write down the author of the book, the title of the book, the scene when you read it, or make some excerpts, keep writing reading notes. This is the most effective method of reading.
This is the explanation of Mr. Shigeru Kashima, a French literature expert, on the role of reading notes.
Only by persisting can reading notes be effective. Many people find it troublesome to write reading notes, and it is often difficult to persist for a long time. Nobuyuki Okuno suggested in "How to Read a Book Effectively" that you start with one sentence. Take notes in one sentence, simple and easy. Excerpt the sentences that make your heart beat, no cries, no need to excerpt, and write down your thoughts at the moment you were touched, even if it's just "Wow, that's great!" As long as you write sentences that come from your heart, then your reading notes will be meaningful.
Sometimes, when you start writing, you just want to write a sentence, but unexpectedly find that you have new feelings after finishing it. For example, when you write "Wow, that's great!" you will think of why you feel that way. How awesome is that? Where is the stick? And from this, I started thinking, and my reading notes were enriched. Persistence is the basis for taking reading notes. If you are not ready, you might as well start with a sentence. After writing, you may find that there are more surprises waiting for you!
2. Screening
In order to make writing and reading easier Taking notes is more efficient. Before taking notes, you need to do some screening preparation, that is, filter out the information that you think is important and useful to you. The specific steps are as follows:
With the above prelude, you will have an overall understanding of the entire book, and you will not have the problem of "not knowing what to note" when taking reading notes. At the same time, after filtering, your reading notes will be more refined and the logical information will be clearer. 3. About utilization
How to apply the knowledge gained from books? This is the last step introduced in "How to Read a Book Effectively" and it is also the most critical step. In other words, applying what we learn is the ultimate goal of our reading.
1. Active output promotes internalization of thoughts
Taking reading notes is actually the first step in outputting thoughts. However, everything does not end well after taking notes. No matter how much information you have, if you do not actively output and apply it, you will not be able to form a knowledge system. Many times, when we explain something that we think we know very well to others, we still find that there is a lot of ambiguity in it. This problem will only be discovered when you output it, and it will prompt you to investigate. Those sources and materials that you have never paid attention to before, re-examine your own views and establish a systematic knowledge system.
This process of checking for deficiencies and filling them requires a lot of effort, but only by facing up to these hard work can we no longer have a partial understanding of knowledge. People do not give speeches or publish books because they know everything, but they reach new heights and become experts in a certain field through speeches and books.
2. Re-read reading notes
Reading notes condense the essence of our reading and are worth reading again and again. Each re-reading and each additional comment is a good opportunity to deepen your understanding and broaden your horizons. At different times and at different stages, our level of thinking and understanding are different. We acquire new knowledge or information in our daily lives every day, and our thoughts and understanding of the content in the book will naturally change.
The effect of re-reading is not only to deepen your memory, but also to compose a special story between yourself and the book. If a book is compared to a "place", then reading notes are photos taken at this place. If you go to take photos at the same place at different times, the photos you take will be different, and if you look at these photos after a while, your impression of that place will also change. In the process of re-reading, you will continue to make new discoveries and new gains, which will make your understanding more profound. Through re-reading, you will add color to your thoughts. When encountering real-life problems, you can avoid short-sighted conclusions.
3. Brainstorming
Reading notes can not only provide creative ideas for writing articles, but can also be used as creative materials during brainstorming. "The so-called creativity is just a recombination of original elements." This is what American advertising guru James Weber Young said in his book "The Generation of Creativity".
In order to stimulate creativity, you can read through your previous reading notes, compare the various recorded information, recombine, collide and think, and you will make new discoveries. Whether an idea is good or not depends on how it arranges the relationship between information.
The following is an example given by Nobuyuki Okuno in the book:
With reading notes, the information in the book will not be sealed on the bookshelf after reading it as mentioned at the beginning. . Rereading a book is time-consuming and laborious, but rereading reading notes is much simpler and easier. Just reread your reading notes and combine useful information, and you will find unexpected creativity.
4. Write book reviews and improve your writing skills
The "onion and tuna hot pot style" reading notes introduced earlier emphasize recording the thoughts and opinions at the time. These original words and ideas, It will become the material for future output. Writing book reviews is an immediate way to integrate and output materials, transforming "borrowed" thinking into your own in a timely manner. On the one hand, you can put your reading to good use immediately and deepen your impression; on the other hand, writing a book review does not have the worry of "having nothing to write about" and is an opportunity for you to continuously exercise your writing skills.