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For me, the standard way of reading a book for leisure is to just read. But when I want to remember some part of the book I'll just write whatever piece of text I like from the book into a notebook where I keep all such things. Is this a good way of "getting the most out of" a book?
How do the rest of you tackle a book that you want to learn from? Let's take a book like Voltaire's Candide. I'm reading it now and I find that in almost every paragraph I find something interesting and eye-opening. Should I adapt the text and write it down on my notebook? I was reading some on the bus yesterday and I tweeted some parts of the introduction I found intriguing. Here.
Should I keep doing this? Does anybody keep a "journal" for each new book (well not all new books, maybe just the more 'deeper' ones) they read?
Thanks for reading.
 
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Blazinghand
United States25561 Posts
If it's a book I own, I'll sometimes scribble in the margins if I have notes or something I want to keep track of. If you're also reading books from the library or otherwise aren't a huge fan of scribbling in margins, a reading journal is probably the best. Make sure to leave a page or two in front for a table of contents, and one of those notebooks with the cow-colored fronts is probably best. Just writing something down is enough to commit it to memory usually-- and the notebook will help you if you want to reread.
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Thanks for the reply!
A journal is definitely something I'm going to be working on. What's a cow-colored font though? I did a quick google search : ![[image loading]](http://www.p22.com/typesetit/images/moolahlah/moolahlah.gif)
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Blazinghand
United States25561 Posts
Oh, it's a color commonly used for notebook covers:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UNdHG.jpg)
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Oh, I have one notebook similar to that, but it's yellow. I don't like it because the pages come off easily so I use it as some pad to write things that I want to pass to somebody else.
+ Show Spoiler +
I use this notebook for books :D
+ Show Spoiler +
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A quote that can't be repeated verbatim from memory is not a quote worth remembering.
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On April 28 2012 20:26 ZERG_RUSSIAN wrote:
A quote that can't be repeated verbatim from memory is not a quote worth remembering.
What if it's an idea that is supported by a string of facts and quotes?
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I would suggest just using a pen, or even just a pencil and underlining things
And if a book is good enough, you shouldn't feel dismayed to read it again
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when I work with a text that is full of information or i just want to keep track with the arguments i work with those:
+ Show Spoiler [kinda large images] +
important arguments/phrases are marked with the textmarker, "chapter" or essential parts of the book get a post it and when i remember something while reading (parallels to other authors or different interpretations of that part for example) i write it down with a pencil, into the book and right next to the corresponding lines. Sometimes I use my pen to mark the text, too.
When I write something down into my notebook, it's often related to the structure of the text (analyzing / reviewing the arguments, shortening the text to the important parts) or to write down my own thoughts.
pro:
- you're very familiar with the text and you know what every page is about when you look at the marked parts / the notes you wrote down.
- works well even for rather complicated texts
con:
- its a lot of work sometimes
- the pages look chaotic quickly and you're having an even harder time to understand the text if youre not doing it correctly.
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On April 28 2012 21:10 amatoer wrote:when I work with a text that is full of information or i just want to keep track with the arguments i work with those: + Show Spoiler [kinda large images] +important arguments/phrases are marked with the textmarker, "chapter" or essential parts of the book get a post it and when i remember something while reading (parallels to other authors or different interpretations of that part for example) i write it down with a pencil, into the book and right next to the corresponding lines. Sometimes I use my pen to mark the text, too. When I write something down into my notebook, it's often related to the structure of the text (analyzing / reviewing the arguments, shortening the text to the important parts) or to write down my own thoughts. pro: - you're very familiar with the text and you know what every page is about when you look at the marked parts / the notes you wrote down. - works well even for rather complicated texts con: - its a lot of work sometimes - the pages look chaotic quickly and you're having an even harder time to understand the text if youre not doing it correctly.
Yeah I agree that method isn't the best for the book, especially if I want to pass it to someone else =S
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indeed :D i wouldnt recommend it for books from the library either
i think it depends on what books you are reading, what you expect from them and such. re-reading from time to time is a good thing too
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Since I'm too lazy to jot down what I've read this is what I do. I'll read a book, close it, do something else and then come back and see if I can remember the main ideas. I read mostly for interesting ideas and if it sticks, most of the time I find myself explaining the main concepts of the book I've read to a friend or a family member. Maybe it's just me but when I do that I not only remember the whole point of the book, but am also able to quote certain noteworthy sentences.
It takes practice though, and I've kinda slacked a little.
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Hmmm, I actually like this idea of a reading journal...I've never come across it (I think) until today...I'll look into it considering how much I've been reading lately!
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My sister keeps a journal of sorts, she also reads 4-5 books at a time. Whenever she is bored or can't concentrate on one any more she switches the book. I've tried that and I think it really helps get more out of the books.
I don't keep notes of paragraphs or ideas although I sometimes feel drawn to them and would like to savior them. I feel it's better to let them work through my subconscious than cling onto a idea tightly enclosed in a sentence. If you memorize a paragraph you'll have harder time letting the idea go or expand/change it. Not being able to let go of old knowledge simply leads to ignorance.
Maybe the idea of diary/notebook is lost in me because I can't read anything twice, especially if it's something written by me. I'd just rip the notes to shreds after the first book that goes in there, lawl. I'm not good with imperfections.
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