When I read, I keep a pad of paper and a pen with me, looking for the important or interesting parts of the subject. When I find a piece of information crucial to the development of the main idea, I write about it on the pad of paper. Often, I continue writing for a paragraph or more. Often, it takes me a very long time to read something, as I usually end up writing so much about the topic that I might only finish 20 pages in an hour. With this in mind, I understand the subject thoroughly. Is there something wrong with this method? How do you read?

• Spread
• Media
• Quote
• 107 visits

Well if that is the way you best learn you shouldn't change it. I read normally; that is sufficient for me to absorb all the information contained in a book. However sometimes I make comments, observations, etc., in the margins with a pen or pencil, whatever is at hand.

• Quote
• Cite

I read normally, but also take a few notes. I like to use a few book marks too so that I can easily go back and reference what I think I'll need at a later time. I read rather quickly though so every so often I do miss something… perhaps I should take more notes while reading.

• Quote
• Cite

I don't keep notes on light reading and, um, novels, obviously. But if I'm reading something for university, I frequently do keep notes, often on the computer. Not because I wouldn't remember, more or less, but if I'm reading it, chances are I'll probably have to write a paper or something on it, and it's smart to make notes while you're reading, so it's easier to mark the citations and references when necessary later. It's really goddamn annoying when you know something, know you read it somewhere, but can't remember where, but you need to source the info, so you end up reading through vast piles of books looking up something you already know.

So yeah, making notes is smart. It saves time in the long run. Probably.

• Quote
• Cite

Nothing is wrong with your method unless you find something wrong with it.

That said, I don't take notes unless I have a need to cite the reading, and I only do that if the reading is difficult.

• Quote
• Cite