The four levels of reading

1. Excerpt

Good words resonate. When that happens, we are deeply moved.

However, when was asked "What does this chapter say?", many people's mind get lost.

"Well, it's about religion/education/war..."

OMG

2. Summary

In addition to flashing words and sentences, this level has been able to quickly identify the central point of the article. At this level, the book is understood.

However, when was asked "What did you learn from this book?", many people's mind get lost again.

"What did I learn? Well, I'm not sure."

3. Study

In this level, you can clearly compare the content of the book with your own knowledge system and incorporate it into your own perception. In this way, the book will not be easily forgotten.

However, a few years later, if you ask him/her: "Two years ago, you mentioned that book was very good and you learned a lot from it. What do you think the content of that book has had on you in the past two years?"

"...No effect. There are too many good books."

4. Practice

This is the ultimate level.

Looking back on the past, we can clearly see how the classic books I read changed my behavior, changed my perception, and changed my destiny.

[20200622]

How can I remember the contents of a book?

1. Writing down your afterthought

After reading a chapter, write down your own thoughts. Note: Simple extracting is meaningless.

2. Compare it with the contents from other books

Different books often analyze things from different levels and angles. What is related? Which part is consistent? What part contradict with each other?

(Contradictions should be rare)

When reading a book, you need to seize all opportunities for the content of correlation and comparison.

3. Compare it with your own perception and knowledge

Nobody is perfect. What are your weak points? How can you improve it?

What is the connection and inspiration between your life experience and the content mentioned in that book?

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There is a proverb in English: you are what you eat.

This sentence is generally used to encourage healthy diet, but it can be extended to the next level: what you see and hear, you will think of; what you think about every day determines your life.

We can look for supermarkets/stores discounts all day. We can be busy in staying bars or playing on the computer/mobile phones; we can also be busy looking for business opportunities which may worth tens of millions of dollars and then create value for society.

Whether it's diet or thoughts or actions, garbage in garbage out.

[20200731]

The first step of reading habit: get away from screens.

https://chaojidigua.blogspot.com/2019/09/blog-post_24.html