How to best study a self-help book?

[sgn]

?

[Sahil Pandit]

@sgn

 

[sgn]

That's a long video

[John Iverson]

Just read it.. that's it.. and if you want to practice it.. do it..  

[Ibn Sina]

I am currently reading - The intelligent investor. Not quite the book which fits into the typical self help category, but still qualifies as a book of practical advice. A self help book has 2 components the theoretical and  the practical aspect. The practical aspect tells you about what IS to be done, which unlike in this book, is usually non-brainy stuff.

But I think the theoretical aspect is what matters. Unlike this book, I think the typical self help book shouldn't be read for gaining knowledge or practical advice but for attitude change. It's of no help  being able recite the stuffs, but what is needed is a change in the wiring of your brain, bringing change in your identity above all .  Frequent reading of self help books can make you a positive thinker, a dare devil, it can change the way you think, fighting with negative thinking and attitude which is often the default mode of the  mind, and react to situations effectively and interpret  situations differently. If you are not frequently filling your head with positivity, then not doing so does not result in neutraility but negativity. When you plant nothing, weeds start to grow instead of nothing. Hence, you should read and reread self help books 10-30 mins a day through out your life, just like you need positive  moments , and positive people time to time in your life. Not having them doesn't result in just absence of positivity, but full blown negativity.

Edited February 4, 2018 by Ibn Sina

[John Iverson]

1 hour ago, Ibn Sina said:

I am currently reading - The intelligent investor. Not quite the book which fits into the typical self help category, but still qualifies as a book of practical advice. A self help book has 2 components the theoretical and  the practical aspect. The practical aspect tells you about what IS to be done, which unlike in this book, is usually non-brainy stuff.

But I think the theoretical aspect is what matters. Unlike this book, I think the typical self help book shouldn't be read for gaining knowledge or practical advice but for attitude change. It's of no help  being able recite the stuffs, but what is needed is a change in the wiring of your brain, bringing change in your identity above all .  Frequent reading of self help books can make you a positive thinker, a dare devil, it can change the way you think, fighting with negative thinking and attitude which is often the default mode of the  mind, and react to situations effectively and interpret  situations differently. If you are not frequently filling your head with positivity, then not doing so does not result in neutraility but negativity. When you plant nothing, weeds start to grow instead of nothing. Hence, you should read and reread self help books 10-30 mins a day through out your life, just like you need positive  moments , and positive people time to time in your life. Not having them doesn't result in just absence of positivity, but full blown negativity.

Who's the author?

[Ibn Sina]

Benjamin Graham

[Morten]

@John Iverson He was Warren Buffet's mentor, college professor, very influental on Buffet's investing philosphy

Edited February 5, 2018 by Morten

[Dan Arnautu]

@sgn It really depends on what you want out of it.

If it's one that resolves a critical problem in your life, I would highlight the most important excerpts. On the free space near those paragraphs I would summarize them in one or two words in order to easily find them later if I need them.

I would also have a notebook (either physical or digital) where I take very detailed notes -- if I would encounter any exercises, I would pause the audio or stop reading and I would do the exercise immediately on the notebook and then continue reading. I would jot down any insights that I get related to my life (for example if I find out a great idea related to business I would write down how I would implement that idea in my business ASAP) and then I would continue reading.

Below you have an example on how I do them using this method:

Good luck!

[sgn]

@Dan Arnautu Great. I have been reading a lot on my kindle PC. It's easy to copy and paste into onenote. But I'm tired of reading on the computer.
I have tought about buying a kindle and maybe underline stuff I find important and then plug it in to the PC and copy/paste into onenote if it's possible. But at the same time I like physical books more, but it's a bit more effort because now I have to write all notes instead of copy/paste it.
Can't decide

Maybe that was confusing

[Dan Arnautu]

@sgn Yeah, I know it's a big compromise both ways when you love physical books and notebooks, but the digital ones offer so many advantages like searchability, shareability etc. I am the same way.

[Echoes]

@sgn I'm having a challenge this year to read 1 book per week. What I'm doing is reading the book, underline stuff that resonates with me and that I find useful. Then I'm reading next weeks book. After 1 week has passed (In which I have read the new book) I come back to the "old" book from the  previous week, create a mindmap on 1 piece of paper and a summary of the underlined stuff and the message of the book in general on another piece of paper. So 2 pieces of paper maximum. I find the break in between pure reading and then after 1 week coming back to it helps in letting the information process and sink in.

[sgn]

@Echoes That sounds like a good idea. I have thought a lot about if I should start doing mindmaps of what I read actually. I recently bought several hundreds of very detailed mindmaps of personal development. So I definetily see the value in that.

If you have an example or can share more of how you do it that would be interesting. If not that's ok

Edited February 9, 2018 by sgn

[Saumaya]

@sgn I would recommend skimming most self help books