How do I get the most out of books?

[Manjushri]

I see now that the non-fiction books I read earlier kinda just disappeared from my memory, and that only the key points stayed. that's sad.

so when I read, I engage with it , then I apply it, but nonetheless I don't remember much.

what do I do to make my reading the most effective??

[BjarkeT]

try to teach the ideas and use something called spaced repetition that could help them stick 

[NoSelfSelf]

What do you expect to get from reading non fictional books?

[EternalForest]

Try reflecting chapter by chapter. Read a chapter, reflect on it, try and apply it, read the next.

[Consilience]

What I've been doing is actively trying to figure out how each book I read will change my behavior. The "Learning = Behavior Change" model from Leo's YouTube has been a really effective way for me to learn. Of course sometimes remembering details is important, in which case take notes and memorize information, but ultimately unless what you're learning is making tangible change in your life, how much did you truly learn? 

Changes might be in the way you think, the way you interact with others, the way you interact with the world at large, and even what direction your life takes. Either way, behavior change. 

So getting the most out of books... Understanding how they'll change my behavior is very helpful. 

[ivory]

What EternalForest said. Books need to be digested. Read slowly, go about your life as usual, see how the author's words apply to your life.

[Manjushri]

@BjarkeT @Consilience @EternalForest @ivory

Teaching others sounds like a good method. Because I know that when I read a dense philosophical argument , or something - I can understand it but not teach it yet.

I do spaced repetition but for smaller chunks of information - language acquisition etc. I don't know hwo could I apply it to books.

Reflecting on it doesn't let me retain. 

I reflected on Erich Fromm's The Art of Loving after each chapter, I read it a year ago, I don't think I remember ANYTHING from it. . .

I don't want to have to read books multiple times to get the good juices out of it if I can accomplish it by doing it only once.

I had to read Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis around 3 times and teach it once to truly retain it.

@NoSelfSelf Growth?

[Cortex]

By reading the best quality books

[purerogue]

Problem with reading books is that either you need perfect memory to recall every word, or you have to read some of them over and over again after periods of time, as your perspective changes, you can see more information in them!