How are you guys reading intellectual or academic books?
I love reading, especially story driven reading. Anything to do with fiction or non fiction, as long as there is a story and I can visualize it. But I want to be educated. I want to read academic books. I am currently reading The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and I am find it really hard to read through it.
Idk if it is because I was on a reading block for some time and it is only this year that I started reading. I've got me a library card and have read 20 books so far this year. But im having a hard time keeping my attention, though it is very interesting.
How do y'all do this? I really want to learn and educate myself. But I feel kind of dumb and hopeless.
by _SuckyMcDucky_
5 Comments
I set timers and make myself read for 20 minutes uninterrupted. Throw my phone across the room. It’s how I got through grad school!
What is your goal in reading academic books? I read a variety of fiction and nonfiction, but I don’t really read any academic books. Those books can still be very educational and interesting, though.
If you can get an audio version, I listen WHILE I read…then it sticks..
Most academic books are read interactively. Passively reading textbooks is not a good way to learn. Reading chapter by chapter, taking notes, and connecting the reading to lectures, discussion, practice and/or quizzing.
For pop sci and other non-narrative nonfiction, I still take some notes if I feel motivated but mostly just let it fill up and then drain out of my brain. I didn’t retain as much of, say, SPQR as I would have liked, but I had a great time and some of that knowledge will stay. Reading multiple books in the same area is key – solidify what you learned, add new insights and experience the same field from a different perspective.
I would start with nonfiction writers who are very accessible. Bill Bryson and Mary Roach come to mind. Freakonomics is a good one, too.