Do you struggle with recalling the books you recently read?
Each time I share a reading update, I am often asked how I take out the time to read. That is a whole new discussion and I am sure you have read a gazillion posts on it.
Another popular question is – do I remember what I read? The answer is yes, I do. I can have a discussion with you on every read from the past couple of years or so. Do I have a photographic memory? I wish. It is just good reading habits.
Some of us read a book and are able to recall every detail. And some struggle to remember the book we read just a few months back. It is not about what we read but how we read. If you are one of the latter, follow these simple tips to remember what you read. Good reading habits that help read better.
A note before we begin. We are not discussing the essential reading here. The textbooks and journals we have to read no matter what. No escaping there. We are discussing books we read for pleasure. Does it matter then if you don’t remember what you read? It probably does.
Pick the right book
First things first. Why are you reading the book? Do you really want to read it or have picked it up due to all the hype? Particularly for non-fiction, does it include information that you have no use for? Such information rarely sticks.
We all want to read that latest bestseller everyone is talking about. Pick it up by all means but don’t do so because you feel pressured to. Always pick the books you actually want to read. They need not be bestsellers. They need to be books you are interested in.
Avoid skimming or speed reading
Reading is not a race. A book is not a number. You are doing a great disservice to both the author and you as a reader for treating it as one.
If all it boils down to is adding a number to the list, is it really worth it? The need to read x number of books even if it means skimming through most of them? After all, what is the point of reading all these books if you don’t remember what you read? Want to read faster? Just read more books.
Choose quality over quantity
Continuing the discussion, focus on the quality of both reading and the books rather than quantity. Each book is different, each reader is different. Some of us breeze through books and some prefer to take our time savoring each read.
I read romance picks in one or two sittings but need to take a break between every short story. And just cannot switch to a new book the same day. I need to sleep over it. Taking time to let the book sink in goes a long way in retaining what you read.
Visualize
At some point, we have all been disappointed by a movie or series adaptation of a book. The issue that is often at the core of the debate is visualization. Reading ignites our imagination. When we read a book, we often visualize characters and scenes. What’s on screen may not match our imagination. But that is what probably makes it easier to recall a movie than a book.
Take a step back and visualize what you read. Doodle in your journal between breaks. It is a fun way to enjoy your reading.
Focus on conscious reading
Focus on the book while reading. If you are constantly distracted, chances are you will not retain what you are reading. Set a time. Create a reading nook. The sharper your focus, the more you will retain.
But then, where do the audiobooks fit in? Aren’t they all about multi-tasking? Beats the purpose, right? In fact, quite the opposite. It is possible to retain the information from audiobooks. The idea is that your primary focus is on the book. Most of the books I read are in audio format and are read when walking or during a chore. If I can do it, I am sure you can too.
Take notes, annotate, or talk about the book
Take notes and annotate while reading the book. Be sure to leave a review when you finish reading it. Talk about the book, post a book review on your blog, and kick-start a conversation. Discussing books as is much fun as reading. And it is an excellent way to analyze the book and gain perspective.
I am not big on annotating print books but my ebooks are full of notes and highlights. Do what works best for you. You probably know that writing information down helps you to remember it better. The same applies here.
Get some context
Don’t just read the book. Get some context. Take time to know more about the book and the author. Check out their other books. If you are reading historical fiction, read up on the times the book is set in.
I love reading the “about the book” section which gives me an insight into how the book came about. I spent hours reading up on the Hungarian Revolution after finishing This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke, a historical event very few know about.
DNF books that are not working
Don’t force yourself to wade through a book. Those swimming words will do little to retain what you are reading. It does more damage than good and can also send you into a reader’s block downward spiral. This is not a study material you have to read. You don’t have to finish every book you pick.
A golden rule I follow is to put a book on the back burner if it is not working for me. There is a time and a place for every book. And not every book works for everyone.
Hope you find the tips beneficial and that they help you improve the quality of your reading. Do you have some tips to share? Would love to know them. Do share in the comments below.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Monidipa Dutta.
Image credit: Canva
May 19, 2023 @ 12:08 am
DNF?
I’m concentrating on Choosing quality over quantity this year. It’s working well!
May 19, 2023 @ 12:58 pm
Over the last few years, I realused that my brain would get jumbled up with too many tasks to handle.So, I started to read only what made me happy, after all I was reading for myself. And I did retain some of the stuff, but forgot a lot also. Now, I am only reading books that make sense to me, not everything that everyone recommends. You have penned valid points to choose quality over quantity.
May 19, 2023 @ 10:20 pm
Yes, you are right Ritu. If we don’t remember what we read then what is the use of the reading. I do read but only if I like it. It may be fiction, love story, or thriller. I do remember the whole story for long period of time. The number of book doesn’t matter to me. The quality of book matter.
May 20, 2023 @ 1:01 pm
While I agree with all the pointers that you have given for remembering a book one has read, I also feel a good book will always be remembered if not in its completeness at least in parts.
May 20, 2023 @ 1:56 pm
The most important point that you talked about here in this meaningful post is “Avoid skimming or speed reading”. I am sad to see that the overflooded so called reviewer industry is making this mistake. For the key percentage of this population are running after making numbers and earning remuneration fee. Cant deny the fact that the authors are falling prey in the hands of such reviewers as what they are looking for is becoming a best seller by hook or crook. Sometimes I find few reviewers who are putting reviews daily …. I just wonder how they get so much time to read so many books and how their reviews are doing justice to the efforts of the author. I being a reviewer for so long still day failed to gain that speed and I am not sad at all as I know I am giving the authors work due respect and analyzing the pros and cons of the book in right manner. Reviewing is an art and do it as an art only. Thanks Ritu for this burning topic which all must read and understand.
May 20, 2023 @ 9:48 pm
hmmm… interesting topic Ritu… I never looked at reading books this way. Now that I m aware, I will try to recollect what I’ve read in the recent past and see how much I can remember.
May 20, 2023 @ 10:45 pm
n. this post stood out because of its useful tips for reading and remembering. This can be helpful to write book reviews well too.
May 21, 2023 @ 8:13 am
Reading a book is not a race, ur right we have to let the book seep into us. Im a picky reader, however I feel what I read must really touch my heart as in I must enjoy.
May 21, 2023 @ 8:16 am
Reading books isn’t a race, ur right we must let the book seep into us.
May 21, 2023 @ 10:08 am
Such helpful tips for better retention or may i call it appreciation of the book. I follow most of the practices and unlike you i love to annotate on my physical books, its something that connects me so much more with the book im reading and helps come back to the book and their important lessons/quotes when im short on time. You should see my ‘The Alchemist’, The Fountainhead’ and ‘The 40 Rules of Love’.
May 21, 2023 @ 10:52 am
I absolutely resonate with your thoughts on recalling books we’ve read. It’s a common question that often arises when discussing our reading habits. You make an important point that it’s not just about what we read but how we read.
I couldn’t agree more about avoiding skimming or speed reading. Reading should never be reduced to a mere numbers game. It’s about immersing ourselves in the author’s words, savoring the experience, and engaging with the ideas presented. By rushing through books, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to fully absorb and appreciate the knowledge and emotions they offer. Thanks for sharing these tips to enhance our reading experiences and foster better retention. Love reading this post.
May 21, 2023 @ 11:27 am
You are right in saying that many times we pick books based on some kind of hype or pressure. I remember an old post where you wrote about picking up the books that cater to our interests. They would stick to our memory chip like nothing else 😉
May 21, 2023 @ 4:28 pm
Thank you for the useful pointers. They enhance the reading pleasure and help retain the storyline. I also find that reflection, reviewing and creating mental associations aid in memory retention. It’s so important for the content to marinate in one’s mind and for this reason I hate speed reading. Every word must be savoured to enjoy the read in its entirety. Without doubt a book that’s picked up must pique one’s interest else why waste time. 🙂
May 21, 2023 @ 4:58 pm
I agree will all your points here.
May 21, 2023 @ 5:19 pm
I don’t understand speed reading. I read somewhere that you are supposed to read every alternate sentence or something. It doesn’t make sense. If you enjoy a book, you will surely remember it.
May 21, 2023 @ 7:57 pm
I don’t participate in book reading challenges for the same reason, pressure to read more, tick books off your list or fall prey to behaving like a book snob. I often remember details of books I’ve read too. If not the character names all the time, the storyline. One can never forget good books or the ones that touched us in some way. Choose and commit wisely.
May 21, 2023 @ 8:26 pm
These are some really great tips for mindful reading! I like to take notes for remembering well. Sometimes for reviewing purposes I have to speed read and that serves no purpose at all!
May 21, 2023 @ 8:39 pm
Ah, you read my mind. This post was much-needed for me 🙂
I read a lot of books but I hardly remember any that I read. Yup, speed reading is my jam and I think I should be more conscious from now on. I hardly make annotations until it is of utmost interest to me. I also hate dog-earring or making notes in the book. Too OCD like that. But great tips from you. I will definitely try to implement it and see what works for me 🙂
May 22, 2023 @ 4:03 am
I follow most of these so, I usually remember what I read and I really do agree that most of these are helpful and Visualizing is on top of my list here.
May 22, 2023 @ 5:38 am
Having read more and more Self-Help books for the past 4 years, I’ve come to realise how I missed taking notes and doing annotation of most of them. While I loved that certain book and learned a lot from it at the moment in time, I find it hard to remember the key phrase/lines I used to love. It’s only lately that I’ve learned putting notes so my reading becomes more personalised and I also get to go back to those special parts when needed easily. Great points!
May 22, 2023 @ 11:30 am
I agree with you, Ritu. I underline the lines I like and go back to them long after reading them.
But now I read a book very rarely and I remember the names of those 😉
When I was an avid reader, I used to upload the titles online and we in our bookworms group used to note down the titles in a diary.
May 22, 2023 @ 12:02 pm
Your tips are very helpful for avid readers. These days I read a book rarely but I still try to remember the names of those I read.
May 22, 2023 @ 4:37 pm
I have always admired your reading speed and ability. I also love the variety that you bring in your reading. Often I have also wondered, “How does she even manage? ” 🙂
Now I know the answer. Thanks for the tips. Will surely keep in mind when I start the next read.
May 23, 2023 @ 2:57 am
Great tips….i had this problem once when I went on a Danielle Steele reading spree. After a while everything kind of go jumbled. I completely agree that we must choose the books that really connect with us. Sometimes even after a great recommendation, some books just dont work for you.
May 25, 2023 @ 7:01 pm
I was questioning myself the last few days on certain books that have completely gone blank from my memory. After reading your post, I think these were the books that I read just for the sake of it and didn’t love them. As you wrote, I remember those books and characters accurately about whom I have spoken endlessly in every conversation.
This was such a lovely, heartwarming post! Books and the magic potion to remember them is all that we need to get by!!