How To Get The Most Out of A Book - Analytical Reading 101

A quick video on how to mark up a book and get the most out of your reading.

Other Resources:
My new course on keeping a writer's diary:
The Scrapbook Project (Insights on creativity, art, reading):
My Essays:
My playlist on Storytelling:
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My collaborative novel about Melbourne: There's A Tale To This City:

[tomvvw]

"absolutely demolished", he says as he shows me the cleanest page i've seen in my whole academic life.

[thunganoannhu]

Let me summarize the ideas included in the video in my own way of thinking:
- “Demolish” the book and its pages by notes, highlights, marks - to make it feel like a convo between you and the author
- Mark the book pages based on chapters and sections so that you can systemize what you’re reading
- Summarize what you read with your own words (like what I’m doing now lol). FORCE your brain to do that!
- Convert that summary into a digital version so that you can carry it around (notion, drive, phone notes, etc)

[ariekanibalie]

I'd add that you can do this with fiction too. I think there's a tendency to see reading fiction as pure enjoyment, something you immerse yourself in without taking notes, but then when you're done you hardly recall anything. For me, adding notes and underlining passages makes me more attentive to not just what the author is doing with her prose, but also how, and this only adds to the pleasure. Plus, noting certain phrases and descriptions won't hurt your own writing, either.

[alaaazzam]

I've always been kind of afraid to write anything in my books but this changed my mind. Awesome and helpful video as usual!

[putriulayafiryal]

there are two options for a reader to get into the books:
1. anotate it with pen or highlighter
2. choose to write the point you want to remember in another book or journal book (if the reader want to keeping the book clean from a mess)

[noareth]

my thing with writing in books is that when I re-read those books time later, I'm not the same person. It's very interesting to see how my understanding and ideas have evolved, if that makes sense. great video btw

[JDG]

Glad to see young people in this day and age taking their learning seriously and understanding that learning does not end with school, but is only the beginning. I wish I could have had a decent education. I began my self-education not until I was 29! I lived almost my entire life dealing with hardships, anger, depression, and many other things I will not mention. If only I knew that learning was the answer I could have saved myself a lot of heartaches. A good education is the most important thing in life in my opinion. Truly brings a sense of understanding and fulfillment. I can say I am a truly happy person every day no matter how bad life seems. Good for you man and I appreciate your efforts to share this wisdom with others. It helps me out quite a bit in my self-education. Stay safe and keep doing the good work. Oh, I really enjoyed your article "Only Read What You Enjoy". It really helped me to stop putting books aside thinking "I am not ready for that yet". I always felt I had to understand this and that to be able to tackle certain works. Letting that go will send me on journies that are absolutely life-changing in some cases. Truly opens you up. Thank you.

[charu]

I absolutely love annotating books which is exactly why i don't borrow from others or from the library cuz I know I am gonna make a mess. Infact I don't even use a pencil, it's mostly a black pen which i use to underline or write. It's so much fun and your books look so loved and used. Also I am able to recall the things I read more efficiently thanks to these note taking. The book reviews i write also have improved quite a bit. It's a habit I began just a few months ago and by the way thanks for the tip of using those blank pages at the end. Gonna try it from now.

[forestspell]

Honestly, I love coming across a second-hand book with annotations from the previous reader. It just elevates the reading experience to see what the previous reader found interesting, important, their commentary, questions or opinions in the margins, etc.

Like book club, without the added frustration of the social aspects.

[khushboodutta]

This video is something really amazing that i couldn't even paused it for a moment! Probably the best content so far on YouTube I must say and I'll definitely give a watch to all your videos. Thanks a ton for your priceless efforts! ❤

[bellasimoes]

I've long seen reading as a dialog with the author - a magical one 💙 It warms my heart to see others spreading such message. Thank you 🙏
& yes yes yes to Life-changing Notion!

[damfhokage]

As a bookworm, I appreciate this video especially now that it's summer and I have even more time to read. On top of that, I'm going to start reading "Ecce Homo" by Nietzsche. Perfect timing. Thanks Robin 🤟🏼

[Viridity_Official]

People are confused with me and don't understand when I say I only read one book this year. Not because I was bored of reading or I'm a slow reader but because I really took my time highlighting, taking notes, and understanding almost every line that was in the book. But, I would rather read a book a year and really understand it then reading 1, 000 books a year and just getting the simple text out of it.

[nayefocus]

I love this video. Short, precise and he gets straight to the point. This is my first time watching one of your videos and it makes want to get up and become a lifelong student

[mhorset]

Amazing content! I used to line, write, signalize books that I am reading. From now I will include the “marker” to follow each line and the notes the book’s end

[dummybear]

I'm not a writer but I love your channel. It's a breath of fresh air from the rest of YouTube, honestly. I like a nice calm, real talk about reading and thinking and just... living. I really want to get back into reading, although these days I'm more interested in the books of my religion. I'm dying to start a commonplace book too!
Thanks for all your advice- it's very neat.

[vyhzflx]

A timely video, I was just needing something like this!

[Rajaas_Reading_Corner]

You are coolest in between person ever. You completely understand the concept of annotation as being in deep bond with the author over his book.

[petrichor]

I love this video. I have been wondering about that for a while! Looking forward to other reading tips!

[syedghaffarhassan]

Your videos are phenomenal. So good to watch man.