"I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I managed to get a degree in engineering by taking good notes and reviewing the last three days worth of notes every day before class. This method put the info in writing, and got me to review multiple times. It also brought me back up to speed before each class and helped me focus on things I had questions about or didn't fully understand so I could ask good questions the next day. Thanks for sharing your method!

Philosophy begins in wonder. No one can accomplish greatness in any field if they're not driven by love and fascination and genuine reverence.

This is criminally underrated. Outstanding.

Ryan, your tone always makes me feel like I’m in trouble

This is the advice of a man who’s full time job is to read and learn.

i originally picked up 20 study and focus secrets from tesla because the tesla title caught my attention, but I ended up getting much more interested in the study side of it. I was preparing for an important exam at the time and my biggest problem wasn't understanding the material, it was actually sitting down long enough to learn it. The focus techniques gave me a different approach and honestly made those long study days feel a lot more manageable.

How the hell do you have time for this, Ryan. I’m a published author, and I want my note taking process to be more meticulous, but it’s just so tedious work and takes forever!

I started keeping a journal for writing quotes and passages from what I’m reading I found that not only highlighting it in the book, but writing it down really helps retain it then when I finish the book I got right back through and read what I highlighted and wrote

This video tickled my autism.

I am big on checking out library books both to save money and for ecological purposes. However I do feel the urge to highlight and add comments . The idea of the cards is something i will try.

So, it seems to me that what you are proposing is exactly what you would do if you took a college class: Read the book slowly (listen to the lecture), take as many notes as possible (take notes on the lecture), organize those notes (organize and study the notes for a test), extract the pertinent info (make sure you've understood the material before the test)...I forgot to mention that its brilliant! I've always looked at reading as entertainment, something to be quickly digested and forgotten, so i often DO read as fast as possible to get through a story. Now that I'm older (61) I realize that time is finite (memento mori) and that if you want to get through a book just to get through it, you should read something else :)

Thank you Ryan for giving me hope that I can take things I've read in books and  remember them so I can confidently present them to others in conversation or public speaking.

THANK YOU for not gatekeeping your method and sharing it with us! It's a privilege to be learning from the experienced, and for free!!!👏

Making note cards were instrumental in getting me through med school... I must of had 20 boxes by the time I was done. I "gifted" them to a friend that was just starting school...they were speechless... :)

I personally recommend you Risale-i Nur. It is the book that changed my life. Lots of greetings from Türkiye👋🏻 🇹🇷

Thank you for saying McCullough correctly.

The physical burden of notes matters to me. At 10 years old I created my first commonplace book, which is the year when Ryan Holiday was born. I am a former academic and still a professional reader. A few years ago, the weight and volume of all those notes started to overwhelm me. A friend joked that it was like having a really big dead tree in my office. I appreciate what Ryan is saying about the inefficiency being the efficiency, and friction is important, but also I no longer keep notes on paper. Everything gets captured into its rightful place (Obsidian, usually) then trashed. I'm also working on progressively processing my old notebooks - not scanning it all, but rather extracting what still feels important along with key facts and ideas... then destroying the physical record. Otherwise I'd have to have a much bigger home ($$$) and spend even more time maintaining the physical system. The good thing about Obsidian is that it's all Markdown files, so as long as computer exist I should be able to go back to my notes.

Okay… this is …  ab.so.lute  GOLD! Wow, the guy learned from some true masters. Many great, BIG ideas. Very useful 😮😊

Honestly, I am wondering how he has room to store all of these cards!  I started writing in my books my notes and doing summaries at the beginning of chapters.  I feel like that way my kids will also be able to read my own thoughts and what was meaningful to me someday. Good reminder though of how important engaging with the books is.