How to Remember What You Read

People start reading books for different reasons. Some people read for pure joy, and others look for certain information in a book. Whatever the reason for reading a book, many readers want to remember most of what they read.

This isn't limited to non-fiction readers. Even with fiction, recalling the plot, themes, and issues within a novel could be more enjoyable than simply reading.

Why do we forget?

Forgetting in general is a natural part of how our brains work. In the 1800s, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted experiments on himself in which he memorized nonsense syllables.

He found that he initially forgot most of what he memorized, and over time, his rate of forgetting became slower [Source]. There are many scientific theories that try to explain memory decay, such as the decay theory and the interference theory.

So, how can readers remember more of what they read?

1. Know Why You're Reading:

Each book can benefit you in a different way. Reading a nonfiction book can expand your knowledge on a certain topic or give you specific information.

A fiction book could increase your vocabulary and introduce you to different perspectives and emotions. Knowing what a book can offer you makes it easier to decide what to focus on.

2. Priming:

Priming, simply put, is a phenomenon where exposure to one stimulus changes how you respond to a later one [Source]. There are several types of priming. One of them is repetition priming. When you encounter a stimulus, then encounter it again, you may process it faster the second time.

So, there are simple steps you can take to apply priming to reading. You can read the table of contents and search for information about the topic of the book before you start. If you want to read a fiction book, you could look up the author and the era in which the book was written.

3. Annotate:

Annotating includes many things, like summarizing key points, circling key points, highlighting, and underlining.

The process of asking yourself questions and highlighting what you consider important allows you to engage more with the text instead of simply reading passively [Source]

4. Take Notes:

Writing your thoughts or comments while reading allows you to engage more with the book. Don't just write down important points from the book. Also, write down your disagreements or points you want to look up later. You can dedicate a notebook to your reading notes or simply write in the book itself or use a sticky note.

5. Ask Yourself Questions:

Active recall helps people retain information better [Source]. So, you can try to ask yourself questions after each chapter or reading session.

When you read a fiction book, ask yourself questions such as: "What point is the author trying to make with this event?" "What are the main themes and emotions of the novel?"

You can do the same thing when reading a nonfiction book: "What is the author's main argument, and do you agree with it or not?"

6. Summarize:

One of the reasons people forget what they read is that they don't try to use or recall what they've read. To compensate for this problem, you can try to summarize what you've read.

Your summary doesn't have to be polished or well-written. The point of the summary is to recall the main points or the plot that you want to remember. There is a lot of scientific evidence showing the benefits of active recall for memory.

7. Discuss What You Read:

Actively engaging with the book could help you understand and remember more of what you read. Sharing your thoughts on a book and discussing them with someone else allows you to see different perspectives on the book. Also, another person can help you understand certain aspects of the book better, which can make it easier to remember.

You can join a book club or share your reviews on platforms like Goodreads, where you can connect with other readers.

8. Reinforcement:

Encountering an idea once is good, but repeating it multiple times is even better. Sometimes we come across an idea or read about it and feel that we've developed a good understanding of it. However, when we encounter it again, we start noticing different details and aspects.

The same can happen when reading, especially with non-fiction and thought-provoking books. Some books are worth reading twice. However, the idea is not to reread the book immediately, but to return to it after a while.

Repeating doesn't necessarily mean rereading the book. You can read reviews after finishing the book or watch an interview with the author. You can also read about the same topic separately or come back to your notes and previously highlighted parts.

It's natural to forget information. However, there are several steps you can take as a reader to remember more of what you read. While you can reduce how much you forget, it's important to know that it's not realistic to try to remember everything you read.