In today's fiercely competitive era, everyone wishes to keep pace with the times and stay at the forefront. Reading is one way to acquire knowledge, yet some people read for the sake of reading, consuming over 100 books in a year.
However, after finishing these books, they often find themselves not truly mastering much knowledge. This raises the question: How can we truly learn from the books we read?
1. Read with a Purpose
Books closely related to your goals are more likely to help you achieve learning objectives. When selecting books, you can read the preface, table of contents, introduction, etc., to understand if they align with your learning needs. You can also check reviews or recommendations to gather more information.
2. Be Your Teacher
Knowledge becomes truly useful only when you apply it, right? Yet many people overlook the fact that sharing knowledge with others is also a noble endeavor.
While you may not be a formal teacher, treating yourself as one by sharing the insights and contents of a book after you've read it is applying knowledge. This change only requires a shift in mindset. Don't just "read" a book. You should share the viewpoints and content of the book with others after genuinely reading it.
3. Highlight and Establish Mental Connections
The more pieces of information in your brain can be connected, the more deeply you will remember them. If you believe books are sacred and should not be "defaced," you will never truly learn from them. Taking notes in a book, folding a page, or highlighting classic quotes are simple yet effective reading methods.
4. Visual Presentation and Imagination
Another way to establish mental connections is to visually present the knowledge you've learned. We are visual learners, and so are our memories.
5. Apply New Knowledge Immediately
Remember, the knowledge that is detached from reality holds no value. It's quite sad for a knowledgeable person to always lock themselves at home and never go out. You must step out, applying the knowledge you've gained in practical situations. Once you start doing this, you will grow. That's without a doubt.
In this process, you will find that true learning isn't just passively absorbing knowledge but integrating it into your thinking and actions. Reading with a purpose, treating yourself as a teacher by sharing knowledge, establishing mental connections through highlighting, note-taking, and visualization, and immediately applying what you've learned are all ways to transform book knowledge into practical skills.
True comprehension, absorption, and application of the books you've read only come through action. Therefore, avoid merely skimming the surface; instead, allow knowledge to take root and flourish through practical experiences, serving as both a catalyst and a compass for progress.
