*I read; therefore I am—but how can one **assimilate**?*

Introduction

As someone who began to read books regularly for the purpose of intellectual stimulation, I naturally discovered various ways to improve my conduct of book-reading towards higher degrees of efficiency. In this article, I describe the principles and methods derived from my experience in book-reading, which I offer for the potential benefit of similarly oriented individuals.
Essentially, these principles and methods* concern the effective assimilation of information and thoughts from one’s reading experiences. However, as individuals tend to differ in their purpose for reading and capabilities of assimilation, factors of and methods for assimilating literature can apply differently on an individual basis—hence, the methods here are offered as tips for anyone who regularly reads literature; or at the least, as a stimulant to one’s thoughts on ways to make more effective use of their literature and more efficient use of their reading time.

*Neither ’principles’ nor ‘methods’ are meant in the strict sense of the word: rather, I use them to indicate realizations and developments arising from my personal experience—which of course remains an ongoing process for me.

The primary section of the article is entitled Methods for Assimilation, in which a variety of practical methods for enhancing one’s reading efficiency are described, including some insight into how – and therefore why – they arose within my experiences of book-reading.
Preceding the methods is a section entitled Aspects of Books, being related factors that may also be of interest towards one’s book-reading endeavours. These factors can be thought of as modifiers of the classifications in Part I: Modes of Concentration, in that each one can apply to several if not all of the fourteen book-types classified there; and therefore, to the classifications in Part II: Moods for Comprehension as well, in that these factors can modify the reading experience of a particular book-type or subject.

*The Aspects section is a supplement to the Methods section; however, the latter is better read in consideration of the former, hence their reversal of order.

As with the previous Parts in this series, I have photographed sample pages and attached them at a high enough resolution for comfortable reading (by clicking the photo and selecting the “full size” option), by which a particular point I have made is illustrated.

Aspects of Books
Footnoted
Itemized
Synthesizing
Digital

Methods for Assimilation
Highlighting
Note-Taking
Blogging
Referencing
Separating
Relaxed Mode
Mood-Matching

Aspects of Books

Footnoted Books

Although the use of footnotes is quite common, here I refer to books that are heavily footnoted by the author, the effect of which is a distinctly different reading experience than similar works (in subject and depth) that do not feature footnotes, or at least feature them only to a small extent.
Footnoted books involve an alternating attention, in that the reader is frequently prompted to depart from the main text to begin what may be an elaboration of, or digression from, the last sentence(s) read. However, this aspect is not nearly as protracting as is the nature of Technical and Referential books, in that good reading momentum is still achievable—especially once the reader has adjusted reading speed to the degree of relevance each particular footnote offers to his own interest, thereby achieving a flowing discernment concerning the use of footnotes in this particular book.
Hence, it can be worthwhile to consider the manner in and the extent to which a book is footnoted, should one wish to better match the demands of the book to his present reading mood and frame of mind.

Footnoted Book (Example)

Between Two Ages – America’s Role in the Technetronic Era
by Zbigniew Brzezinski (1970)

Despite being fifty years old, this blend of sociological, political, and technological science by a prominent political strategist remains highly relevant today. However, the interest here is the author’s use of footnotes, which is extensive but justified: for Brzezinski often has very interesting information to share in these elaborations and digressions.

This sequence of three footnotes across two pages illustrates an effective use of heavy footnoting, in which the erudite author **imparts supplementary information that is both substantial and relevant**—and does so without unnecessarily inflating the main text with it. In the case of this book (and authors of similar erudition) I appreciate that the author has used footnotes rather than endnotes (which are perhaps more commonly used), as the information within them is substantial enough to be read alongside the main narrative, i.e. rather than after it (I generally don’t flip back and forth in a book, which is tiresome—hence only when it’s necessary!)

With this footnote, the author provides a variety of further details which elaborate on the concluding point of the sole paragraph of that page—and the footnote continues over to the other page, where it proves to be **longer than the main text of both pages combined!**

Yet again, Brzezinski creates footnotes which are longer than the main text—but that are **filled with valuable insights and interesting references**: Hence, reading an extensively footnoted book involves a constant alternation of attention.

Itemized Books

Standard to the format of the book is the organization of information by division into a sequence of chapters. Some authors make a further division of the chapters into subheadings, which are usually included on the Contents page (which at this point, has likely become Contents pages).
Further still, there is a specie of book that I will call itemized, due to its elaboration of subheadings: in the sense of both quantity and conceptualization, in that they are worded so as to convey not merely the topic of a subsection, but to express the core concept within it. Such books may also include sub-subheadings, or a division of chapters into ‘parts’, which either way makes for a threefold division of content;—but the aspect of conceptualization is what ultimately gives the book its itemized character.

*Future Shock is the first book I encountered whereby I perceived the distinct quality of Itemized Contents; which in this case, is composed of five pages.*

Reading such a book creates a distinctly different experience than that of one organized in the standard manner; and depending on the content and terminology, the experience can feel like a barrage of concepts and points—which is not necessarily a bad thing, provided that this form is suitable to the information conveyed.
However, the more significant consequence of this aspect is that it invests the book with an added utility in future referencing: the itemized content makes it especially easy to quickly locate or sequentially trace most of the distinct concepts long after one has read the book, since the author has written and organized them in that way.

The text is divided by subheadings, thereby forming subsections; and these are typically no longer than a few pages each, which makes specific topics very easy to review in the future (the book is also indexed well, which completes its utility for quick referencing).

Additionally, this itemization of concepts is a factor to consider with regards to note-taking (to be discussed in Methods), in that it affords one to take an oblique approach to creating their own record of useful information taken from the book: Since the core concepts have been clearly delineated in the book and can thus be relocated and re-read with ease in the future, one can be more selective in the extent to which he records the concepts, perhaps trying an entirely different approach to the active assimilation of information.
To further highlight this utility by contrast: Books with simpler Contents and Index pages – and particularly books without an Index – make it more difficult to relocate a particular concept at a future time, which can be frustrating. Hence, if such a book is dense with concepts or insights, it would be especially worthwhile to make a written record of the most noteworthy ideas and details (being sure to include references to the corresponding page numbers).

Stasiland – Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall
by Anna Funder (2003)

This revealing insiders’ account (i.e. composed of the testimony of interviewed witnesses) of a relatively pre-technological regime of mass-surveillance and covert oppression is filled with details and concepts of significance—but its Contents page gives no indication of them whatsoever, merely naming the chapters by subject or theme; and it does not feature an Index. Hence, this book is a good example of one for which a reader would derive future profit by the taking of notes.

Indeed, due to my having read this indexless book before I began the practice of note-taking, it would be much more difficult to relocate or even recall points of interest by looking at these Contents pages. However, since I did make highlights (to be discussed in Methods) the re-reading process will be considerably swifter.

Synthesizing Books

Books which ‘synthesize’ are similar to those which trace the history of a theme *(as opposed to an event or a place). More specifically, however, their essential qualities are that they deal with a commonly known theme, i.e. rather than a specialized or obscure one; and that they are composed with an interpretive dimension, i.e. they do not merely present a narrative of events and chronological development, but seek to clarify a question and perhaps proffer an answer as well.

*See the Thematic (History Sub-Type) in Part II: Moods for Comprehension.

Due to these essential qualities, Synthesizing books can serve well as a primer on a subject; but better still, they can be utilized as a synthesizer of previous knowledge, i.e. the knowledge one has already gained from having read some of the works the book is based on; and, as the synthesis is generally in the form of a narrative, the Synthesizing book is rarely more than a moderately demanding read.
Hence, it can be useful to recognize this quality in such books, in that one can then select an optimal state of knowledge or plan an optimal position in sequence at which to read the book, thereby enhancing the overall interaction with the subject, i.e. by first reading more source texts before reading a Synthesizing book on the subject; or conversely, by first reading the Synthesizing book as a primer on the subject, after which one is in a more informed position to select and interpret the core texts of most value to him.

The Passion of the Western Mind – Understanding the Ideas that have Shaped Our World View
by Richard Tarnas (1991)

*The Passion of the Western Mind* was the first Synthesizing book I read, the classification of which was derived directly from the distinct experience I perceived after having read it. On the surface, the book looks much like a straightforward history of Western Philosophy, with a useful division of the narrative by eras, events, and developments.

However, the author endorsements on the back cover give some indications that this is not merely an historical account of the theme of Western Philosophy, but that it “allows readers to **grasp the big picture** of Western culture”; it “places the history of Western thought in **perspective**, [offering] **new insights** concerning the evolution of our thinking and the future of the whole human enterprise”; and, while being a “masterful **chronicle**, “it is also a powerful, **multi-layered synthesis** that precisely integrates the philosophic, spiritual, and scientific dimensions of that search, and prophesizes its coming transformation…”—Thus are the **distinguishing qualities*** of the Synthesizing book.

*The two-page preface in which the author sets out his purpose for the book can serve to further distinguish the Synthesizing book from the Thematic History book, thereby highlighting its unique qualities.

Varieties of Fascism
by Eugen Weber (1964)

Varieties of Fascism represents another type of Synthesizing book in that its form is not chronological, i.e. it is not a thematic **history**; but is categorical, i.e. it **clarifies** a theme by differentiating between the distinctive yet **unidentified** manifestations of it.

In this example – i.e. of a non-chronological Synthesizing book – the theme of fascism is one the author deemed to be in need of clarification; and therefore, he has **compiled all of its variations into a comprehending synthesis**.

Digital Books

Many digital books are available freely via the internet (commonly stored as PDF files), thus offering a means to enlarge one’s resource of quality literature without cost—including that of physical space: Indeed, space rather than cost proves to be the bottleneck in the cultivation of a personal library, since printed books are so cheaply available via online second hand markets.

The Types & Benefits of Digital Books

Digital books are either scanned copies of paperback or hardcover books; or are digitized versions (eBooks) of them, i.e. a version of the physical book created specifically for the digital format.
Scanned books are generally larger in file size than eBooks, as they are essentially image files rather than text files. However, they are usually formatted with OCR, which means that the text can be searched and highlighted—although sometimes the character recognition is not completely accurate*.
eBooks are much more economical in file size and are as searchable as a Word document. Sometimes, they feature a linked Contents page allowing one to jump to a particular chapter immediately; as well as links to endnotes or to web pages—both of which representing standard conveniences of the digital format.

*But generally, this is only with older books for which the pages and text are of such type or condition that they are not clearly detected.

The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase
by Mark Forsyth (2013) [eBook Edition]

The eBook version of The Elements of Eloquence features a linked Contents page, as well as linked endnotes. Shown here is the first page of Contents; and a portion of text featuring three linked endnote numbers (which I have underlined in red as it is difficult to see that they are actually links), all of which jump to the corresponding note at the back of the book, which is itself linked back to the original page*.

*For some reason, the 64 endnotes in this eBook are each given their own page—and most of them are just one line! I mention this because I’ve come across a variety of formatting oddities in eBooks, some of which – unlike this one – create an unnecessary inconvenience.

To summarise, the benefits of digital books are:

The ability to enlarge one’s library freely—both in terms of money and space.
The ability to search books for words and phrases—and furthermore, one can even search through multiple books simultaneously for a word or phrase.
The ability to highlight passages easily, and – provided the software is obtained – export highlights to a text file for editing, reading, or printing.

The Utilization of Digital Books

Handling & Highlighting

I find that a tablet device (such as the iPad) is the best way to read digital books – as opposed to a computer – due to the comfortable size and portrait-view feature: for it comes far closer to recreating the experience of reading a physical book than a computer does.* Combined with the app iAnnotate, I find it the perfect way to read and highlight my digital books (and articles).

*Additionally, I selected my laptop based on its ‘convertible’ design, meaning that it can also operate as a tablet device: hence if I want to read documents or web pages without transferring them, I can do so more comfortably than when in laptop mode.

Aside from the annotation software, I use a hardcase backing to house the iPad; a leather case to protect the screen during storage; a quality stylus pen (solid, weighty feel with replaceable rubber nibs); an adjustable stand that folds for easy portability; and a screen cloth for when the smudges become too intolerable. When I read using the iPad from my armchair, I hold it in my hand or place it in my lap; and when I read with it at my desk, I usually use the stand.

Black Mirror’s Dystopian Narrative on Technology, Social Media, Surveillance and the Technobody
by Marieke Masny (2015)
(Article, PDF)

A view of the iPad in portrait mode on its stand, on my desk, displaying an article I highlighted (which I do for most of the books and articles I read on the iPad). This particular article on the dystopian series Black Mirror is over 60 pages in length, with the format, features, and quality of a small book by a scholar in that field—and which I obtained (along with many others) simply by searching for “black mirror analysis pdf”: Thus is the value of digital books and literature, which are so freely available.

Printing Extracts

Although digital reading devices such as the iPad and Kindle do well to provide a comfortable way to read digital texts, the experience of viewing, handling, and marking a physical document is an inherently superior form of reading, in that its physical, tactile form is naturally conducive to a more direct engagement with the content* —which also applies to viewing illustrations, although with less significance.

*To be elaborated on in the upcoming subsection Paperbacks & Hardbacks vs. eBooks.

Hence in some cases, I extract my highlights of a digital book into a Word document, which I then transfer back to the computer for editing and printing into a booklet, thereby condensing the most useful information into a handy physical document. At a future time, I then read the booklet as I would a paperback book, marking the standout passages within it (by a coloured pencil line down the margin), thereby having a more direct (re)engagement with the compiled portions of the book I found to be most significant; which I can then refer back to in the future. This method, I find, furthers the utilization of digital books by enhancing the assimilation of the most valuable material within it.

Extract highlights from PDF to word processor app →

The Body Electric – Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life
by Robert O. Becker & Gary Selden (1985)
(Scanned Book, Image PDF)

I found a free scanned copy of this book formatted as an image PDF, meaning that the text is not searchable or highlightable. Also, the pages were scanned in twos, meaning that landscape mode is required to properly view each set of pages; however, this doesn’t really affect reading, as one can still use portrait mode to view each half of the set, simply swiping the image to the next half once the first page is read: this allows a better (i.e. larger) view of each page—particularly when the text is not large and/or the book is illustrated (both being the case in this book).

For scanned books that cannot be highlighted and thus cannot be extracted, and for which I want to create a printed compilation of the most useful information, I mark the page numbers to be printed (using a marker tool in the iAnnotate app) and then from the computer, instruct the printing software to print just those pages of the book; which I also customize so as to make the printed document both readable and economical (this customization being based on the particularities of each scanned book).
For this book, I used the portrait orientation with two scanned pages per printed page (which in this case, means four of the book’s pages per printed page), as well as double-sided printing—thus amounting to eight book pages per printed sheet: This is how I print extracts of image PDFs, which I then file to be re-read at a future date.

Alternatively, image PDFs which have large text can be printed even more economically, as in this example of the book Ancient Art and Ritual, by Jane Ellen Harrison (1913): four book pages per half of a printed page, using double-sided printing in booklet format, amounts to sixteen pages per sheet of paper.

Paperbacks & Hardbacks vs. eBooks

To elaborate on the earlier point regarding the superiority of physical books, I begin by sharing the following anecdote explaining how I came to this realization.
               When I first took an interest in reading substantial literature, I had no intention of purchasing any physical books; and bought the iPad specifically to house and read the literature I collect on the computer—particularly since so many great books are freely obtainable in digital copy, which is also a saving of physical space. However, as I bought and read physical copies of the great books I could not find in digital, I began to notice the superiority of a printed book over a digital one, in that the digital form lacks those properties that engender a more memorable reading experience and more effective intellectual assimilation.
               A most notable and memorable example of this principle is on occasions such as the following: I have a thought about something that recalls to mind a detail or concept from a book I read years ago, which I then retrieve and flip through looking for the particular passage most associated with my recall. Often, such occasions first occur years after my initial reading of the particular book, which I have not returned to since; and in the process of seeking out the passage, I notice that the physical properties of the book – the look, the size, the feel, the smell (for those which have them); and most notably, the highlights I made – all engender a stronger recollection of the reading experience, including the particular thoughts I had within it.
               Having also gone through the same process with the digital books I have read made the realization of this difference that much more significant: for although searching a digital book for information is quicker and easier, the process of reading and re-reading a digital book is almost entirely lacking the multi-sensory elements of the traditional book-reading experience—which is why it does not engender a strong recollection of the material and experiential thoughts one had during his first reading of it.*

*Upon reflection, I also realized the logic of this principle. To illustrate: One who reads a succession of eBooks on the iPad has effectively remained in the presence of the same physical object the entire time, i.e. throughout every page of every book he has read; whereas one who reads a succession of paperback and hardcover books has been in the presence of, viewed, and handled the hundreds of unique pages in each unique book—each of which thereby infuses its distinctness into the reader’s reading experience of it: Thus, when the reader returns to those same pages of that same book, the revival of their distinct characteristics naturally engenders a stronger recall of the original experience—and hence, the physical book is a superior medium for assimilating information and thoughts.

Consequently, I began to purchase many of the top books of which I had already obtained free digital copies, weighing up the factors of cost against the nature and form of the content in each case. For example: In the case of a plain text book for which I have an eBook copy, I generally read and print out the highlights rather than purchase the book. However, for books which are of a more complex structure (Deep); or which are Voluminous; or which are well Illustrated—I generally buy the paperback or hardback when I find a low-priced copy available (which is often immediately).
The following are examples of books I had acquired digital copies of, but nevertheless purchased in paperback for each one of the above reasons.

A Deep Book (Physical > Digital)

Propaganda – The Formation of Men’s Attitudes
by Jacques Ellul (1965)

I have read many books **on the theme** of propaganda, several of which being **direct examinations of** it; and all of them have contributed to **revealing the nature and significance** of propaganda as an aspect of modernity. However, if one were to lay claim to being the **definitive** examination of propaganda, Ellul’s book would have to be that one.

As always, Ellul thoroughly – almost definitively – analyses his subject matter—which in this case, is a supremely significant one in the modern world. Hence, despite that I found a good scanned digital copy of the book online which was also highlightable, the only reason I would have read the digital copy was if a physical one was too expensive, which it wasn’t*.

*£3.40, **brand new**; bought with Starsuckers (DVD), including free delivery, on 12th October 2012 (—Amazon **remembers everything**…)

A Voluminous Book (Physical > Digital)

The Complete Works of Plato
Volumes 1 & 2 (Benjamin Jowett Translation, 1871)

The **Complete** Works of Plato – and specifically, the **classical** translation by Benjamin Jowett – is a prime example of a voluminous text that I wanted to own in book form, for the reason that it contains an exceptionally broad range of eternally significant concepts, which it also conveys in a uniquely deep (and intellectually demanding) manner.

Thus, despite being in the public domain by which I had already easily obtained this complete translation, I purchased these large volumes and read the works comfortably and directly in book form; which I have since referred back to (being such an occasion as described earlier, i.e. in Paperbacks & Hardbacks vs. eBooks) and intend to re-read in the future.

An Illustrated Book (Physical > Digital)

The Medium is the Massage
by Marshall McLuhan and Quentin Fiore (1967)

In a way, McLuhan’s The Medium is the Massage is the epitome of a book one should not read a digital copy of: not just because it is composed of illustrations, but because – in large part – **the subject matter is the book format itself**: Thus, the nature of the illustrations and the presentation of the text have been devised so as to reveal the hidden significance of this medium.

As shown in the sample pages here, the author deliberately (and cleverly) violates the conventions of the book format in order to get his “massage” across to the reader/viewer: Hence, to read a digital copy of the book (which I found freely at the time) is to **literally miss the message** by transferring it into another medium.

Lastly on this point: I distinguish here between the preference of reading and buying physical books over digital ones based on the intellectual effectiveness of the reading experience, rather than the fetishization* of books – such as the pleasure of the look, the feel, the smell, the ownership, etc. – as this has never been a factor in my personal preference for them—which (as I explained earlier) actually arose from a background of happily reading digital texts rather than printed ones.

*Walter Benjamin’s essay Unpacking My Library: A Talk about Book Collecting is such an example of the fetishization of “book collecting”, in which his discussion is explicitly oriented by the “relationship” with books based on sentiment, rather than utility. Not that I object to this—particularly considering the kinds of useless things that are collected and the degrading things that are fetishized; although I do think that the cultural fetishization of books engenders a superficially literate population. In any case, discussions such as Benjamin’s about books are ones that I cannot relate to at all—and they make necessary the relevant distinction between such motives and the purchasing and collecting of books based purely on their utility, i.e. without any aesthetic or sentimental motives.

Lighting

A secondary consideration regarding digital book-reading is lighting: On the one hand, a backlit tablet device frees one from the necessity of reading under a light during evening or night hours; while conversely, reading the tablet during daytime creates the opposite problem of trying to shield the screen from reflected sunlight. Hence, I generally reserve daytime reading for physical books, which I read under natural light; and reserve digital book-reading for dark hours, i.e. predawn, evening, and night time, during which there is no natural light.

For the reasons indicated above, then, a collection of digital books serves well as a compliment to one’s physical library and traditional way of book-reading.

Methods for Assimilation

Highlighting* a Book

*Ironically, none of the various highlighting methods to be described involve actual highlighting, i.e. by use of a highlighting pen—but trust me: they’re much more practical!

The Purpose of Book-Highlighting

For me, the purpose of highlighting a book is based on a realization I had not long after I began to read books regularly: which is that to read a book is to become familiar with the information and ideas the author(s) has presented, i.e. as opposed to becoming in possession of them; and to stimulate one’s own thoughts during the process—which too exist in the realm of familiarity rather than possession. In other words, having finished reading a book, my mind is far from fluent in the information, ideas, and stimulated thoughts I experienced during the reading process: in fact, I often find it difficult to recall more than a few particular points or thoughts I gained from it.
               Upon reflection, I recognized that this is because I generally have no need for an immediate recall or summarisation from my experience of a book; and my approach to reading reflects this. In other words, I have no need to immediately synthesise the information I found valuable in the book as, for example, someone writing a dissertation on it would; and generally, my priority is to read the book properly – i.e. to comprehend and, to an extent, interpret the meaning within it – and then move on to another book, usually one of a different subject or type. Hence with this approach, the information, ideas, and thoughts from it remain latent in my mind for a future occasion in which something has triggered a new significance concerning them.
               For my purposes, the ultimate value in reading a book is in re-reading it at some point in the future, in one way or another (in which I include the future reading of one’s notes taken from the book, rather than the book itself); and hence, I approach the initial reading experience with a mind to enhancing the future engagement with the material, i.e. by ‘separating the wheat from the chaff’.
                Thus, aside from a need to study a particular book to some end, my overarching purpose has been to broaden awareness rather than synthesise understanding. More recently, I have begun to experiment with ways to synthesise information, thoughts, and understandings—such as note-taking and blogging, which are to be discussed in the subsequent sections. However first, I will describe the principles and methods by which I have used highlighting as a quick but effective way of enhancing the reading experience and future re-use of a book.

The Demarcation of Valuable Passages

Usually when reading a book, my mind naturally distinguishes passages of text as either:

Significant, being key passages or standout sentences that I certainly want to re-read at some point in the future.
Supportive, being passages surrounding or supplementing the significant ones.
Excess, being passages I need not re-read, or that I will certainly want to skip next time.

Initially, my approach to making highlights during the first read through of a book was to mark only the standout passages (using the ‘Ruled Margin method’ to be explained below). However, I found that this approach was not very useful for a future re-read, in that it is generally necessary to read those passages within their supporting passages, which contextualises them—and thus without which the significance if not meaning of the sentence is missed.
                Hence, my next approach was to include any supportive passages with the significant ones in each highlight; however, I found it difficult to determine – during the first read through of a book – the extent to which surrounding passages will be necessary for contextualization during a future re-read. At this point, I determined that the best approach would be to simply highlight all potentially useful text so as to exclude the excess, thereby allowing me to easily skip whatever portion of the book I have deemed to be of no use or future interest to me.
                I also tried an approach to simultaneously mark the significant passages within the supportive ones, i.e. double markings—but I found that this distinction is too difficult to make during the first read, as the author’s subsequent exposition often affects the relative importance (and even interpretation) of the current and preceding text. In other words, the reader is somewhat ‘blind’ as to ‘where precisely the author is going’ with his exposition*, which is typically written to be considered in toto, i.e. with each part being dependant on the others for the overall context—and so I found that the process of double-marking counteracts the intellectual momentum conducive to an effective first reading of a book.
               Thus, I found that the most fitting approach to highlighting for my needs is to mark passages so as to exclude the excess, thereby setting up a more focused and efficient future re-read of the book’s most useful information.

*For this reason, I often don’t highlight the first 30 pages or so of a book, i.e. because I found that it is necessary to first become familiar with the author’s exposition – and in some respects, his method of exposition, e.g. frequent repetition or periodic summarizing – before I can determine the kinds of passages I want to mark and to leave out, thereby creating the most effective abridgement for a future re-read.

The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
by Samuel P. Huntington (1996)

In predicting “The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order”, Huntington frequently uses various forms of statistical details to support his thesis. In such books, the excess portions are often clear and numerous, in that they are comprised of **statistical elaboration which is often not necessary to re-read**—particularly since their implications are generally summed up immediately following them.
The highlight I made on this page is a good example of **a significant passage that stands without need of the preceding pages of supportive text** (i.e. during a future re-reading of the book), which can thus be excluded as excess* material.

*It should be mentioned that what I deemed to be ‘excess’ does not automatically imply that the information is generally irrelevant or erroneous, as each individual has his own particular interests and motives for reading a book—hence it is quite possible for someone to find much significance in the portions of the book I deemed skippable for a future re-read.
Another factor is the repetition of significant information; for example: In the book The Shallows (to be discussed in Separating), one particular chapter is largely a summary of an excellent book I had already read (entitled Computer Power and Human Reason): hence, I did not highlight those passages despite that the information was highly significant, since I had already read and highlighted the book it is sourced from. The same applies for occurrences of repeated (more or less) information within the same book, which I may decide need not be highlighted, depending on how useful I judge it to be, e.g. if a summary has unique and valuable elements woven into it.

Conversely, I highlighted this sequence of pages which are **laden with statistical details**, as they are **intertwined with significant information** and thus worth re-reading again. This also brings to mind a parallel with **books that feature a frequent use of examples for exposition**, in that they often contain large portions of text that I deem unnecessary to re-read in the future—particularly since the essence of them is usually described beforehand and summarised afterwards; yet, the same book may contain portions composed of **examples that are laden with significant information or are valuable for their illustration**, which I therefore mark for re-reading.

The Added Dimension of Thought

Having settled upon this method of highlighting, I also found that the process itself adds another dimension of intellectual engagement with the text, in that it often involves the added thinking process of distinguishing between supportive and excess passages, i.e. in that one must evaluate which supportive passages will be necessary for the (future) re-reading of the significant ones—and this often involves tracing back and reviewing preceding passages of text.
As an example: It sometimes happens that after having read several pages without making a highlight, one standout sentence ‘ignites’ its surrounding passage into a blaze of significance—at which point I (necessarily) begin to trace back the author’s train of thought by reading the preceding passages in reverse sequence: often, it is the case that all of those pages that had seemed to be of little significance, have all proved to be significant in that they culminate in a standout point—and therefore, deserve if not require to be re-read in totality during a future re-read of the book.
This incorporated activity of meta-reading, I have thus found, engenders a better recall of the reading experience of the text, including the thoughts one had about the particular highlights he considered and made: indeed, upon returning to a book I highlighted years ago, I find that even looking over unhighlighted passages evokes a recall of the thoughts I had during the formulation of that decision (i.e. the evaluation I made at that time).

Methods of Highlighting whilst Reading a Book

The following are simple methods I developed for marking passages whilst reading, each with their own convenience and suitability for different books, moods, and reading environments.

Ruled Margin method

The purpose of the Ruled Margin method (mentioned and illustrated previously) is to mark all the portions of a book that are desired to be re-read in the future, thereby allowing one to review the most significant contents at a much faster rate. This method consists of drawing a vertical line alongside the portion of text one identifies as being worth re-reading in a future review of the book; which thereby also indicates the passages (i.e. by their absence of marking) that can be skipped or skimmed. I always use a ruler, so that the lines are neat and straight; and a coloured pencil, to make the lines more distinguishable*.

*My preference is to use red; but since I found a box of coloured pencils that weren’t being used, I use them all in turn. However, in cases where the copy of the book has many pen or pencil markings from the previous owner, I select a pencil colour that contrasts with the colour of those markings.

The Prince of Darkness – Radical Evil and the Power of Good in History
by Jeffrey Burton Russell (1988)

This is the most extreme example *I have encountered* of highlighting by a previous owner, who used a combination of underlining, highlighting, and note-taking all around the margins. On these two pages, I highlighted one paragraph of significance, with the rest deemed as excess for a future re-read. Before I chose the pencil colour, I flipped through the book to check which pen and highlighter colours were already used, and then chose one that contrasted best and would thus be distinguishable.

Using the Ruled Margin method generally leads to more of the book’s passages being highlighted than not, provided that one selects books discerningly (i.e. books of substance): Indeed, there have been many books for which I ended up highlighting the vast majority of the text, deeming a relatively small portion of it as being excess.*
However, as the method is very quick to perform, it does not greatly protract the time it takes to read a book; and additionally, the process itself helps one to register the information comprehended—particularly since it adds a dimension of thought concerning the judgement of which passages to highlight or not, and where to begin and end a particular highlighted portion: one finds that upon revisiting the book, the memory of the thought-process-experience of particular passages – highlighted or not – will be that much more distinct, due to the judgement exercised in the highlighting process.

*An added factor in the valuation of passages is one’s state of knowledge at the time of reading a particular book. Hence, it is inevitable that – if one reads regularly and widely – supportive and possibly even significant passages that one marked years previously may become excess or redundant within one’s advanced state of knowledge and understanding.

The Ruled Margin method is the one I use when reading at a desk, which is where I do most of my reading, as it makes the highlighting process quick and comfortable. However, there are two variations I developed for use in reading sessions which are not at a desk, therefore making it awkward to use a ruler*.

*Or on occasions in which I don’t mind the awkwardness—but I don’t have a ruler!

Quick-Marking method(s)

The following are two methods I use for marking passages quickly and easily without the use of a ruler.

The Quick-Marking A method is to place a bold dot in the margin beside the sentence in which the passage to highlight begins; and then to place a bold line beside the sentence which marks the end of the highlight (although any other kind of symbols can of course be used instead).

The Book of Chuang Tzu (circa 300BC)
Translated by Martin Palmer & Elizabeth Breuilly (1996)

The **bold dot** next to the sentence beginning “At the great origin…” followed by the **bold line** on the next page at the sentence ending “one who enters Heaven.” thus signifies that this portion of text is to be re-read in the future. The next highlight begins at the bottom of the same page, and ends at the top of the following one—this process having been applied to the entire book.

Thus, one can ensure that during a future re-read of the book, the essential portions can be immediately identified; and thus the expendable ones can be seamlessly skipped.
Compared to the Ruled Margin method, the disadvantage of Quick-Marking A is that one cannot flick through the book to find a highlighted passage with the same ease, as the beginning and end markers often occur on pages far apart and thus the pages in between are totally unmarked.

Quick-Marking B is an even quicker method, entailing the mere placing of an ‘X’ at the top corner of a page, to indicate that either a part or the whole of that page is intended to be highlighted: This essentially makes for a less time consuming way to exclude the excess portion of the book, in that one need not think and keep track of precisely where to begin and end markers (which can actually be quite deliberating and thus time consuming—although as previously mentioned, the process itself is of intellectual benefit).
The disadvantage of Quick-Marking B is that, whilst it is easy to identify highlighted pages by flicking through the book, there are no markings to indicate the excess passages within the highlighted pages. Therefore, the lesser accuracy of this method makes the re-reading of the book not quite as fast – in terms of navigation – and not quite as effective – in terms of remembrance – as the with the Ruled Margin method.

Page-Numbers Listing method

A highlighting method that serves a slightly different purpose is the Page-Numbers Listing method, which is to note the page numbers that contain key information; which I write on the reverse of the front or back cover, so that the record will be held inside the books itself: In the future, these pages can then be easily distinguished from the rest of the book, making for a much faster review of the most significant information.
This method is very quick, in that one simply needs to flip to the back of the book to note the start of a highlight, e.g. p41; and then return to the entry should an end marker be needed, e.g. p41-4. An easy enhancement (for more accuracy) is to add the letter ‘a’ or ‘b’ to indicate if the start/end of a highlight occurs at the top or bottom half of page, e.g. 41b-44a. A more complex enhancement is to add a key word or phrase to make each entry identifiable, which is to effectively create a personalized index.

Both the Quick-Marking and Page-Numbers highlighting methods are beneficial when applied to books of substantial content; and are quick and easy to perform, which also makes them portable highlighting methods, meaning that they can be comfortably used when not sitting at a desk.

The Sensitives
by Herbert Burkholz (1987)

This sci-fi novel is plotted on the covert government use (and abuse) of telepathic individuals, who they manipulate into a profession of mind-reading for intelligence operations. I read this book last summer, sitting outside in the garden on a chair for each reading session; and together with the nature of the book – i.e. fiction; simple; and not too long – the Page-Number method was most suitable for me to mark any passages worth re-reading (which in the case of fiction, generally means that the passages describe a truth or principle well; or, contain an interesting concept or possible prophecy).

Piers the Ploughman
by William Langland (c. 1370–90, Translated by Frank Goodridge 1959, Revised Ed. 1966)

For this historically significant and eternally relevant allegorical tale – thereby being one of the more substantial works of fiction one can read – I read it from my armchair (i.e. the Relaxed Mode, to be shortly discussed) whilst noting the page numbers of the key passages at the back of the book. On this occasion, I only began noting the page numbers towards the last third of the book; although I did, however, employ both enhancements, i.e. the ‘a’ and ‘b’ specifiers and the key phrase identifiers.
The indexing enhancement is not one I use often, as the process doesn’t suit my quick-marking mode of book-reading: for one, it slows the book-reading process somewhat, as it can often take time to think of a concise-yet-appropriate label for an entry; and further, it is often awkward to write legibly on the book whilst not at a desk. In other words, for me, it’s ‘neither here nor there’ between the Relaxed Mode and the Note-Taking method—but I’m sure I will still have the odd occasion in which it is a useful compromise.

To summarise: Until recently, I have used only highlighting as a means to enhance the efficiency of my book-reading endeavours, as it is a method that is not too demanding and protracting: Thus, it serves to create a deeper and more useful experience of reading book, yet without spending more time on it than is necessary or desired.
I should also mention that there are occasions – or even periods – during which I feel the need to take a break from the practise of highlighting and to just read the book(s) without any kind of marking: for these occasions, I usually select a book-type that is either Allegorical, Narrational, or Conversational; or, from the subjects of Fiction, Entertainments Study, or Personal Development.
For about a year now I have been practicing and developing methods of note-taking, thereby devoting more time towards enhancing the assimilation of information and thoughts from my book-reading sessions, and in general. What follows are the principles I have discovered and the methods I have developed thus far.

Taking Notes of a Book

The Purpose of Note-Taking

Taking notes whilst reading a book serves to create a concentrated, personally-composed record of the most significant details and concepts. The value of this exercise – which demands both effort and time – is the acquired ability to review the most meaningful content with greater efficiency, i.e. without having to review the entire book itself. Once completed, the notes can be reviewed immediately afterwards, e.g. should one want to make a study out of the book; or at a future time, e.g. should the content have become of new relevance to one’s current interests.
Additionally, the process of taking notes is beneficial in itself: both in the enhanced retention of information read from the book, as well as one’s thoughts about it; and in the intellectual exercise of formulating concise descriptions of the author’s passages, of one’s own thoughts, and of the adaptation of the former to the latter.

Multi-Level Notes

Furthermore, the accomplishment of note-taking provides an opportunity to build on its own process, by making – in one form or another – an even more concise record of the key concepts involved—in other words, to create a concentrated record of the concentrated record (or what I call 2^nd Level Notes—which can itself be taken to the 3^rd Level).
To illustrate the point, the following delineates a three-level sequence of note-taking:

Excerpts: With these notes, the aim is to capture all of the significant elements within the book, by recording, condensing, and recombining such elements as and when they are encountered.
Encapsulations: By way of reading through one’s excerpts, the purifying aim is to now identify the core significance in terms of concepts, i.e. to formulate those concepts as the mind identifies them, thereby producing one’s own encapsulating terms and combined phrases.
Overview: By way of reading through one’s encapsulations, the consummating aim is to now identify the overarching themes those concepts represent; to list them in a logical order; and thereby, to create an overview of significance – on a single page – that is easy to navigate with the eye.

The above sequence is one I spontaneously developed not long after I began experimenting with taking notes, finding that multi-level note-taking is a most worthwhile exercise in the case of books which are loaded with a broad range of significant concepts, in that one can read through his notes – which have captured those concepts – and refine them further in the form of concise and organized clarifications, thereby enhancing the assimilation of both the concepts and one’s thoughts on them, which are now also recorded for future reference.

Homo Deus – A Brief History of Tomorrow
by Yuval Noah Harari (2016)

As a prime example, Homo Deus is the book for which I developed this three-level notes system: The **A5 pages** are the excerpts I made during the reading of the book (1^st Level Notes); the **A4 yellow pages** are the encapsulations made by reading the excerpts (2^nd Level Notes); and the **A4 plain page** is the overview made by reviewing the encapsulations (3^rd Level Notes).

For the excerpts, I mark each note with the page number in the book so that I can always refer back to the corresponding page **quickly** should I ever need to (e.g. when the note I made is missing some context which I now need in order to recall its meaning). For the encapsulations*, I specifically use a yellow A4 pad because, firstly, I **use the margins to thematically categorize the encapsulations** (after they have all been written, as separating the two processes is more efficient); and secondly, because **the yellow colour signifies the different form of notes**, i.e. so as to easily distinguish the encapsulations from the excerpts, for which I need no margin and use either A4 or A5 white lined paper (depending on the amount of notes I expect to take from a particular book).

*My article series Transhumanism: Religion in Plain Sight features a list of most of the encapsulations I made for the 2^nd Level Notes, which I called “*Ncaps”—and which I further refined by categorizing them into four distinct themes.*

Experimentation in Note-Taking

Taking notes is an exercise I began only quite recently: previously, my priority was to explore more subjects and broaden my awareness rather than to consolidate information, which has become useful to me presently. When I decided to begin, I simply tried to note-take intuitively and then assessed how useful the completed notes were to me. On the next occasion, I modified my approach to make the notes more effective; and on the following occasion, I modified them again to make the process swifter: This modification by assessment is an ongoing process for me, which I am finding to be a doubly beneficial exercise: for the assimilation of information; as well as for the formulation and articulation of thoughts.

Panoramic Note-Taking

As an example of experimentation in note-taking, I tried a different approach for the following book, which was to somewhat compromise between the excerpts and encapsulation modes whilst also forming them into a quasi-overview mode that I call Panoramic.

Weapons Grade – Revealing the Links Between Modern Warfare and Our High-Tech World
by David Hambling (2005)

Seeing that this book blends history with technical information, *and judging that the content would yield only a moderate amount of notes for my interests*, I sensed that it would serve as a good opportunity to try **a more concise and overviewable method of note-taking**: Aiming to confine the notes to one side of a *plain A4 page*, I intuitively placed each new note in a quadrant of the page that it seemed to best associate with thematically: Thus, the notes were designed to be **constructed into an overview**. Additionally, I used three different colours to distinguish the page number reference (Green); the heading of the note as well as key words within it (Red); and the main text (Black) with subtext (Blue) of the note (although I dropped the subtext marking, as this was needlessly complicating the process).
Thus is the Panoramic Note-Taking method, which I’m sure I’ll refine the next time I use it. My real point, however, is that I am **thinking about how to make the practise of note-taking more useful** for my own needs; and in this case, this new approach proved to be as suitable for this particular book as I had intuitively thought, in that the amount of notes I took from it almost perfectly fitted the page—when no previous book I had taken notes for would have done so: Thus, I now have one more method in my repertoire for occasions when a I read book of a similarly degree of notes-worthiness.

As I hope to have shown, anyone can start to experiment with note-taking whilst book-reading; and thereby, to begin a process of gradual learning and development of methods that best suit his particular needs for assimilation.

Selective Application of Note-Taking

From my experience, taking notes whilst reading a book prolongs the reading time by anything from 35% to 100%, depending on the book, i.e. on how much notes-worthy information and concepts it contains; on how difficult the information is to comprehend; and on how much original thought it stimulates.
Therefore, note-taking is not necessarily a practise to be done with every book one reads and it is better to be selective in this respect, i.e. by first examining a book to judge its notes-worthiness (to oneself). The form of the book can also be a factor in this consideration, as the Contents of some books are divided into many subcategories, which – along with a good Index – make the book much easier to review in the future, in that the concepts discussed are usually classified clearly and are easy to locate individually*.

*Thus, one may want to take an entirely different approach to note-taking for an Itemized book, e.g. by using the Panoramic Note-Taking method; or, by concentrating the main concepts into a one-page Overview (as shown previously for my 3^rd Level Notes of Homo Deus)—in each case, noting the page-numbers for the all-important ability to refer back to the corresponding text in the book.

Personalization in Note-Taking

Ultimately, the choice of and methods for taking notes depends on the priorities, motives, and aptitude of the individual—and none of those three things are necessarily fixed, or even obvious in anyone’s case. Hence, personalization (via experimentation) is the key: one should just get started with the process in any form—and continuous development of personalized methods can follow from that foundation.

Personalized Shorthand

As an example of personal development in note-taking methods: I very much wanted to speed-up the laborious process of writing excerpted notes; and not wanting to learn an entire shorthand system from scratch, I began to devise shorthand versions of commonly used words, simply by taking a blank sheet of paper on which I periodically experiment with ways of shortening a particular word, so as to make it quicker to write whilst remaining easy to recognize within sentences.

Here is a sample of some of the shorthand versions I have devised for the words I most commonly use—the list of which is in constant refinement and expansion. The aim is to reduce the number of pen strokes to a minimum, whilst making the symbol easy to recognize without being overly conspicuous on the page.

Generally, then, the conduct of note-taking whilst reading a book requires a considerable investment of time and energy: not just during the process, but in the developments of the process itself towards one that is personally effective. Certainly, sustained efforts in this direction lead to a superior level of assimilation: both of the author’s concepts, and of thoughts they stimulated within the reader.

Blogging on a Book

As I mentioned in the previous section, I have recently begun to incorporate ways of consolidating information and synthesizing understanding into my reading and intellectual endeavours; and this motive was the precise inspiration for my website Stepping Stones, by which I have begun experimenting with forms and styles of articles to that end.
For example: In my recent article series, Pandemics in Perspective, I applied both the 2^nd and 3^rd Level Notes methods to the blogging format. For the first article – which was on the book A Journal of the Plague Year – I typed up my quasi-shorthand excerpts while fully articulating them into coherent sentences (i.e. that would be coherent to a reader who has not read the book); arranged them into the six thematic categories I identified (thereby departing from the linear structure of the book); and devised playfully fitting headings for each distinct note. Then in a follow-up article, I created encapsulations of the notes, which I also arranged into three thematic categories.
For the second article – on the book Plagues and Peoples – the chronological order of the book was appropriately maintained for the presentation of the excerpts, each of which I headed with its own summarising encapsulation. And, since the excerpts were extensive and the encapsulations were many, I also used them to create a list that serves both as an Outline of Concepts and a Contents Page for the excerpts.

The blogging format can thus serve as another method for assimilation in that one can reform and develop his book notes for others to read—the process of which serves to help develop and consolidate the related information and thoughts in his own mind. Hence, I highly recommend signing up to a free account on a blogging platform (such as WordPress), which makes it easy to simply get started—and from there, to gradually learn the format and develop one’s notes and thoughts in a way that is personally beneficial.

Referencing Other Books

A practise I use frequently is to refer to reference books whilst reading a book, so as to either clarify my understanding of a word or concept; to learn more information about a fact or event mentioned; or to view an illustration of something discussed in the book (most notably a map).
For some books, I will first pick out any relevant reference books before I begin reading, placing them beside my desk for immediate use. I also keep a book stand handy, as it can be especially convenient to fix a reference page within sight of the main book, from which I can easily glance up at to refer to (this is particularly useful for illustrations, e.g. a map or diagram).
I find the practise of referencing whilst reading to be an excellent assistance to the assimilation of information, in that one can quickly support or reinforce his comprehension of a particular concept or thing by enlisting the descriptions, explanations, and illustrations of other authors; and who are also specialists in the field of the concept or thing in question (i.e. for which the author of the main book may not necessarily have specialist knowledge). Thus, the frequent utilization of reference books facilitates a general improvement of comprehension and a higher degree of assimilation.*

*See Part II for my discussion of the Reference book; and Part I for my description of the Referential book-type, being books which are most suitable for being read with the support of multiple reference books.

The Reference Shelf

I use two of the shelves on the bookshelf beside my desk to house the reference books I use most frequently – what I will call my Reference Shelf* – thereby allowing me to access them without getting up from my chair.

*Please note that **I don’t actually call it that**: I just needed something to **refer** to it by! 😉

At the other end of my room are my main bookshelves of reference books, from which I often first select reference books that are relevant to the book I am about to begin reading, placing them on the other side of my desk: Thus, I arrange my reading sessions to make **convenient** use of a **variety** of reference books—and the convenience is important!

Separating Types of Books and Activities

Separation by Subject and/or Form

With regards to the consistent practice of book-reading, it is generally more effective – as I have found both instinctively and practically – to separate the reading of similar or related books by at least one book of different content and/or form. Thus, it is better to read a book of a different subject or type than the previous one in that it effectively gives the mind a rest from being occupied in a particular area, thereby allowing it to assimilate the information, i.e. by exercising it in a different area*. Moreover, I find that immediately reading a book of similar kind tends to blend one’s reading experiences of the two into each other, thereby clouding the distinct memory of each.

*This can be thought of as akin to routine gym exercise, in which a weekly workout program is arranged so as to separate the upper-body workouts from the lower-body ones; and the resistance training workouts from the cardiovascular ones: in both cases, one aspect of the body’s strength or fitness is allowed to rest (relatively) and rebuild whilst the other is being exercised.

To emphasise the point: There are often combinations or clusters of books that I want to read successively – generally because they are directly related to each other – and in a logically specific order. Even in these cases, I find that as soon as I have finished one, my mind strongly desires to read something unrelated before I continue the sequence—and the more different it is – either in form, subject matter, or both – the more suitable and refreshing I find it at that time*.

*An exception is multi-volume books, which in most cases I want to read in succession—but even so, I may feel the need to separate the volumes by reading a short novel (—particularly if the volumes are voluminous!)

The Focus Shelf

For an easy way to go about this separation, I have dedicated a bookshelf – what I will call my Focus Shelf – for housing the books I want to read during my current phase of interests, i.e. which changes periodically: due either to my continually developing understanding and expanding awareness, or to a change of circumstances in life—either of which can cause a shift in conceptual or thematic literary interests. Hence, every long while I survey my library of books while selecting the ones that are most presently of interest to me; which I then arrange on my Focus Shelf from which I can immediately survey the various subjects, themes, and book-types, thereby allowing me to easily alternate subjects and forms and even visually arrange a sequence to do so.

Since I have many books, I find it useful to organize some of the ones I may want to read in the near future into one place, thereby making it easier to select and read books in an optimal order. Thus, on these two shelves can be seen a variety of book-types and subjects that I have in mind to read in the near future*.

*Note that these shelves are directly above my Reference Shelf †, i.e. beside my desk—meaning that I don’t necessarily need to get up from my desk to select a book to read next, which is convenient.
*†See: I’ve already referred to it!*

Separation from Computer Use

I have found from experience that regular computer use erodes one’s ability to concentrate*—an ability which is particularly important – i.e. essential – for the type of concentration required for reading a book of substance. For example: If after having a session of internet browsing on the computer I then immediately sit down to have a session of book-reading, I find that my mind is still in the mode engendered by the hyper-stimulation of computer use, i.e. that of seeing (continual movement), clicking, scrolling, typing, hearing (integrated sounds), etc.—not to mention the active switching between these stimulants (known as ‘multi-tasking’).

*This also includes the use of computerized devices, such as video games, tablets, and smartphones—although I think that the desktop/laptop computer is the most effective hyper-stimulating device, due to its form and inherent purpose, i.e. fixated usage from a stationary position.

In fact, I was a heavy computer user for many years before I began to read books seriously and regularly—and it was this beginning that caused me to realize the hyper-stimulating effect of computer devices: for I found it a struggle to settle my mind into a steady stream of focus, i.e. to sit and read a book effectively, even for a short session; and also perceived that it was in a state of expectation for the multi-tasking and multi-media activities inherent to computer use. In other words, these computerized devices involve activities based on continuous stimulation*, the mental effect of which persists long after the user has finished his session.
This effect (hyper-stimulation) significantly impairs the quiet, composed concentration required to read a book of substance: for the mind will still be receptive to – i.e. expectant of, if not craving for – the constant stimulation involved in computer use†.

*It is also worth remembering that computer and tablet displays operate by a ‘refresh rate’, being a continuous motion that is so rapid that it is not consciously perceived (i.e. ‘flicker-free’). Nevertheless, these displays involve continuous movement which probably contributes to the hyper-stimulation effect of using such devices regularly.
†I liken this effect to the one most will be familiar with from their childhood: After one has spun around in a circle several times and stopped at a sudden standstill, he finds that his head is yet still ‘spinning’…

For this reason, I decided to separate my book-reading sessions from my computer-using sessions as much as possible, finding that the detrimental effect is reduced to the extent that the two activities are separated in time*†. For example, I find that a good time to have a reading session is first thing in the morning before I have used the computer or smartphone at all; and during the rest of the day, I allocate a period of time for at least one one-hour book-reading session, which I generally try to place before any computer session I might need, or at least following a break from the computer session.

*Although heavy computer use on a daily basis will take its toll on book-reading effectiveness, over-and-above the separation of those two activities.

†The Shallows – How the Internet is Changing the Way We Read, Think and Remember
by Nicholas Carr (2010)

In a case of synchronicity, I discovered and read The Shallows very soon after I had realized the countervailing effect computer use has on reading capability; and so I had recently made myself more capable (i.e. by separating the activities) to read an excellent book about the very principle I had discovered by experience. Particularly interesting (and memorable) was the anecdote that **due to the regular habits of computer use,** **the author found himself struggling to concentrate on writing the book** (the urge to check his emails was *especially* disruptive)*; and in order to write the book, he had to set himself restrictions on email use and abstain altogether from his routine online activities.*

The principle of separation can thus be a considerable factor in one’s book-reading efficiency, as it has been in my own. However, the principle of separating computer use – and ideally, limiting if not minimizing it – is by far the more significant one: in fact, it would probably be the most effective method of those presented here—not only for enhancing one’s reading efficiency, but one’s mental efficiency in general.

Relaxed Mode of Reading

The Relaxed Mode of reading is when no note-taking is desired and no reference books are required; and thus, it is a type of reading which does not demand a very high level of concentration. This means that such books are suitable for reading in an armchair, being a type of chair which inclines (usually by way of recline) one to relax his concentration (relative to sitting on an office chair at a desk). The same applies to public and travel reading, being environments that are not best suited for high level concentration.
The genre of Fiction is ideal for reading in the Relaxed Mode, being a form of literature designed for enjoyment as opposed to edification. Generally, it is also well suited for Anthological books, being collections of short writings in any form, such as poetry, stories, essays, plays; as well as specialized Reference books (e.g. a book of quotations). Conversational books are also suitable, although to a lesser extent in that they should ideally be read at a desk (i.e. in a more studious mode); and thus they can serve as a useful means to make an occasional change from reading fiction and anthologies for a relaxed form of intellectual engagement.
Additionally, I find that the form of a tablet device is also well-suited for the Relaxed Mode of reading, for the reason that all sorts of literature can be stored on it for easy selection, reading, and highlighting; as well as the ability to reference anything from within its own applications. The tablet also dispenses with the need to orient oneself underneath a light source: hence, I typically read my digital literature – mostly articles and books – from my armchair during the early morning hours (usually while it’s still dark), which complements the more studious approach and posture of book-reading sessions at my desk.

Mood-Matching Selection of Books

Selecting the most appropriate book to read at any particular time is to effectively identify the type of book best suited for one’s present mood and concentration level—specifically because (as I have found) different books are demanding of different moods and concentration levels.

Book-Selection method

To help determine whether or not a particular book is suitable to read currently, one can use the following method:

Read the synopsis (usually featured on the back cover of paperbacks and flaps of the dust jacket for hardbacks).
Examine the Contents page(s); then scan the Index.
Read particular or random passages, in order to get a sense of one’s present receptivity of the subject matter; and to estimate what kind of reading experience the book demands: in terms of concentration level (complexity), endurance (comprehensiveness), and even emotional affectivity (subject matter).

If after having conducted this process the book feels suitable in every respect, one can begin reading it to usually find that the experience is satisfactory if not fulfilling to his needs. If the book does not feel entirely suitable on examination, one can then examine a different book… and so on until a good match is found: This process can avert the undesirable habit of abandoning a book after having recently begun it; or even worse, after having read a considerable portion of it.
In particular, Harrowing and Dissonant books are best read when mentally prepared for in advance, i.e. by putting one’s mind on alert for the conditions most suitable to the endurance of what may be an unpleasant (but valuable) reading experience. Due to their mentally taxing nature, Technical and Referential books are best read with relatively less frequency (unless there is a desire or need to read such books often); and immediately following a period of medium-to-low taxing books being read (as per the Separation principle mentioned earlier).

For one who has a large collection of books, the frequent use of this book-selection process develops in him a better sense of when would be a good time to read a particular book, which is in my experience certainly an important factor for assimilation—not to mention for the sense of fulfilment and enjoyment.

Conclusion to the Typology of Book-Reading

In Part I of this article series, I classified book-types by their required mode of concentration; in Part II, I classified twelve different subjects by their ideal mood for comprehension; and in Part III, I have shared various principles and methods for assimilation—this article series itself being a demonstration of one of those methods: Simply put, I hope the personal experience I have transcribed into this topic is useful to anyone with a deep interest in reading books of substance, in that they have taken ideas from it and stimulated their own thoughts by it.

Author: Simon Kanzen

I value reading substantial literature, enjoy thought-provoking entertainment, and above all, I think every day. With Stepping Stones, I develop my thoughts in writing and share references to relevant media, intending for other readers and thinkers to find these writings useful. View all posts by Simon Kanzen