How do you guys read your textbooks?

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NeilSaha

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Hey guys, I'll try and make this short for you guys and hopefully someone can give me advice on this situation.

Whenever I go to read chapters from my textbook, whether it be from biology, chemistry or even economics, I find myself not being able to focus and having to go back a paragraph or two to re-read what I dazed off on. No I do not play music or have my phone next to me. I'm not around anything that will distract me from my reading. Yet I still can't focus.

I spoke to a few friends and they all said they have the same problem,but the ones who are getting A's just told me "You'll get used to it bro, youll get over it in time, just keep reading"

What should I do? Does anyone here have this problem? Should I just keep reading and eventually I'll get "used to it"?

Thanks for your time guys!
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I don't read them. Lecture slides + figures from the textbook should be sufficient.
 
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I have this problem. My solution was to underline/highlight the passage as I read. (Keep in mind highlighting kills resale value). I also do what aSagacious said, and outline and update my class notes as I go through a passage. Disclaimer, I am in high school.
 
I have this problem too. The textbook is only a reference for you to look up something you did not understand from class. If you have an instructor worth the tuition you are paying, then the lectures and lecture notes should cover most of what you need to know. The lectures and lecture notes are supposed to be the most efficient means of delivering the information to you. They are concise and on target in a way that a general textbook cannot. This is why you go to class, pay tuition, and get lecture notes. I only appreciated this after having a professor who taught very poorly and expected us to prepare for the exam by memorizing the entire textbook.

Studying lectures is not a shortcut. The professor is an expert in the field who authors the course - chooses what to emphasize and how to present it in an efficient package to optimize your learning. For example, my organic chemistry 2 professor would outright tell us the 10-15 mechanisms we had to know for each exam and give us handouts (vs a professor saying any mechanism can be fair game). Just following the professor saved me so much time and by the end I was amazed at how much I learned. The professor really knew what he was doing when he directed us. This is something that a textbook cannot do.

If however, you still want to read the textbook - here are my suggestions: (1) Just read the parts you didn't understand from class (2) If you want to cover the whole chapter - start with the figures and the captions explaining those figures. I do this to as a reference because often my professor will use figures from the textbook, sometimes I won't remember everything from class, and will look it up in the textbook. (3) If you want to do more, then forget about being able to remember everything, just read it casually with confidence and satisfaction in remembering whatever it is that you do in fact remember. In other words, read it like a novel. I don't recommend option 3.

Also, if you are allowed, use an audio recorder to record the lectures so you can go back and review parts where you were unsure.

Just my 2 cents

Good luck!
 
I didn't know so many other people had this problem lol. I think the actual problem lies with textbooks, just being sopoforic and dry. Lecture slides, powerpoints, high yield notes are usually the best way for me to learn though. Also I am a firm believer of audio osmosis and always attended lectures. After hearing it once in lecture, there wasn't really much studying that needed to be done.
 
I think the main cause is your own bad reading habit. Out brain is plastic so it get used to the way we use it. If you spend years skimming articles on the internet your brain gets used to the kinda reading mode where it only picks up bits of information that usually sufficient to know a story about an actress. This mode won't do it for text book.

I used to have this problem. My trick is to read a well written article about a subject that I like. For ex. a movie review where the writer was mocking the movie. I try to read it slow at first and get the main ideas of the piece. Then using this mindset to read your textbook. Each paragraph in the text is designed to do something; be it introducing a concept or explaining an example. Know what it is you are reading for and pick that out. With years of skimming your brain will only pick out the numbers here and there without giving you the main idea.

In the long run just spend more time reading substantial books, news article to fix your reading habit. Your brain will once again get used to that. I know I sound like a bad verbal reasoning instructor but I had this problem and overcame it with this method. Give it a try.
 
these are awsome advice, thanks guys!

I go to queens college and the professors here are lazy. They barely put anything on the slides, the talk about the most irrelevant topics, and expect us to know everything from the textbook. yes I know I am getting cheated, but there's nothing I can do about it. So reading the textbook is my only option.

I want to get be able to memorize and learn concepts more efficiently directly from the textbook and I guess the only way I'm going to be able to do this is by reading, reading, reading.
 
For classes that are pure lecture-based with no PP's, I record lecture and supplement with my book.
 
Yeah I should definitely buy a recorder and start recording the lectures. Hopefully that helps me out because reading textbooks the whole time...hurts your brain haha
 
read assigned pages. outline important info. read outline to study. get A
 
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Don't focus WAY too much on the actual reading itself. If you must, then try writing down a quick 1-2 lines about what you just read in the previous paragraph or two.
 
blizzah said:
I don't read them. Lecture slides + figures from the textbook should be sufficient.
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Second this but will add taking notes from lecture, especially on Key Points the professor makes. Every once in a while I will pop open the textbook with some teachers that test on things not covered in lecture. However with the overwhelming amount of information that is presented in Med School usually lecture notes are the key guideline to study and textbooks will only be there to help you organize and clarify information.
 
All my professors, except for my anatomy professor, expect their students to memorize the entire textbook. Lecture is usually sparse pertaining to test information. I could honestly buy these textbooks and teach myself, and not waste money at a university; now if only I could accredit myself as a university! 😀
 
Just have to stay focused and get it done. Reduce the urge to immediately switch your focus the instant any small sort of boredom hits you. Also, the sparse use of study drugs like Vyvanse may help....it helped me study for biochem, the highest grade in the class was an 88 and I got an 82...
 
I don't read them. textbooks try to be cute and give me useless information that's not on exams
 
Reading a textbook like it's a novel is a waste of time. Stick to lecture slides and refer back to the textbook for clarification when necessary.
 
While I dutifully read my bio books like novels, and did all the practice problems in the chem and physics books, I noticed most of my peers read little more than the price tag of the book before carefully returning it to the bookstore shelf. Honestly they did quite well.

On the rare case where they needed a textbook or maybe a page from the textbook, the school tutoring center had books and a copy machine.
 
Problem I've seen with a lot of undergrads is they care way too much. Every quiz or homework is critical to getting into whatever school theyre aiming for. My strategy is to relax, have a cold one and peruse at leisure. A coona matata as the warthog says.
 
I read my textbooks like so:

First, I read the chapter straight through like I would any other book, highlighting anything that jumps out as important that hasn't already been bolded by the authors.

Next, I go through, and then create my own outline of the chapter based on what I need to know for my tests.

I then study my outline.

I got 105% on my last biology exam. 😉
 
Thank you everyone! great advice! I'll definitely put these methods to work.

Quick question though, does anyone listen to music while reading? I've been told not to?
 
I generally don't listen to music while reading, but do listen when doing concrete problems (math, physics etc).
Also, i generally don't read the books (gen chem, physics etc...), unless it is to do hw problems. Exceptions are when i don't go to class and classes when the book is better than the prof or when i don't understand something
 
NeilSaha said:
Thank you everyone! great advice! I'll definitely put these methods to work.

Quick question though, does anyone listen to music while reading? I've been told not to?
Click to expand...

I like stuff that gets stuck in my head when I'm studying, then I play it in the car driving to class for an exam. Works great.
 
NeilSaha said:
Thank you everyone! great advice! I'll definitely put these methods to work.

Quick question though, does anyone listen to music while reading? I've been told not to?
Click to expand...

I play non-lyrical music very low while I study. If I feel it's distracting me from intense material, I shut it off. Just gauge what you can do by how distracted you feel. I would highly recommend not listening to anything with lyrics, or that has a high tempo. Around 60bpm (classical) is said to be optimal.
 
What is wrong with going back and rereading a paragraph or two? In fact that is a good thing. Whenever I am reading my textbook, I stop after every few paragraphs and ask myself, "What could the professor ask me on a test from what I just read?" I then go back and make sure I really understand what Ijust read. If the problem is that you are completely dazing off when reading then I don't know what to say. Make sure you are getting enough sleep.
 
Owlie said:
All my professors, except for my anatomy professor, expect their students to memorize the entire textbook. Lecture is usually sparse pertaining to test information. I could honestly buy these textbooks and teach myself, and not waste money at a university; now if only I could accredit myself as a university! 😀
Click to expand...

Odd, in my mind it would be the Anatomy Prof who would be the most likely to teach directly out of a text.
 
For O-chem I don't read the majority of the book. I take a brief notes of the chapter being presented in lecture BEFORE LECTURE. These include the chapter and name, each section heading name, and each mechanism name + page number. Then I go to lecture. Then I make a neat copy of each mechanism I need to know, referring back to my notes. Then I do a buttload of homework and take the exam.
 
I always wonder why people highlight **** in their books. It ruins the book and it distracts from a higher form of engagement with the material.

Seriously, if the book is written in English read from left to right. If the book is written in Arabic read from right to left. In both cases, make sure you are aware of what you read.

I guess you could pretend that the book is like a really engaging non fiction book? Idk

Oh and music ALWAYS detracts from your studying. Classical instrumental jazz etc it doesnt matter it will lower your conscious awareness of what you are reading.
 
blizzah said:
I don't read them. Lecture slides + figures from the textbook should be sufficient.
Click to expand...

This. Unless you're in a class with no lecture slides (which would suck), only use the textbook for background information, after the lecture stuff.
 
I stopped reading my textbook when I realized my major is pretty much just memorize -> regurgitate. Now all i do is memorize vocabulary and listen to lectures.
 
NeilSaha said:
Thank you everyone! great advice! I'll definitely put these methods to work.

Quick question though, does anyone listen to music while reading? I've been told not to?
Click to expand...

Try it and see if it works. Don't let others tell you how to study. Everyone thinks they know the best way.
 
I read it over a group of hungry lions. Keeps the mind sharp.
 
I listen to white noise when I read stuff for Bio classes, but when I'm doing math/physics/chem problemm, I'll listen to either film scores or regular music.
 
Got the same problem as well. Over the past 4-5 years I learned that it is helpful to:

- summarize each paragraph you read, at least until you get into the zone and are focusing on everything.
- read outloud, and periodically explain each sentence/paragraph/idea to yourself.

That's about it. Works for any textbook, and I only have to do this until I get myself in the zone (about 30-60 minutes or so).

As for music, I listen to non-lyrical music like the Study Music Project or some soundtrack station on my iPod. Only listen to satisfy the part of my brain that keeps wanting to distract me. After 60 minutes of music, I actually get sick of the music and have to turn it off so I can focus on the text. That usually coincides with me being in the zone.
 
I use the brute force method:

1- Skim.
2- Read.
3- Ask yourself some questions about what you just read. If your book has review questions, do them.
4- Re-read, underline important concepts and write points in the margins.
5- Write a sumary for each section and do not move to the next section until you understand/memorise each point you just covered.
6- Review.

A little more about studying in general:
Take a 5 to 10 minute breather every 45 minutes. Every 90 to 120 minutes, clear your mind and meditate or lie down for 15 to 20 minutes and relax. If your dumb ass is pulling a last minute all nighter, take a 30 to 45 minute nap every 3 hours and one 90 minute nap in the middle. Don't forget to snack on high protein stuff and try to go for a 10 minute walk. This will be a lot more effective and less stressful than going the whole night without a break. Do not worry or feel guilty about your work while you rest. Realise it will help you. It takes discipline at first, but you will adapt after a few weeks. You will also notice you will have better long-term retention, which will make studying for the USMiLE easier.

Good luck.
 
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Read and re-read the title of the paragraph. Try to understand what you will be reading and get a general idea of what the paragraph will be talking about. Read the paragraph. Most of the time there will be one or two sentences that will be the most important to read. Focus on them. Try to read the sentences again and again, until you have a clear picture of what the paragraph is talking about. If you have a short-term memory, try to define the concept aloud.
 
Try to keep the big picture in mind. When you finish a paragraph, section, or chapter you should be able to glance back at the titles or keywords and summarize it in a sentence or two in your head. Alternatively, when you finish reading a section, you should be able to remember the main idea just by look at the associated figures and titles.
 
thank you guys for your replies (and all the jokes haha) I've been reading a lot from the textbook and its all about getting used to it really. I also summarize what I just read in my head after every paragraph as well so that helps.
But a quick question though, when you guys read the material, do you guys find it easier to read it in your mind out loud, like actually hear the words in your mind or do you just skim through and only concentrate on the important info? I find that I read everything in my head out loud but thats also taking up a lot of time. Any advice?

Thanks in advance!
 
NeilSaha said:
thank you guys for your replies (and all the jokes haha) I've been reading a lot from the textbook and its all about getting used to it really. I also summarize what I just read in my head after every paragraph as well so that helps.
But a quick question though, when you guys read the material, do you guys find it easier to read it in your mind out loud, like actually hear the words in your mind or do you just skim through and only concentrate on the important info? I find that I read everything in my head out loud but thats also taking up a lot of time. Any advice?

Thanks in advance!
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lol wut? When I read I always hear what I am reading lol. When I skim an article usually its to look for a keyword or two and then when I find those words I stop and read above and below to see if its something i was looking for. I think if you want to speed up your reading you just have to practice reading?
 
Traditionally, I have read textbooks in one way:

with great reluctance

When I have to read one, I prefer to make an outline as I go for my own use so that I never have to read that part of the textbook again.
 
thank you guys! I read the text book but if I start to drift off into space, I take probably a 3 minute breather and go back right at it. It works. I stay focused for another 25-30 minutes then I take a 3 minute break again. So far so good.
 
NeilSaha said:
thank you guys! I read the text book but if I start to drift off into space, I take probably a 3 minute breather and go back right at it. It works. I stay focused for another 25-30 minutes then I take a 3 minute break again. So far so good.
Click to expand...

I read my bio textbooks because there was so much material to remember, and my ochem textbooks for practice problems. I had to take notes on what I read or else I'd never get through it.
 
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