Reading textbooks?

[JakeSill]

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For reading text books. I don't find I cover a whole lot so I guess I'm a slow reader. It gets discouraging to finish a chapter. Yet a lone multiple chapters for an exam. So since I'm a slow ready, do I start reading faster and my speed will increase over time. I fear if I read fast I won't grasp the info as much. So I ready at a regular pace.

Also, what are some techniques on reading textbooks?

 

[Glandzburg]

For reading text books. I don't find I cover a whole lot so I guess I'm a slow reader. It gets discouraging to finish a chapter. Yet a lone multiple chapters for an exam. So since I'm a slow ready, do I start reading faster and my speed will increase over time. I fear if I read fast I won't grasp the info as much. So I ready at a regular pace.

Also, what are some techniques on reading textbooks?

Do your lectures correspond somewhat closely to your textbooks? A lot of professors design their lectures based on the order that the content is presented in the textbook. If this is the case, focus on the material that is emphasized in lecture. Quite often, the textbook just presents the same information with more details and a different explanation. Try reading the textbook after lecture, so some of the concepts seem less foreign. I find it is easier to pay attention to difficult concepts in the text when you have at least been introduced to them before reading about them.

 

[JustAPhD]

I only really used the text when I needed further clarification on a specific topic after it was lectured on.

*besides biochem. Had to preread the chapters for that class because we had quizzes before lectures.

 

[Turkishking]

I read my bio textbook for fun. A simple technique to read text books is to be interested in them, and in the course you're studying. I never touched my anthropology text book, it was terrible.

 

[Lawpy]

For reading text books. I don't find I cover a whole lot so I guess I'm a slow reader. It gets discouraging to finish a chapter. Yet a lone multiple chapters for an exam. So since I'm a slow ready, do I start reading faster and my speed will increase over time. I fear if I read fast I won't grasp the info as much. So I ready at a regular pace.

Also, what are some techniques on reading textbooks?

Um why are you reading textbooks? If it's for a class, take notes during lectures and review them. Even better are profs who provide slides of lecture notes. The textbook is really just used as a reference or a source of practice problems.

If you're reading for leisure, well have fun.

 

[Gonefission]

Do your lectures correspond somewhat closely to your textbooks? A lot of professors design their lectures based on the order that the content is presented in the textbook. If this is the case, focus on the material that is emphasized in lecture. Quite often, the textbook just presents the same information with more details and a different explanation. Try reading the textbook after lecture, so some of the concepts seem less foreign. I find it is easier to pay attention to difficult concepts in the text when you have at least been introduced to them before reading about them.

That's funny, I feel the opposite. If I have a boring lecturer it helps me to read the book before class to focus. Overall, I wouldn't say reading textbooks is generally a good use of time unless it's something I'm interested in or it's needed for the class. To work on improving reading skills I would focus on journal articles instead. If you're struggling in classes and need the extra help I would look at the figures and summaries. That would be a more efficient way to go about it. Good luck!

 

[JustAPhD]

That's funny, I feel the opposite. If I have a boring lecturer it helps me to read the book before class to focus. Overall, I wouldn't say reading textbooks is generally a good use of time unless it's something I'm interested in or it's needed for the class. To work on improving reading skills I would focus on journal articles instead. If you're struggling in classes and need the extra help I would look at the figures and summaries. That would be a more efficient way to go about it. Good luck!

If he's having a rough time reading the text I tend to think he'll probably struggle more reading primary literature.

OP, something I've seen people do is to go to the end of the chapter and look over the key words/definitions (if they are there) first. Get those memorized and then try reading the chapter.

 

[Glandzburg]

That's funny, I feel the opposite. If I have a boring lecturer it helps me to read the book before class to focus. Overall, I wouldn't say reading textbooks is generally a good use of time unless it's something I'm interested in or it's needed for the class. To work on improving reading skills I would focus on journal articles instead. If you're struggling in classes and need the extra help I would look at the figures and summaries. That would be a more efficient way to go about it. Good luck!

It probably depends on whether you get more out of the lecture or the textbook. I have always been a textbook learner, so getting a "primer" from lecture helped me to focus my reading and extract more relevant info. If you are a lecture person, reading the text first may give you a primer to better understand the lecture.

Different methods work for different people, and to say that textbooks are a waste of time is blatantly wrong. For some classes, I was able to just read the textbook and skip lecture altogether.

 

[Lannister]

Reading the textbook is generally a waste of time. Most of the information in there, you don't need to know.
The only class I read the book for was anatomy, and that was because I never went to class so I had to teach myself.

 

[Glandzburg]

Reading the textbook is generally a waste of time for me, but it may not be for you, it depends on your learning style.

Fixed that for you.

 

[tartesos]

Reading the textbook is generally a waste of time. Most of the information in there, you don't need to know.
The only class I read the book for was anatomy, and that was because I never went to class so I had to teach myself.

Pelase tell us what state are you practicing in... I want to make sure is out of my commute in life.

 

[tartesos]

For reading text books. I don't find I cover a whole lot so I guess I'm a slow reader. It gets discouraging to finish a chapter. Yet a lone multiple chapters for an exam. So since I'm a slow ready, do I start reading faster and my speed will increase over time. I fear if I read fast I won't grasp the info as much. So I ready at a regular pace.

Also, what are some techniques on reading textbooks?

There are some programs that can help you increase your reading speed and a lot of them are free if you know where to look.
You need to be able to extract information from huge amounts of data and textbooks is as basic as it gets.
It may not be as up to date as a journal, but it will be proofread and edited by multiple eyes.
Don't rely solely on Wikipedia for your knowledge.

You can increase your reading speed and comprehension in a month with the right exercises. Pm me and I'll tell you the name of 2 softwares and the one I've used.

 

[Lannister]

.

 

[Lannister]

Pelase tell us what state are you practicing in... I want to make sure is out of my commute in life.

What? I have literally no idea what you are trying to say or where that comment came from.

 

[whatever5]

I don't think I ever bought a textbook. I'm more interested in knowing how people afford them rather than how they read them quickly.

 

[Lawpy]

I don't think I ever bought a textbook. I'm more interested in knowing how people afford them rather than how they read them quickly.

 

[tartesos]

What? I have literally no idea what you are trying to say or where that comment came from.

You said "Reading a textbook is a waste of time" and you've only read one.

And you still have no idea why I said that? Are you trolling me right now? Please say yes

 

[Lawpy]

You said "Reading a textbook is a waste of time" and you've only read one.

And you still have no idea why I said that? Are you trolling me right now? Please say yes

Um. How is reading a textbook for college comparable to reading a medical textbook for clinical years/residency/fellowship especially during on-site training?

 

[tartesos]

Um. How is reading a textbook for college comparable to reading a medical textbook for clinical years/residency/fellowship especially during on-site training?

When was this exclusion made?
He made a generalization saying reading textbooks is useless.
Did you read what he wrote? Why are you trying to defend That statement?

 

[Lawpy]

When was this exclusion made?
He made a generalization saying reading textbooks is useless.
Did you read what he wrote? Why are you trying to defend That statement?

That wasn't a generalization. It was made in context of OP being a premed, which refers to college textbooks.

However, i agree that it took too far because people have different learning capabilities.

 

[deleted407021]

I read my bio textbook for fun. A simple technique to read text books is to be interested in them, and in the course you're studying. I never touched my anthropology text book, it was terrible.

This is also a good skill for the CARS section on the MCAT. Forcing yourself to be interested in an article is very helpful.

 

[SnakeDoc9497]

It's amazing to think that people who "never read textbooks" would even chime in when someone asks for tips on reading textbooks. I guess we all need some mode of flexing our intellectual muscles, don't we...? 😉

 

[Lannister]

You said "Reading a textbook is a waste of time" and you've only read one.

And you still have no idea why I said that? Are you trolling me right now? Please say yes

So basically you've concluded that because I prefer not to read textbooks IN COLLEGE, I'm going to be a horrible doctor? Okay.

However, i agree that it took too far because people have different learning capabilities.

Yeah sorry I agree, I didn't really think about it before I quickly posted my response. But still, this attack on me seems unjustified. And it's like they're attacking my decision to not read textbooks, rather than my decision to tell others not to read textbooks.

 

[Lawpy]

This is also a good skill for the CARS section on the MCAT. Forcing yourself to be interested in an article is very helpful.

I think for @Turkishking reading an anthropology textbook would be a better skill for CARS than a bio textbook

Yeah sorry I agree, I didn't really think about it before I quickly posted my response. But still, this attack on me seems unjustified. And it's like they're attacking my decision to not read textbooks, rather than my decision to tell others not to read textbooks.

I think your comment was fine as i agree that for me as well, reading a bio textbook was an utter waste of time. Total sleep inducing

However, a college bio textbook is vastly inferior to a medical textbook that residents and fellows use for their training. Blindly linking the two as if they were similar and attacking you are absurd and uncalled for.

 

[deleted407021]

I think for @Turkishking reading an anthropology textbook would be a better skill for CARS than a bio textbook

Likely so, but the principle is the same. If you can get into the subject matter, the CARS articles will be easier to read.

 

[Lannister]

I think your comment was fine as i agree that for me as well, reading a bio textbook was an utter waste of time. Total sleep inducing

However, a college bio textbook is vastly inferior to a medical textbook that residents and fellows use for their training. Blindly linking the two as if they were similar and attacking you are absurd and uncalled for.

Aha thank you, I was just very confused why this random person was suddenly attacking me and why his attacks were getting likes from people. Glad to know my comment wasn't as offensive as he made it out to be. Probably just a troll 😛

 

[Lawpy]

Aha thank you, I was just very confused why this random person was suddenly attacking me and why his attacks were getting likes from people. Glad to know my comment wasn't as offensive as he made it out to be. Probably just a troll 😛

Yeah he took your comment out of context. Happens to the best of us

 

[adfalcon]

Textbook reading vastly depends on both your learning style and your professor. Some professors go strictly by the textbook, others diverge.

The only textbooks I really thoroughly read in pre-med were biochemistry and anatomy, the others I would sometimes skim over or not read at all. In the end, though, you have to figure out what works for you. Not that getting an opinion on techniques from here is a bad idea, it's just that it's not a good idea to just go by the most popular one.

As for actual technique, I did lots and lots of highlighting and straight memorization. It didn't hurt that I found my science-related classes fairly interesting, but there are boring parts you just have to deal with powering through. Try flash cards, perhaps reading it out loud to a classmate, roommate, or a pet. Everyone learns different, you just have to find your way, and I'm sure you will.

 

[Lannister]

He made a generalization saying reading textbooks is useless.

Oh, I just have to say: I'm a female. So might wanna take that advice about not making generalizations yourself. Don't assume everyone you're talking to over the internet is male.

 

[tartesos]

Oh, I just have to say: I'm a female. So might wanna take that advice about not making generalizations yourself. Don't assume everyone you're talking to over the internet is male.

Looking back, I apologize for the harshness, and I also generalized.
Please accept my apologies on the harshness of the comment.

I saw it as a comment about never reading s text book and finding it useless.


Now, my opinion stands, if you can't stand to read a text book in high school, you won't in college, and won't in med school... That's not something you just pick up when you need to.

 

[Lannister]

Looking back, I apologize for the harshness, and I also generalized.
Please accept my apologies on the harshness of the comment.

I saw it as a comment about never reading s text book and finding it useless.


Now, my opinion stands, if you can't stand to read a text book in high school, you won't in college, and won't in med school... That's not something you just pick up when you need to.

Thank you, I appreciate the apology. And I see your point. But it's not that I can't stand to read a textbook, it's just that I do not find it to be an efficient use of time. I am more than capable of reading a textbook and doing so well, and I don't anticipate to have problems with it in med school. But I guess time will tell.

 

[Goro]

For starters, take note of what the chapter subheadings are like. Many books will have a title that summarizes the main point, like:

"Heart failure"
Congenital Heart Disease"
Ischemic heart Disease"
Arrythmeias"

So from those four titles alone, you should be able to start thinking about what similarities they have, and how they differ.


If this doesn't work, try some review books. remember that if you try to learn everything, you'll end up learning nothing.

For reading text books. I don't find I cover a whole lot so I guess I'm a slow reader. It gets discouraging to finish a chapter. Yet a lone multiple chapters for an exam. So since I'm a slow ready, do I start reading faster and my speed will increase over time. I fear if I read fast I won't grasp the info as much. So I ready at a regular pace.

Also, what are some techniques on reading textbooks?

 

[tartesos]

Thank you, I appreciate the apology. And I see your point. But it's not that I can't stand to read a textbook, it's just that I do not find it to be an efficient use of time. I am more than capable of reading a textbook and doing so well, and I don't anticipate to have problems with it in med school. But I guess time will tell.

It's early and there's plenty of time to change and learn from others experience here, that's the beauty of sdn.
Best of luck!