DEEP DIVE: How I Created a Personal Curriculum to Read, Study, and Journal (Like a Pro), by Mr Clark's Classroom on YouTube. 31 min 56 s.
- Video length
- 31 min 56 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour to set up, then a daily
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Choose one broad question or theme you want to understand, then list six to ten books around it. This becomes your curriculum and gives every reading session a purpose.
Tie each book to your own life. Before you start, write one line on why this title matters to you now, and reread that line when the reading gets slow.
Treat the reading like a course. Book fixed sessions in your calendar and keep one notebook for the whole curriculum so nothing gets scattered.
Lower your expectations. Count a good week as showing up for your sessions, not as hitting a set number of pages.
Aim for roughly a book a week by reading in short daily blocks rather than long weekend marathons. Consistency carries the pace.
Mine the bibliography of every book you finish. Note two or three titles that look useful and add them to your list.
Add an essay collection to the mix. Short pieces keep you reading on low energy days and let you sample authors before committing.
Take detailed notes as you read. Copy key passages with page numbers, then write your own reaction and any question the passage raises.
Close each book with a summary page: the main argument, three ideas worth keeping, and how it changes your answer to your starting question.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep quoted passages and your own words clearly separate in your notes, or you will misquote yourself later.
Do not wait for a perfect system. Start with one notebook and adjust it after the first three books.
Reread your summary pages once a month to see which ideas actually stuck with you.
Questions
How long should I read each day?
Short daily sessions beat long weekend sessions. Pick a block you can keep every day, even if it is only 20 minutes.
Do I need a special notebook or app?
No. One notebook or one notes file is enough, as long as everything for the curriculum lives in the same place.
What if I fall behind my reading list?
Drop a book you are not enjoying and move to the next title. The curriculum serves your question, not the list.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
