3 simple tricks to read textbooks more effectively, by Benjamin Keep, PhD, JD on YouTube. 3 min 52 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 52 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Break the chapter into small chunks, such as one section or a few pages, and read one chunk per session instead of the whole chapter at once.
Space those sessions over several days. A short read today and another tomorrow beats one long cramming session.
When you reach a worked example or practice problem, cover the answer and read only the question first. Say aloud what the problem is asking and how you would start.
Uncover the solution and compare it with your plan. Note the step you missed or the idea you did not think of.
At the end of the chunk, close the book and write down everything you can remember on blank paper. Do not peek.
Open the book and check your recall notes. Mark gaps, wrong terms and ideas you left out.
Before the next session, try free recall again from memory before you reopen the textbook. Then reread only the parts you could not recall.
Repeat the cycle with the next chunk, keeping each session short enough to finish with a recall check.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not highlight or copy sentences as your main method; test yourself first, then make brief notes.
If a section feels easy, that can be an illusion of knowing, so still do the closed-book recall check.
Keep sessions short enough that you can finish a chunk and review it while your attention is still good.
Reread only the gaps you find, not the whole chapter, to save time.
Questions
How long should each reading session be?
Short enough to finish one small chunk and a recall check. Twenty to thirty minutes is a practical starting point.
Should I take notes while I read?
Keep notes brief and write them after a recall attempt. Copying long passages feels productive but does not test your memory.
What if I cannot remember anything during free recall?
That is useful feedback. Check the book, note the gaps, and try the same recall again before the next session.
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.
