Passive reading is when we read for pleasure and get lost in the book, enjoying the complete experience. This is applied in fictional works. Acquiring knowledge demands a different way to read: Active reading.
Great books require time and attention, needing to be chewed and digested properly for an in-depth understanding.

Active And Passive Reading

“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.”

There is an even more active, complex and profound way to read: Analytical Reading.
It involves questioning the text you read, highlighting key points, taking notes, summarizing or curating key ideas, and thinking deeply about what the author is trying to say.

Acquiring Knowledge Using Analytical Reading

Reading helps us connect existing thought patterns and upgrade our mental models.
To read deeply and critically, we have to engage with the written text differently:
<ol>
<li>Read slowly, making each page a learning process.</li>
<li>Take notes, preferably using a pen and paper.</li>
<li>Try to explain the main idea in a notebook, asking critical questions and raising doubts.</li>
<li>Teach the content to others, summarizing the book lessons in a presentable format. If we can explain it in simple language, we must have understood it well.</li>
<li>Choose the books carefully.</li>
</ol>

How To Read Analytically

<figure><img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/1*D4xPQczqbQL1yzFiqzweh" width="680" height="484"><figcaption class="hy hz dh df dg ia ib bl b ge co cp" data-selectable-paragraph="" dir="ltr">Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@cottonbro?utm_content=attributionCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=pexels" class="cs ic" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">cottonbro</a> from <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-coat-holding-red-book-4855441/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=pexels" class="cs ic" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Pexels</a></figcaption></figure>Reading is one of the best ways to gain knowledge.There are two ways to read — active reading and passive reading.If you are reading for pleasure, you want to enjoy the experience, lose yourself in the book and follow the journey with the author.I’m not good at that. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books. I am very selective, so I end up with few books.If you want to acquire new knowledge, the process should be completely different. You want to be able to remember and apply what you are learning. So it pays to read critically.I use this process to learn new topics. It takes time, but it’s worth it. Knowledge is the power to; think independently, think clearly and make informed decisions.Great books teach timeless and valuable lessons, so I prefer to read them slowly and critically — the aim is always to understand deeper.“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.” René Descartes once said.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Analytical reading is a better approach to acquire new knowledge.</h1>“Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.” Sir Francis Bacon said.Critical or analytical reading is a more active, conscious, more profound and complex way to engage with the content.When you read critically, you start with an open mind but tend to question the knowledge. You ask questions, highlight key points, take notes, underline important ideas, think deeper about every idea the author is trying to explain.To think deeper and critically about your new information, you have to engage with the material differently.Critical reading is essential because you are reading to understand. And you can’t deeply understand the topic if you don’t ask questions, raise objections analyse the evidence and reflect thoughtfully.Read slowly. You can understand better if you don’t hurry the process. Try not to skim the book. Each paper should be a learning process. By slowing down, you can find the best ideas and connect with the content better.Don’t forget to take notes. It’s an essential process of the learning experience. A paper notebook is a better option, but you could also use your favourite note-taking app.Explain the main ideas in your notebook. Your interpretation of the ideas can help you remember quicker. You can use your highlights and underlined text to write your summary.Writing is also a way to ask questions, raise doubts and think critically about ideas. Jot down your interpretation of each chapter.What’re the big lessons? Is it explained clearly? Does the author support the ideas with evidence or facts? Are the assumptions supported?Note all the questions you may have. Write down essential questions that can help you dig deeper or explore other books to understand better.“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” John Locke said.Share your opinion with others. Teaching is also one of the best ways to learn. Share your comprehensive notes with your audience. You could use the opportunity to summarise the book and publish it.It’s a way to understand the content better. Albert Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”Writing is also a great way to “reorganise your thoughts, prior knowledge and understanding to accommodate new ideas or viewpoints,” <a href="https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-reading.html" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">writes</a> SkillsYouNeed.By building the habit of critical reading, you will improve your analytical reading skills and explore even more ideas you come across. Your wealth of knowledge will expand exponentially over time.A lot of books will influence you if you are a voracious reader. So, choose your books carefully.Reading stimulates the brain and helps you connect existing ideas, challenge your assumptions and upgrade mental models.

If you are reading for pleasure, you want to enjoy the experience, lose yourself in the book and follow the journey with the author. I’m not good at that. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books. I…

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Reading is one of the best ways to gain knowledge.

There are two ways to read — active reading and passive reading.

If you are reading for pleasure, you want to enjoy the experience, lose yourself in the book and follow the journey with the author.

I’m not good at that. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books. I am very selective, so I end up with few books.

If you want to acquire new knowledge, the process should be completely different. You want to be able to remember and apply what you are learning. So it pays to read critically.

I use this process to learn new topics. It takes time, but it’s worth it. Knowledge is the power to; think independently, think clearly and make informed decisions.

Great books teach timeless and valuable lessons, so I prefer to read them slowly and critically — the aim is always to understand deeper.

Analytical reading is a better approach to acquire new knowledge.

“Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.” Sir Francis Bacon said.

Critical or analytical reading is a more active, conscious, more profound and complex way to engage with the content.

When you read critically, you start with an open mind but tend to question the knowledge. You ask questions, highlight key points, take notes, underline important ideas, think deeper about every idea the author is trying to explain.

To think deeper and critically about your new information, you have to engage with the material differently.

Critical reading is essential because you are reading to understand. And you can’t deeply understand the topic if you don’t ask questions, raise objections analyse the evidence and reflect thoughtfully.

Read slowly. You can understand better if you don’t hurry the process. Try not to skim the book. Each paper should be a learning process. By slowing down, you can find the best ideas and connect with the content better.

Don’t forget to take notes. It’s an essential process of the learning experience. A paper notebook is a better option, but you could also use your favourite note-taking app.

Explain the main ideas in your notebook. Your interpretation of the ideas can help you remember quicker. You can use your highlights and underlined text to write your summary.

Writing is also a way to ask questions, raise doubts and think critically about ideas. Jot down your interpretation of each chapter.

What’re the big lessons? Is it explained clearly? Does the author support the ideas with evidence or facts? Are the assumptions supported?

Note all the questions you may have. Write down essential questions that can help you dig deeper or explore other books to understand better.

“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” John Locke said.

Share your opinion with others. Teaching is also one of the best ways to learn. Share your comprehensive notes with your audience. You could use the opportunity to summarise the book and publish it.

It’s a way to understand the content better. Albert Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

Writing is also a great way to “reorganise your thoughts, prior knowledge and understanding to accommodate new ideas or viewpoints,” <a href="https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-reading.html">writes </a>SkillsYouNeed.

By building the habit of critical reading, you will improve your analytical reading skills and explore even more ideas you come across. Your wealth of knowledge will expand exponentially over time.

A lot of books will influence you if you are a voracious reader. So, choose your books carefully.

Reading stimulates the brain and helps you connect existing ideas, challenge your assumptions and upgrade mental models.

If You Are Reading to Acquire Knowledge, Learn to Read Analytically

Active And Passive Reading

RENÉ DESCARTES

Acquiring Knowledge Using Analytical Reading

How To Read Analytically

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