I learned a system for remembering everything
TLDRThe video explores strategies for improving memory recall and retaining information from books. It features an interview with author Ryan Holiday, who shares his method of actively engaging with text by folding pages, highlighting, and note-taking. This process is further refined by transferring key insights onto note cards and organizing them by theme, creating an 'external brain.' The video emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to learning and the value of analog methods over digital for better recall.
Takeaways
- 🧠 The ability to remember information varies greatly among individuals, with some having exceptional or even photographic memories.
- 📚 The average memory is unreliable, and we tend to remember events that significantly deviate from our typical experiences more easily.
- 🧐 It's beneficial to be kind to oneself and not to stress over not remembering everything from a book, as even a few impactful ideas can be life-changing.
- 📖 Ryan Holiday, an international bestselling author, suggests a three-step system for better retention: take notes while reading, revisit and revise notes after finishing the book, and categorize and file notes.
- 📝 During the reading process, highlighting and folding pages can help in identifying key points and making notes for future reference.
- 🔍 After reading, transferring key insights onto note cards and organizing them by theme creates an 'external brain' that aids in information retention.
- 💡 The brain uses heuristic memory processing to prioritize information that is frequently or recently used, or likely to be needed for decision-making.
- 📚 Ryan Holiday prefers analog reading methods over digital ones, believing that engaging deeply with physical books enhances recall.
- 🔧 The process of taking thorough notes slows down reading but potentially makes ideas and memories more 'sticky'.
- 🚀 Starting with an imperfect system is better than being paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection; systems can evolve over time.
Q & A
What is the main challenge the speaker faces with their reading habit?
-The main challenge the speaker faces is their inability to remember and recall information from the books they read, despite having read hundreds of books, blogs, and newsletters.
What is the significance of the non-fiction book question posed in the video?
-The significance of asking how likely one is to remember five facts from a non-fiction book is to highlight the common issue of poor retention and recall of information, even when the book was read recently.
How does the speaker describe the average human memory?
-The speaker describes the average human memory as body, messy, and often unreliable, suggesting that our ability to remember things varies greatly and is not always dependable.
What is Ryan Holiday's profession and what books is he known for?
-Ryan Holiday is an international bestselling author known for books like 'The Obstacle Is the Way' and 'Ego Is the Enemy'.
What is Ryan Holiday's approach to reading and remembering information?
-Ryan Holiday's approach involves folding pages, making notes, highlighting important parts as he reads, and then transferring the most impactful information onto note cards which he organizes by theme, essentially creating an 'external brain'.
How does the speaker apply Ryan Holiday's system to their own reading?
-The speaker applies Ryan's system by taking notes while reading, revisiting and revising notes after finishing a book, and categorizing and filing the notes on note cards, in an attempt to better retain and recall the information read.
What cognitive process does the speaker mention that helps us determine what information to remember?
-The speaker mentions heuristic memory processing as the cognitive process that helps us prioritize information that is frequently used, recently used, or likely to be needed for decision-making.
What does Ryan Holiday suggest about the use of audiobooks and eBooks compared to analog reading?
-Ryan Holiday suggests that while he enjoys audiobooks and eBooks, there might be an advantage to analog reading as it allows for a deeper engagement with the material, potentially leading to better recall.
What is the main takeaway from the speaker's experiment with note-taking?
-The main takeaway is that remembering things is not an accident and requires a systematic approach to organizing and storing information. The speaker also learns that it's more important to enjoy the process and digest the information rather than trying to remember everything perfectly.
What advice does Ryan Holiday give regarding starting a system for better memory retention?
-Ryan Holiday advises that it's better to start imperfectly than to be paralyzed by the hope or delusion of perfection. He emphasizes that a system can evolve over time and that consistency is key to improvement.
What is the speaker's plan for a future video?
-The speaker plans to create a future video about building a 'second brain' by organizing all the information we consume into an intelligent digital system.
Outlines
📚 The Quest for Superhuman Memory
The speaker expresses a desire to improve their memory recall, inspired by individuals with exceptional memory abilities. They admit to struggling with remembering content from the numerous books, blogs, and newsletters they've read. The speaker embarks on a journey to understand how the smartest people remember information and to adopt their strategies. The video is sponsored by Squarespace, and the speaker poses a question to the audience about their ability to recall facts from a non-fiction book they've read recently. The speaker then shares their poor recall of a book they've recently read and discusses the importance of absorbing and implementing insights from non-fiction books, especially those about personal development. The video introduces Ryan Holiday, an international bestselling author known for his exceptional memory recall, to whom the speaker will seek advice.
🧠 Understanding Memory and the Effective Learning System
The speaker delves into the variability of human memory, noting that some individuals have terrible memories, others have exceptional memories, and a few possess photographic memories. The average memory is described as messy and unreliable, with people more likely to remember events that deviate from their typical sensory experiences. The speaker interviews Ryan Holiday, who shares his book-reading method involving note-taking, highlighting, and organizing notes on note cards by theme, creating an 'external brain.' The speaker tests Ryan's system by applying it to Ryan's own book, 'Courage Is Calling,' and discusses the effectiveness of this method in aiding memory retention by aligning with how our brains process information.
🌟 Embracing the Analog Approach to Memory Enhancement
The speaker continues to discuss the advantages of Ryan Holiday's analog learning system, which includes taking notes while reading, revisiting and revising notes after finishing a book, and categorizing and filing notes. The speaker emphasizes the importance of putting in the effort to read, take notes, study, and use the information acquired. They also touch on the benefits of reading analog books over audiobooks or eBooks for better recall. The speaker shares their experience of applying this method to 'Courage Is Calling,' noting that while it slows down the reading process, it may enhance memory retention. The video also features a sponsored segment on Squarespace, highlighting its ease of use for bringing ideas to life and building a website. The speaker concludes by reflecting on the value of taking time to digest information and the potential of the note-taking system to improve memory in the long run.
🔄 Evolving Systems for Continuous Learning
The speaker discusses the evolution of their learning system and the potential for it to become digital in the future. They emphasize the importance of starting and adapting a system that works for the individual, rather than striving for perfection. The speaker acknowledges the slow and methodical nature of the note-taking process and the need to systematize and organize notes into categories and themes. They express uncertainty about maintaining a physical note card system but recognize the importance of storing knowledge outside the brain. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe for future content and a teaser for an upcoming video on building a 'second brain' through an intelligent digital system.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Memory Recall
💡Information Retention
💡Photographic Memory
💡Note-taking
💡Analog vs. Digital
💡Heuristic Memory Processing
💡Categorization
💡Squarespace
💡Learning System
💡External Brain
💡Reading Comprehension
Highlights
Imagine having a superpower memory that allows you to remember almost everything from a book.
Some people possess incredible abilities to retain information, while others struggle with poor memory recall.
The average memory is messy and unreliable, but there are ways to improve it.
Ryan Holiday, an international bestselling author, has read over 3,000 books and has an exceptional memory recall.
Holiday's reading method involves folding pages, making notes, and highlighting important parts as he reads.
After reading, he transfers key ideas onto note cards and organizes them by theme, creating an 'external brain'.
This system helps retain more information by aligning with how our brains process and prioritize important data.
Ryan suggests that analog reading and note-taking can lead to better recall than digital methods.
The process of taking thorough notes slows down reading but potentially makes memories and ideas more 'sticky'.
Reading should be a pleasurable activity where you engage deeply with the material, rather than rushing through it.
You don't have to remember everything; instead, store important information outside of your brain for easy retrieval.
Starting with an imperfect system is better than being paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection.
Holiday has seven boxes of note cards, one for each book he's written, showing his method's ongoing effectiveness.
Whether you choose an analog or digital system, the key is to begin and continually refine your approach to learning and memory.
The exploration into memory and learning is ongoing, with future videos discussing building a 'second brain' through intelligent digital systems.
Transcripts
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