10+ Best Articles on Reading
The most useful articles on reading from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Reading Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved on reading by Refind users in 2023 so far.
How to ...?
How to Remember What You Read
The benefits of reading are negated if you forget remember what you read. This article discusses a tested system to increase retention. Learn how to use active reading to remember more from books.
«We shouldn’t read stuff we find boring. Life is far too short.»
How to make more time to read
Many of us would like to have more time to read, but life can get in the way of picking up a book. What are strategies that actually work?
«However, speed reading limits your comprehension of the novel, reducing the accuracy of what you read and hindering how much you retain of the story»
How to gain more from your reading
There’s more to words than meets the eye. Deepen your appreciation of literature through the art of slow, attentive reading
«From reading deeply, you gain experience as well as knowledge: you gain from reading literary works in all their unique particularity.»
How to take notes while reading a book
When reading a book, taking notes interrupts our reading flow. There is a fine balance between taking too many notes and taking too few notes.
«Importing these ideas into my note-taking system is a way to create a dialogue between the authors whose work I have read.»
How to Read a Book: The Ultimate Guide by Mortimer Adler
In how to read a book, Mortimer Adler teaches us the four levels of reading to become a more effective reader. Learning how to read is more than just picking up a book and starting to read.
«The goal is not to achieve an overall understanding of any particular book, but rather to understand the subject and develop a deep fluency.»
Trending
These links are currently making the rounds on reading on Refind.
Why You Should Start Book Journaling Right Now (& Prompts to Help You Start)
Creating a book journal also allows you to create a visual space of your book experience. And one writer details why.
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles on reading—all under 10 minutes.
Reading Changes your Brain, let me explain.
I don't read enough. I prioritise finishing the latest Netflix series—currently Top Boy—over reading my newest paperback. If you're anything like me, you'd like to read more. To aid in our endeavour,…
«However, I've found that setting aside 30 minutes before bed to get through my 10 pages (more likely more), has been a useful way to wind down.»
The Top 3 Most Effective Ways to Take Notes While Reading
The most effective way to take notes while reading is to follow this simple three step process that I've tested and honed on over one thousand books.
«I rarely listen to books but if you are listening to a book, create a new note for that book and type in notes as you are listening»
The Four Levels of Reading: Improve Skills One Level At A Time
How we read is as important as what we read. Mortimer Adler guides us through 4 levels of reading: elementary, inspectional, analytical, and syntopical.
«So half the battle of reading for understanding is to identify and select works from someone (or a group of people) who know more about a subject than we do.»
The Need to Read
November 2022In the science fiction books I read as a kid, reading had often been replaced by some more efficient way of acquiring knowledge. Mysterious "tapes" would load it into one's brain like a…
‘I want to savour every word’: the joy of reading slowly
Bragging rights seem to go to people who devour books, but, as this impatient reader found, turning the pages over many days or even weeks can immerse one deeper in the writer’s world
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles on reading.
Surgical Reading: How to Read 12 Books at Once
How to efficiently get what you need out of reading, multiple books at a time
«when I’m reading a non-fiction book, I focus on locating and removing the most valuable pieces of information from it quickly as possible»
Seven Easy Habits to Read More Books Next Year
Reading books is one of the best habits you can create for yourself. Here are seven easy habits you can implement to finish more books next year.
«Reading is a habit of compounding growth. Learn more and you’ll generate ideas and enthusiasm for making other changes.»
Skim reading is the new normal. The effect on society is profound
When the reading brain skims texts, we don’t have time to grasp complexity, to understand another’s feelings or to perceive beauty. We need a new literacy for the digital age writes Maryanne Wolf, author of Reader, Come Home
Can Reading Make You Happier?
After the First World War, traumatized soldiers were often prescribed a course of reading.
Future reading
Digital books stagnate in closed, dull systems, while printed books are shareable, lovely and enduring. What comes next?
«Kindle knows when we are hypnotised, possessed, gluttonous; knows when we consume an entire feast of words in a single sitting.»
Publications
We monitor hundreds of publications, blogs, newsletters, and news sources in Reading, including:
Ness Labs
The learning community for ambitious knowledge workers. Join us to think better, learn faster, and work happier: http://nesslabs.com/membership 🧠✨
Aeon+Psyche
Aeon is a magazine of ideas and culture. Psyche is our sister magazine focused on the human condition. Visit http://aeon.co and http://psyche.co for more.
Scott Young
My book, ULTRALEARNING, is out now: https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/ultralearning/
Book Riot
The largest independent literary site in North America, bringing you news, bookish commentary, and recs for readers of all stripes.
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Which sources does Refind monitor on reading?
We monitor hundreds of sources on reading, including Ness Labs, Aeon+Psyche, Scott Young, Paul Graham, Book Riot, and many more.
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