I read a lot.
In fact, I think I enjoy reading more than almost anything.
But I’ve wondered for years, how do I organise all this knowledge – and also ensure I don’t forget it.
I think I’ve found a way, that might help you too.
It’s a simple card system.
You read the book. You make your highlights.
And than a few weeks later, you go back to the book with some 3 inch by 5 inch cards and you start to break down what you learnt into categories.
For instance, recently I read the book, The Luck Factor by Max Gunther.
And here are some of the notes I took and how I categorised them in my system:
Book Recommendation:
The Battle for Investment Survival by Gerald M. Loeb. p.176
Networking:
The importance of a web of friendly contacts. p.125
How to best connect with a stranger. p. 129
Intuition:
How Hilton got his break using intuition. p.133
Success:
Know when to sell out – losing a tug of war with a tiger. p. 184-185
Importance of knowing the downsides. P.187
Why the straight line work ethic is wrong. P. 160-161
Investment:
Best time to sell out of any investment. P. 161
By going through this process, not only do I break down success, investment, networking advice into sections from different books… I gain a deeper understanding and absorption of the book I just read.
Of course, this approach also helps when writing a book, creating a sales letter, etc. It’s the best way of remembering and organising knowledge I’ve come across.
