How to Better Absorb What You Read

This article is for a small group of avid readers. Most people don’t read even two books a year—this isn’t for them.

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A few years back, I realized that I was always anxious and in some kind of a hurry. My mind was always clogged with things to do, ideas to work on and a seemingly unending list of stuff to read. It seemed as if my mind was on an invisible treadmill where the only objective was to finish one thing and hop on to the next. If happiness was a state of mind, then my mind was far removed from it. There was no time for the mind to soak in and relish the work at hand. I was reading a lot, listening a lot but had little time to think and virtually no time to think through. - Ankur Jain in “**Are we becoming Information Obese [2017]**

Blindly Copying my Gurus

One of my biggest blunders, which lasted longer than it should have, was blindly copying the investing style and reading habits of my Gurus. I saw that successful investors read numerous newspapers, magazines, BSE notifications, annual reports, and blog posts, so I started doing the same—without realizing that their capabilities, motives, and aspirations might be completely different from mine. In 2017, I discovered a wonderful blog post by Ankur Jain **Are we becoming Information Obese.** However, I didn't make any changes then. It wasn't until 2021/22, when I realized I couldn't retain and use what I read, that I revisited Ankur Jain's blog post. Around the same time, I also reread Tim Ferriss's "The 4-Hour Work Week," which discussed the Low Information Diet—a concept similar to Ankur Jain's ideas. Finally, I followed Ankur's approach from 2021/22

I unsubscribed from all blogs, all newsletters, cancelled subscription of all magazines, newspapers etc. I was constantly reading about other people’s opinions but had to not time to figure out my own. This step was like “zero budgeting”, what the Brazilian private equity firm 3G does to its acquiring companies. Ankur Jain in “**Are we becoming Information Obese [2017]**

Tim Ferriss on Reading Books

Tim Ferriss has extensively shared his philosophy on reading in The 4-Hour Workweek and his other writings. His perspective emphasizes optimizing reading to align with personal goals and maximize value, rather than adhering to traditional norms of reading extensively.

1. Selective Reading Over Volume:

   • Ferriss advocates for reading fewer books but choosing those with the most potential to deliver actionable insights or significant value. While prioritizing quality over quantity, he also acknowledges the importance of reading books that provoke deep thought or spark creative ideas, even if they are not directly actionable.

2. Purpose-Driven Reading:

   • Ferriss emphasizes defining a clear purpose when selecting books. Rather than reading out of obligation, he advises choosing books that serve specific outcomes—professional growth, creative inspiration, or personal enrichment. Occasionally, he recommends reading for leisure if it fosters creativity or relaxation, showing that reading doesn’t always need immediate practicality.

3. Skimming and Sampling:

   • He recommends skimming or focusing only on the sections most relevant to your needs. Ferriss often highlights the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule), suggesting that 20% of the material in many books delivers 80% of the value. However, he acknowledges that certain books, such as Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, deserve a full and focused read.

4. Revisiting Books:

   • Ferriss suggests revisiting impactful books multiple times. Each re-reading uncovers deeper insights and reinforces key lessons. He frequently revisits classics like Letters from a Stoic by Seneca and The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin for their enduring value.

5. Elimination of Non-Essential Reading:

   • Consistent with his Low-Information Diet, Ferriss advises against consuming books or materials that do not serve a clear purpose. Eliminating irrelevant or low-value reading prevents cognitive overload and enables focused engagement with high-impact content.

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The Low-Information Diet:

Ferriss’s Low-Information Diet, introduced in The 4-Hour Workweek, is a strategy for reducing unnecessary information intake to enhance focus, productivity, and mental clarity. This approach applies broadly to media consumption, including books.

Key Principles of the Low-Information Diet:

1. Selective Ignorance:

   • Ferriss emphasizes ignoring non-essential information. He believes most information—whether from news, emails, or social media—is irrelevant to personal or professional goals. By filtering out distractions, individuals can focus on knowledge and tasks that matter most.

2. Batching Tasks:

   • To handle essential information efficiently, Ferriss recommends batching tasks like reading emails or consuming updates into specific, pre-scheduled blocks of time. This minimizes interruptions and improves productivity.

3. Focus on Relevance:

   • Ferriss advises assessing the relevance of information by asking, “Does this help me achieve my objectives?” If not, it’s best ignored. This approach ensures energy is directed toward actionable content.

4. Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule):

   • The Pareto Principle underpins Ferriss’s information strategy. By identifying the 20% of material that provides 80% of value, he ensures efficient consumption and avoids wasting time on trivial content.

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Implementing the Low-Information Diet for Reading:

1. Limit Inputs:

   • Avoid consuming excessive material simultaneously. Focus on a few high-value books or articles and engage deeply with them instead of spreading attention across many sources superficially.

2. Focus on Practical Insights:

   • Select books that provide actionable takeaways and frameworks. Ferriss encourages applying lessons directly to personal or professional scenarios.

3. Avoid the News Cycle:

   • Ferriss often highlights the lack of lasting relevance in most news. He suggests relying on curated summaries or weekly updates to stay informed without being overwhelmed.

4. Filter Distractions:

   • Use tools like email filters or curated newsletters to prioritize critical information and eliminate low-value content.

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How Tim Reads Books:

1. Highlight Key Sections:

   • Ferriss actively engages with texts by highlighting key points and taking detailed notes. He uses tools like Evernote and Readwise to revisit and reinforce critical insights.

2. Apply What You Learn:

   • Ferriss stresses the importance of turning insights into actions. Whether forming new habits or developing strategies, applying lessons ensures the time spent reading translates into tangible outcomes.

3. Seek Practicality Over Theory:

   • While practical books often take precedence, Ferriss acknowledges the value of abstract or philosophical works that provide profound mental models or frameworks for thinking.

4. Revisit the Best Books:

   • Revisiting books that have had a significant impact is a cornerstone of Ferriss’s reading strategy. Each revisit allows for deeper understanding, especially as personal context evolves.

Why I follow Tim Ferriss & Ankur Jain’s Approach

In the past, I tried speed-reading, but rushing through texts left me with little understanding and no meaningful connection to the material. I realized I needed a method that balanced efficiency with depth. I do not start reading any book now without generating summaries in CHATGPT. I interact with CHATGPT about book for an hour or two and then decide whether its worth reading in full or not. This lets me extract key insights and decide whether further engagement is worth my time. Additionally, I’ve realized the importance of elimination. Earlier, I was in a rat race to read as many books as possible. Now, I prefer reading fewer books/blog posts but engaging with them deeply.

Elimination is much more important than what I read. I read limited material but engage deeply with it.

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How I Select Books Now

1. Generate Chapter Summaries: I use ChatGPT to generate chapter-wise summaries and decide whether the book is worth reading in full. I do the same for youtube videos, using Merlin.AI

2. Selective Reading: If only certain chapters interest me, I read only those chapters instead of the entire book and same for youtube videos.

Using Technology to Absorb Better

Integrating technology into the learning process can save time and increase retention. Here are some tools I use:

1. Readwise: Extracts and organizes highlights from books, blogs, and articles for easy review. [its important to take notes while reading or listening. It will help to generate better summaries later using CHATGPT]

2. ChatGPT: Using AI tools I organize readwise highlights topic wise. Then using canvas optoin in CHATGPT, try to expand on key points which are still not clear to me. Sometime I also ask CHATGPT to refer to other books and give examples to clarify the concept further.

3. Merlin AI: Quickly summarizes YouTube videos and articles.

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Retaining and able to retrieve when needed is equally or more important than reading itself - My Guru

The Four Essential Skills for Effectively absorbing what you read better

1. Curiosity: Curiosity is the foundation of all meaningful learning. It drives you to explore deeply, ask questions, and connect seemingly unrelated ideas. When curious, you engage more critically with the material, leading to better retention and understanding.

2. Subject Knowledge: Having context is crucial when diving into any material. Subject knowledge acts as a framework that helps you relate new information to what you already know. It allows you to grasp nuanced concepts and better identify the key takeaways.

3. Prompt Engineering: Crafting precise and targeted questions is a skill that ensures insightful outputs, especially when using AI tools. Well-designed prompts allow you to break down complex ideas into simpler parts and structure your summaries effectively.

4. Iterative Thinking: Learning and summarization are processes that require refinement. Iterative thinking involves revisiting your notes, summaries, and ideas multiple times to enhance clarity, fill gaps, and improve depth. It ensures that your final understanding is accurate and comprehensive.

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