Reading Comprehension
The Best Ways to Increase Your Understanding From the Books You Read
Reading (Wikipedia) is a powerful tool for gaining knowledge, expanding vocabulary, enhancing imagination, and fostering empathy. However, the act of simply reading a book does not guarantee comprehension or retention. Many people struggle with remembering what they read or applying insights from books to real life. This raises an important question: what are the most effective ways to increase understanding from the books we read?
1. Active Reading vs. Passive Reading
One of the most fundamental ways to improve comprehension is to shift from passive reading to active reading. Passive reading is when you skim or read without engagement, often resulting in poor retention. Active reading involves interacting with the text through highlighting, questioning, and summarizing.
Scientific Insight
A study by McDaniel, Howard, and Einstein (2009) found that active engagement, such as self-questioning and generating elaborative inferences, significantly enhances memory and understanding of text. When readers actively engage, they are more likely to integrate the information with their existing knowledge, thus making it more memorable.
Tip :What is the main idea here?, "How does this relate to my previous knowledge?", or “Why is this important?” while reading.
2. Note-Taking and Annotation
Taking notes and annotating while reading helps to reinforce comprehension. Writing marginal notes, underlining key phrases, or summarizing paragraphs in your own words forces the brain to process the information deeply.
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According to Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014), taking notes by hand (instead of typing) leads to better conceptual understanding. The study emphasized that handwriting notes encourages summarizing, which helps to synthesize and understand complex ideas.
Tip: Use the Cornell Note-Taking System, or create mind maps or bullet-point summaries for each chapter.
3. Teach What You Learn
Explaining what you’ve read to someone else is a highly effective learning technique. Known as the “protégé effect,” teaching reinforces your own understanding.
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A study by Nestojko et al. (2014) showed that participants who expected to teach what they read scored significantly higher on comprehension tests than those who read to take a test. This implies that the intention to teach triggers more careful processing and organization of the material.
Tip: Try explaining a chapter to a friend, or write a blog post summarizing your understanding of the book.
4. Apply the Feynman Technique
The Feynman Technique, named after physicist Richard Feynman, is a method that involves explaining a concept in simple terms. If you can teach a complex idea in basic language, it means you truly understand it.
How to Use It:
Choose a concept from the book.
Write out your explanation as if teaching a child.
Identify gaps in your understanding.
Go back to the source material and refine your explanation.
Scientific Insight: This technique involves retrieval practice, which has been proven to improve long-term retention (Roediger & Butler, 2011).
5. Spaced Repetition and Review
Reviewing material at spaced intervals is far more effective than cramming. This approach strengthens memory consolidation.
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The spacing effect, described by Ebbinghaus (1885), shows that information is retained better when exposure is spaced out over time rather than massed together.
Tip: Revisit your notes and highlights after a few days, then again after a week, and then after a month.
6. Visual Aids and Graphic Organizers
Transforming text into visual representations like flowcharts, diagrams, and timelines helps in understanding relationships and hierarchies.
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A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology (Mayer & Gallini, 1990) demonstrated that students who used visuals along with text had higher comprehension than those who relied on text alone.
Tip: Draw diagrams for processes, mind maps for themes, or timelines for historical events.
7. Use Multisensory Learning
Combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles can improve engagement and memory.
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Fleming’s VARK model categorizes learners into Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic. Engaging multiple senses strengthens neural pathways and improves learning outcomes (Leite, Svinicki, & Shi, 2010).
Tip: Read aloud, listen to audiobooks while following along in print, or discuss ideas with others to reinforce learning.
Connection Between Reading and Writing Skills
8. Summarize and Reflect
Summarization helps distill key points and enhances comprehension. Reflection encourages deeper processing and connection with personal experiences.
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A study by Boud, Keogh, and Walker (1985) emphasized that reflection helps learners connect theoretical knowledge with practical experience, improving both comprehension and application.
Tip: Keep a reading journal where you summarize chapters, jot down insights, and reflect on how the content applies to your life.
9. Engage in Discussions and Book Clubs
Group discussions provide exposure to diverse perspectives and foster critical thinking. Book clubs can motivate you to read consistently and analyze more deeply.
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Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory underscores the importance of social interaction in learning. Talking through ideas helps in internalizing concepts (Vygotsky, 1978).
Tip: Join an online or in-person book club, or start one with friends to deepen your understanding of shared readings.
10. Choose the Right Books and Reading Level
Reading beyond your comprehension level can lead to frustration, while reading something too easy may not challenge your brain. Books that fall into your "Zone of Proximal Development" should be chosen.
Scientific Insight
Again, referencing Vygotsky, learning is most effective when the material is just slightly beyond your current ability, encouraging growth without causing overload.
Tip: Gradually increase the complexity of the books you read to continuously challenge and expand your comprehension skills.
11. Practice Retrieval
Testing yourself on what you read improves retention more than rereading the text.
Build Reading Willpower
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Roediger and Karpicke (2006) found that repeated retrieval (testing) significantly enhances long-term memory compared to passive review.
Tip: After reading, close the book and try to recall the main points. Discuss them with someone or write them down.
12. Use Digital Tools and Apps
There are many apps designed to improve reading comprehension and note organization, such as Anki (for spaced repetition), Notion (for note-taking), and Blinkist (for summaries).
Tip: Combine these tools with traditional reading to reinforce your understanding and memory.
Conclusion
Understanding what you read is not simply a matter of time or intelligence—it’s a skill that can be cultivated. Techniques such as active reading, note-taking, summarization, and spaced repetition are grounded in science and can significantly boost your comprehension and retention. Whether you read for pleasure, education, or professional growth, applying these strategies can transform your reading experience into a more enriching, insightful, and lasting journey.
References
Boud, D., Keogh, R., & Walker, D. (1985). Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning. Routledge.
Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology.
Leite, W. L., Svinicki, M., & Shi, Y. (2010). Attempted Validation of the Scores of the VARK: Learning Styles Inventory With Multitrait–Multimethod Confirmatory Factor Analysis Models. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 70(2), 323-339.
Mayer, R. E., & Gallini, J. K. (1990). When is an illustration worth ten thousand words? Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(4), 715.
McDaniel, M. A., Howard, D. C., & Einstein, G. O. (2009). The read-recite-review study strategy: Effective and portable. Psychological Science, 20(4), 516–522.
Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking. Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159-1168.
Nestojko, J. F., Bui, D. C., Kornell, N., & Bjork, E. L. (2014). Expecting to teach enhances learning and organization of knowledge in free recall of text passages. Memory & Cognition, 42(7), 1038–1048.
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27.
Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.
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