“There are four kinds of readers. The first is like the hourglass; and their reading being as the sand, it runs in and runs out, and leaves not a vestige behind. A second is like the sponge, which imbibes everything and returns it in nearly the same state, only a little dirtier. A third is like a jelly bag, allowing all that is pure to pass away, and retaining only the refuse and dregs. And the forth is like the slaves in the diamond mines of Golconda, who, casting aside all that is worthless, retain only pure gems.” –
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Are You the Hourglass Type?
“I read and read and read, and when I’m finished, I don’t know what I’ve read.”
Sound familiar?
I used to be the hourglass type – but no more.
It’s possible to improve your ability to remember what you read without using artificial memory aids.
Here’s how.
1) Make use of your interest. Let’s say you’re on a diet and you’ve come across an article entitled “Five Ways to Stay on a Diet.” If so, you will have a strong interest in this topic. If you aren’t on a diet, you probably know someone who is. In this case you may be interested in getting ideas to pass on. Whatever the situation, draw on the interest you have; it will serve you well in your reading-to-remember process.
2) Set your purpose. Clearly have in mind your purpose for remembering the five rules to stay on a diet.
a.You may want to remember them as frequent reminders to yourself to stay on your own diet.
b.You may want to remember them so that you can relate them to some other person who is on a diet.
c.You may wish to remember them for use in conversation whenever the topic of dieting comes up.
Whatever your purpose is, be sure you have it firmly in mind when you start to read.
3) Create strong impressions. Create a solid impression of each of the five rules to stay on a diet. When you come to each rule concentrate on it with the idea of impressing it indelibly in your mind. Don’t get distracted.
4 ) Build meaningful associations. Read the information beneath each rule to stay on a diet in order to build up meaningful associations. Perhaps at first you won’t fully understand what the first rule means: “Find out the psychological basis for your overweight.” But when you read the explanation and the examples that follow the rule, you will understand exactly.
For instance, the story of the woman who ate too much because she was lonely will stick with and help you remember the rule. So, in addition to making an effort to impress the rules strongly on your mind, build up associations that may furnish you useful images in later recall.
5) Make use of repetition. After you have read the second rule to stay on a diet, see if you can tell yourself both the first rule and the second rule. After you have read the third rule, see if you can state the first, second, and third rules, and so forth.
6) Read and apply. Now, as you have read the article apply these various principles.
7) Recall immediately. As soon as you finish reading the article, repeat the five rules to stay on a diet to yourself. No doubt you will find that you can do this perfectly.
If you should have difficulty with one of the rules, however, find it again in the article, and establish another strong impression of this particular rule. Then say all the rules to yourself again, integrating this one into the list.
8) Recall at delayed intervals. Try telling the five rules to stay on a diet to someone tomorrow, next week, a month from now. Delayed recall at intervals makes the impression more permanent.
Following these 8 suggestions have worked for me. If you are the “Hourglass Type” of reader – if you read and read and can never recall what you’ve read – they will work for you, too!
