| Community Here’s a secret: When you’re reading for information, not entertainment, you don’t have to read the whole book from cover to cover. In fact, skipping around is a strategic move. After you’ve identified your key chapters in the table of contents, start skimming those chapters. But skim them strategically. Flip through the chapter and identify any chapter headings. Those are going to be road signs that will help you navigate the information. Next, read the first and last paragraphs of the chapter. Just like reading the introduction to the book, reading the first and last paragraphs will give you an idea of what the whole chapter is about. If there are review questions at the end of the chapter, read those next. The questions are going to focus on the most important information, and now you’ll know what to look for. Once you’ve identified the content that matters to you and your situation, then, and only then, should you go read the full sections. Skim the rest. Your time is valuable – spend it wisely. Take Notes Like You Mean It Reading isn’t just about seeing words. It’s about making them stick, and the best way to do that is by taking notes. If you read digitally, I guarantee the app you use has built-in notetaking options. If you’re an analog reader, pull out those pencils and mark up the margins! (Don’t tell my librarian friends I said this, but a book that’s been written in is a book that’s been loved.) While you’re going through, color-code your highlights. I like to use blue to represent definitions and facts I need to remember. Yellow is for ideas I want to examine later, and red is for questions I have that need answers. If you don’t want to take a highlighter to the pages of a physical book, you can also use color-coded sticky tabs. When we take notes, we need to make sure we’re taking the right kind of notes. Copying and pasting text isn’t note-taking – thinking is. When you note down a passage or an idea, rephrase the idea in your own words. Add your own thoughts. Make connections to different sections or different texts you’ve read recently. Really engage with the work. This will cement the concepts in your head. Finally, the last step of taking good notes is reviewing and processing them. You’ve read. You’ve highlighted. Now what? • Step away – give it a little time. • Rewrite your notes into a notebook – this is where retention happens. • Answer questions, connect dots – this is where learning happens. Tools, Pro Tips & Resources Everyone absorbs information differently. The trick is using what works for you. Here are some tips that have worked well for us: 1. Read AND Listen: Audiobooks aren’t cheating. They’re smart and convenient. Turn that commute into a chance to expand your knowledge or listen while you read to improve retention and maybe even increase your reading speed. 2. Use Speechify: This AIpowered text-to-speech app can read back your emails, reports and books. If it’s digital, it can read it to you. Originally developed to help people with dyslexia and ADHD, Speechify is a powerful learning tool. Even better? You can have Snoop Dogg as your own personal narrator. 3. Don’t Underestimate Summaries: Sometimes you just need the core ideas, and apps like Blinkist or Shortform give you short, easy-to-digest summaries of thousands of books. Use those apps to decide whether reading the full book is worth your time. There’s No Wrong Way to Learn Read fast. Read slowly. Skim. Listen. Take notes. Use summaries. Engaging with the text is what matters. Retain what’s useful and ignore anyone who tells you that you’re doing it wrong. The best reading strategy is the one that works for you. Gibbons-Rauch is PPAI’s professional development lead. Here’s a secret: When you’re reading for information, not entertainment, you don’t have to read the whole book from cover to cover. Book Club PPAI • APRIL 2025 • 57
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU4OQ==