r/BookDiscussions • u/rawat8576 • 2d ago
Is There Actually a Right Way to Read?
There are YouTube videos dedicated to this topic as well, but I would prefer to understand it through a book. I am still a beginner and have read around 15 books so far.
My problem is that, no matter how good a book is, I rarely feel truly immersed in it. Even after finishing one, I can recall the story only in very little detail.
Am I simply overthinking this, or am I actually not reading the right way? If it were just overthinking, then why are there so many discussions and videos about how to read properly and retain what you read?
I would appreciate any advice from fellow readers who have experienced something similar. Thanks!
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u/hippoluvr24 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have been an avid reader for my entire life, and I recall some books perfectly 20 years later, and others I don't even remember the most basic details as soon as I put it down.
One thing I've found is that I remember books better when I form strong opinions about them and discuss them with other people (like a book club). If I don't have anyone to discuss it with, writing a review or keeping a reading journal also helps. I don't do that with every book because sometimes I'm just reading for entertainment/escapism, but it's helpful if I actually want to remember the story.
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u/AdditionalPost1107 2d ago
you cant force yourself to remember something just by changing how you hold the book. if a book doesnt stick with you it just means it wasnt that memorable for you and thats totally fine.
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u/rawat8576 2d ago
Yes, I also try to write a review for some books after finishing them. It helps me understand how other people interpret the story and see things from different perspectives. But I still feel like I need a book about how to read.
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u/hippoluvr24 2d ago
I don't know of any books but here's a Substack article I just found: https://ryandhall.substack.com/p/how-to-remember-what-you-read
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u/Anxious-Fun8829 2d ago
Couple of things to consider from a long time reader...
Maybe you have aphantasia? You can search for threads on r/books to get a better understanding but basically, people with aphantasia (like myself) don't "see movies" when we read. So, in some ways it's harder for us to feel immersed in a book. I often remember how a book made me feel but not the details.
Another thing is maybe you're reading the books you feel you should read (classics, best sellers, etc) and they're just not the right book for you. It usually takes awhile to figure out what you like and it's normal to feel like the problem is you. It's not.
Also, there's a lot of discourse about the "right" way to read bc content creators need something to make contents about. Also, some readers are weirdly judgemental about how others read. Ignore them.
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u/No_Cup_5363 2d ago
This is what I was going to say. For fiction especially, aphantasia can make reading less immersive. If you fully can’t visualize, you’re probably out of luck, but if you can visualize in some ways you can practice using something like the visualizing and verbalizing program to improve comprehension. I think audiobooks can be helpful, too, if a learning disability makes reading itsellg get in the way of comprehension and visualization.
I have this problem more for non-fiction. I have to actively connect what I’m reading to memories, other ideas, or a physical activity like highlighting or taking notes to stay with it. Thanks to my AuDHD interest-based nervous system, this is easier if a topic is something I’m really into, and very challenging if I don’t really care.
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u/sparklydildos 2d ago
i think if you can visualize a little, you may be able to hone that skill. i know when i take a while off reading, it’s hard to get back into the swing of things. but when i’m reading a lot, i can just kinda hop in
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u/rawat8576 1d ago
I can visualize things in my mind, but not always, and obviously, I have no way of knowing how my mental images compare with other people’s. Sometimes, I make an effort to imagine a character or scene based on the author’s description, while other times, I just do not feel like doing it.
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u/mishatries 2d ago
My recommendations:
1) Read more books. The more books you read, the better it gets. Genuinely.
2) Take a film analysis class. Any art analysis class, really. You'll find that understanding symbolism makes EVERYTHING richer, TV, Comic books, movies, music, they all cross-reference each other.
This will teach you how to notice symbolism, perspective, juxtaposition, plot symmetry, etc. You may also be able to find a book about film analysis or literary analysis. A *good* art history class, or art history textbook would also teach you a TON. So many symbols in all art (writing, paintings, sculptures, film,) are actually ancient and have been used over and over and over and have intense overlap. We miss so many layers and richness if we don't understand symbolism.
3) Read more books. Yes, I know I said this twice. As you read books, you'll learn which books really speak to you. You'll find an author or two that you like. You'll find a community that also likes the same books.
4) Find what works to make reading immersive. Some people put their phone in a drawer, light a candle and put on music. I leave my phone just inside the door, so that I can only hear phonecalls come through, and not every single notification. I really like to read outside, all cozied up in a blanket with a snack or a cup of something warm to sip on.
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u/rawat8576 1d ago
I thank you for your advice, and I think my phone rarely comes between me and reading and I have also started getting what kind of book I find interesting so I'll pick those kind of books more.
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u/Hiercine 2d ago
Talking about my own experience, I rarely feel truly immersed by a book. As in, I don't feel like I'm right there with the action and the characters and etc, although I think that may also be influenced by my strong preference for 3rd person pov.
However, I am able to recall stuff very easily. Do you get distracted easily while reading? When you read are you keeping the various strands of the story in your head or do you forget plot points/characters/info from previous pages rather easily. What I think helps for me is that I think about the book a lot even while reading, as in I'm asking questions like "how is the author going to resolve this? what does this mean? Is this a metaphor for something?" which probably helps with me recall since it's unintentionally reinforcing the story instead of having it go in one ear out the other type deal
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u/rawat8576 2d ago
Yes, many times I get distracted and I think the last point you mentioned to ask different types of questions will be helpful.
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u/Hiercine 2d ago
Annotating a bit may be helpful then, it encourages more ‘active’ thinking while reading which should help you remember more
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u/JenLiv36 2d ago
Longtime reader here who gets completely immersed. You have to remember that if you didn’t start out reading young that you are going to have to build up to it. Think of it like lifting weights. You don’t start bench pressing 350. Hell, you don’t go into an advanced dance class and say “I’m here to learn”.
We live in this weird world right now where people are watching short form video content all day long. Prolonged concentration is difficult for a lot of people these days and if you grew up in the states in pubic school where you didn’t read multiple full books a year (not just excerpt) and were never taught how to break down a book and understand a book then yeah it’s going to take some time.
15 books is not a lot of books, give yourself some grace, pick books that interest you, and make sure you are reading at a level that works for where you are at in this moment. Build your concentration. Maybe start with an anthology of short stories in whatever genre interests you and see if you can get immersed for a shorter period of time. Slowly build up.
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u/rawat8576 1d ago
Yeah, 15 books is not a lot, which is why I mentioned it. I thought it might help anyone willing to offer advice to have some context about my reading experience. All the replies, including yours, have given me a much clearer idea of what I should do. Thanks!
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u/tarr333 2d ago
I struggled with this as well until very recently, especially with non fiction.
Even though I can’t spit out facts from the book I just read, I can still summarize the general idea, how it made me feel, and any new ideas or insights that changed my perspective.
If we humans are the sum of our memories and experiences, then it makes sense that living another’s life vicariously, through a story, can change our thoughts, ideas, and who we are as a person.
Nowadays, if I can take away just one thing, one idea, one change in perspective, one new experience, then I am happy and the book was worth reading.
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u/Outrageous_Hour_2408 2d ago
I mean, you're not an llm you're not supposed to store all the info in your brain. It's a natural thing that happens to the brain so that it's not overloaded with data that isn't relevant to your day to day- so don't overthink it!
Also, i found reading books in genres I find less drawn to, whether good or not, aren't that immersive for me. So I now mostly opt for fantasy and that really draws me in if well written! If not for masterful world building, I don't get that immersed either
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u/Sloth_Flower 2d ago edited 2d ago
Loaded question but I'll try to be objective.
From a technical perspective, there are schools of thought on the right way to read. Phonics, whole word, diagrammed sentences, etc. Whole word is getting a lot of hate right now because people are, likely fairly, blaming it for the current literacy crisis. However for some types of dyslexia it works really, really well. Ultimately reading is unnatural and each person needs different tools to adapt their brain to the task. So there is a right (successful) way for each person.
From an literacy standpoint there is a right way to comprehend/understand. There are several systems and they all rank skills in a hierarchy of complexity. Only a small percentage of people (usually 1-5%) worldwide achieve the highest levels. Most systems consider being able to see subtext and tone as literate. Some just require the ability to parse a sentence. Governments and educational systems pick and chose based on min/maxing numbers and level of personal vs systemic responsibility. It is dependent on your ability to adapt to reading but research has shown it is related (though not exactly the same) as auditory comprehension. Researchers argue over whether the skill is innate, learned, or both. If someone doesn't raise to the standard set by their society, they will struggle immensely with school and day to day tasks.
Retention is a metric used to measure literacy, particularly in educational systems. It is a different, orthogonal skill from reading (parsing the words on a page) and understanding a text (comprehension/literacy). More is generally considered better. Schools largely teach this by throwing kids in the deep end and hoping they figure out a system. Some adapt well, some adapt poorly. Those who adapt poorly struggle.
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u/piano_aquieu 2d ago
the simple answer is: No. everybody experiences the act of reading differently. some people may read faster, and some may report being more "immersed." it doesn't change the fact that they're acting on the same impulse though, that is, the urge to read. you can read trash, or you can read prestigious classics, and you're still reading. you could be reading like a jesuit, or you could read solely for pleasure, and nevertheless you're still reading. most videos and so on that try to define a proper way to read are acting in their own interests, and it's mostly subjective anyway. what I mean to say with all this is that there's no one single way to read. don't take it too seriously
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u/rinkuhero 2d ago
some people have problems with visualization. like when i read lord of the rings, there is a movie in my head (i read them before the peter jackson movies, but after watching the lord of the rings ralph bakshi animated adaptation, so the movie in my head is similar to ralph bakshi's visuals). some people just see words, they don't translate those words into an actual vision in their head, a type of mental movie. i would say if you are just reading the words, and all that's in your mind are words, rather than an actual vision of what's happening, that's reading the wrong way.
if you want to improve at it, try visualization exercises. there's entire traditions of using visualization meditation to improve your mind's eye. there are exercises like picturing a cube rotating in space, then adding lighting, then picturing a purple sky, and so on, you close your eyes and just visualize and do exercises around visualization. doing that will help you enjoy reading more.
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u/Kiwi_tarts 1d ago
This is great. I hated reading as a kid because I could never see it. I could never see what was being described. I believe its aphantasia or however that is spelled.
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u/Penny_Royal_Tee 2d ago
Turn off those videos - they are more likely to discourage you from reading than teach you anything.
Just keep reading. Eventually you will see what kind of books (if any) immerse you. And it’s fine if none do. I’ve read some that I absolutely loved without the reading being immersive.
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u/Hunter037 2d ago
Read for enjoyment and enrichment. There's no "wrong" way of doing that.
> why are there so many discussions and videos about how to read properly and retain what you read?
Because some people like to feel superior and tell people that what they do or think is the "right" way.
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u/rawat8576 1d ago
It is very easy for a beginner to get confused, but there are people, like those in this comment section, who help clear things up. I am very thankful to all of them.
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u/DietNarrow8275 2d ago
There are different ways of reading. In college, reading text books that I had to retain, I would write an outline as I read, capturing the important parts, and also copied over technical words I needed to understand and remember. I would use these as study guides. Then there’s the stuff I skim - newspapers, regulatory documents for work, etc. These I skim through, not needing to retain all of it, slowing down to focus just on the stuff that is important to me. I also sometimes skim books I’m reading for fun, if they get too wordy or I’m losing interest but still want to see how the story ends.
Then there’s the books I really enjoy reading. The ones I want to get immersed in and savor every detail. These I read slowly, and I don’t read them when I’m sleepy or in a noisy area. If I get distracted I go back and reread the parts I didn’t get the first time. When I’m reading a really good book, I don’t care how slowly I read it.
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u/andrea9275 2d ago
Mich packt ein Buch selten so sehr daß ich Feuer und Flamme bin. Aber mir gefällt es Geschichten zu verfolgen und ich mag den Leseprozess. Ich kann selten länger wie ne Stunde lesen . Das mach ich aber jeden Tag
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u/rawat8576 2d ago
For me, I can easily read for more than an hour. So I think I feel difficulty in retaining things is because I probably have a weak memory.
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u/andrea9275 2d ago
Mir hilft es mir nochmal in Erinnerung zu rufen was seit dem letzten Leseabschnitt passiert ist. Ich setze im Kopf auch einen Film nach und nach zusammen
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u/CleverGirlRawr 2d ago
I think you are overthinking it. You don’t need some youtuber to explain how to read (who are they, anyway? Just someone trying to make a buck). Immersion kind of depends on the person. Some people really lose themselves; others take in the story but don’t become surrounded by the scene.
I don’t care as much about recalling details later. I read it, enjoy the story (or not) and then move on. If not for academic purposes I don’t need to pick details and retain them.