How to Take Great Notes (And Remember What You Read)

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If you want to take great book notes and remember what you read, then I recommend trying out this method. This method centers around creating outlines as if you were going to teach the material to a beginner. I used this when I was teaching undergraduates, but it also works well when I'm taking book notes for my own use.
While filming, I was told that this was very similar to the Feynman method. Here's a video that explains that method: • How to Learn Faster wi... (There are a lot of similarities.)
Citation about writing by hand (link to a PDF): citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/documen...
Apps mentioned were Roam Research (roamresearch.com/) and Obisidian (obsidian.md/). I use Roam because I have time left on my subscription, but Obsidian is just as good (if not better) and is free.
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0:00 Take Notes Like You're Going to Teach
0:45 If You Can Teach It, You Understand It
1:25 Annotation
4:26 Exporting and Outlining
6:38 The Omni-Outline (Or Lesson Plan)

[@_jared]

Click my link to try Aura Health and save 25%! Your sense of peace and improved sleep starts here: aurahealth.io/jaredhenderson

[@cristinaicaza9567]

1. Annotation: Look for jargon, important passages / key points. Unclear points u might need to explain. Do not underline everything. Create your own system ( ex underline for jargon, question mark for difficult parts, star for important passages). Flagging parts of the text for ur future self when u are making high quality notes. 2. Export Phase: Annotations out of book and into paper/notion. Create outline. Create a short summary of the section. Write an outline (not about the structure of the text but how you would go about teaching it to someone else, they could read the outlien and have a good idea. ) 1st draft, doing multiple times to improve it. Repeat for future sections of the book 3. Omni-outline: Bigger outline of the entire book. Guideline to teach a beginner

[@simonefadda2739]

thank you

[@toyin2376]

Phew ! Thank you

[@ikramalaa953]

Thank you!

[@diegonavarrorenteria4056]

Thank you!

[@natschi13]

After a year lost in depression I'm going to finish my bachelors degree (in classics) in the next upcoming months and your videos are sooo helpful - here's why: they are a friendly reminder that studying methods matter *and* the field of philosophy has always interested me. Thereby I'm gaining trust in myself and my academic skills again. Thank you so much, Jared. Your work is really much apprechiated. ❤

[@lored6811]

I'm currently starting to pause my studies due to depression, How'd you keep the faith to get back into it?

[@genever_lover]

i went through something similar, except i depression paused my studies for two years. it was rough. i felt like nothing mattered anymore, not my studies and not my friends, but eventually what got me out of it was somehow finding the courage, or maybe courage finally found me, and reaching out to people who cared for me and asking them to help me get going again. they can’t pull you out, but they can help you do it yourself. pausing my studies because my depression was too deep helped for a while, but then it was like there was an untraversable gap between me and the world. that was not good and certainly didn’t help. being productive, in whatever way that means to you (for me that was helping my parents and educating my little brother in music) is important - it might even be a lifeline. depression feels endless, but life can still be good, even while you’re in it. if you need time, take time, but don’t let yourself fall into a pit where there’s just you and the darkness left. i hope you have people who will support you. good luck.

[@holiromi]

@@lored6811same :( i think it’s important to remind yourself (ourselves) what matters to you and who you are doing it for (whatever “it” is for you)

[@thebluesmurfdude]

This came at the perfect time. I have big lofty goals for school, work, and personal life - and I can already visualize how to implement this!

[@productivity6693]

Are you VelocityLad?

[@thebluesmurfdude]

@@productivity6693 I don’t know what that means or who that is, so probably not xD

[@Qrp_international]

Same here!!!

[@theRealR0ger]

X3

[@sohaib1382]

Are u implementing this now or not??

[@rohithreddy95]

Taking notes on iPad with Pencil is a good balance between taking digital notes and handwritten notes

[@Pcoxproductions]

4:54 exporting the notes into an outline -> pro tip: have the points be questions and the goal is to answer the questions

[@_jared]

That's a very nice variation.

[@elizabeth-ho]

Great advice, thanks for the video! I'm a university student, and the way I study for my course is pretty similar. I just have one extra thought to throw out there: When I make my notes, I intend for them to teach myself, meaning that I have this very specific goal of "when I read this a few months later having forgotten everything, I'm able to pick up the chain of thought that allows me to fully understand this concept". This has the same effect of me structuring my notes like I'm teaching it, but the target audience is future me, which also means that I cater specifically to the way I think/understand concepts (which can be different compared to when the target audience is a general beginner in this area). More practically, this means skipping over the parts that I already know (or referencing my previous notes on the topic), and taking extra care when my intuition tells me that I'm not satisfied with one explanation and need more convincing (I study computer science). In other words, a lesson plan for myself!

[@michelleherald9619]

I agree about teaching it someone else helps your learn. When I was in college I struggled with Physics, however when I started teaching and had to include that subject, the way I studied it (to teach others) helped me to learn it. I would read the text, reference articles and online books for further or different explanations...I would come up with examples relevant to us, and I would work out all practice problems so I knew how to answer questions about them. This makes perfect sense and I am a little upset it didn't occur to me until now. Thank you.

[@aidandpolonsky]

Dude. I seriously enjoy all of your content. Been a fan for about 4 months now. Love watching this thing grow. Thank you for what you do.

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

I absolutely loved this video. I'm nearly 77 but learnt some new techniques drom this video. I think I have been notetaking for over 70 years, and have a method, but this takes it to the next level, and from an interesting point or view, as if you were going to teach. I mentored you accountants as part of my job before retirement, so my method included some of your elements. Thanks so much.

[@Chris-ki6ui]

Your videos are about the best on the "market" for theoretical subjects. There are all too many youtubers with their tips on studying subjects that are more objective. For social science subjects like political science in my case, those approaches to studying rarely if ever help. Your approaches hit the nail right on the head. Thank you for sharing.

[@renansales644]

One of the best strategies I've used is to read a book , highlight the most important passages and, then, I put the book aside for 3 to 4 weeks. After that, I open the book again and look for the passages I highlighted. If they still catch my attention, I'll extract them. What I like about this 3 to 4 weeks interval is that it allows my mind to see things in a more detached way. For example, when I read sth for the first time, I have this tendency to think almost every phrase is important. However, after a few weeks of not seeing the text, I end up being more rational about what is important or not. So far, doing this has helped me a lot in two ways: (1) it reduces the amount of information I want to learn and memorize and (2) It helps me to become way more critical with the information I want to commit to memory. Once I read that "we only learn in retrospective " and I do believe that 's true. Only when we become detached from sth (through time) is that we can have a better understand of it. Great video!!

[@andreswang6666]

I might actually give it a try, since my headache with reading a book is there're too many things that attract my eyeballs and I end up wanting to export a third of the book every time.

[@KshitijKV]

It took me 30 years to develop this method on my own. What this man just taught is brilliant 👏

[@jamisonc7500]

It’s so cool to see this channel blow up. You deserve it. You have a great cadence and timbre to your voice with thoughtful and timely subjects

[@lifewithmashael1352]

I liked how he is explaining the details & I loved his explanation💗💗

[@ip3931]

I am not a student (formally) but I certainly would like to learn HOW to make effective notes.

[@LiterateTexan]

This was a really great book. If I ever go back to get my PhD, this will be my go-to. Thanks, Jared, for this.

[@jorgefg596]

Jared, thank you so much for this.

[@StinFriggins]

This is so my favorite philoliterary channel. I hope, in five years, I'm still learning alongside you. Cheers

[@robertgelblum5154]

Thank you for this very clear exposition of how best to take notes (on books). Perhaps one day I'll have the self-discipline to try the method myself.

[@Bootus123]

Great video, and this is what I did when I was teaching! I'll continue to use it now that I'm in grad school. Also, bonus points for that Chopin in the back. I love using his nocturnes as warmup material.

[@mattersthatmatter]

Thank you for the great advice . Not only is it very useful but quite encouraging.

[@masscreationbroadcasts]

I actually collect content about learning about learning. I'm approaching 100 videos and I must commend you, you said something I've not encountered before. Some really good specifics on annexes to the Feynman technique. I'm glad you didn't go with the 101 version.

[@user-jl6sk1zp3h]

Super useful! Thanks for sharing this great information.

[@humanalltoohuman]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@jonhill3328]

A very useful video, thank you for creating it 👍🏻

[@GaryGruenhagen]

I actually used this technique to study while in graduate school at night studying operations research. I was also working full time and had a very demanding job so needed to be as efficient as possible when studying. The end product of my study sessions was a set of flash card like "cue" cards which I used to "present" lectures to imaginary students as a review technique. This also allowed me to use SRS techniques to internalize the information. It worked. I ended up with a 4.0 grade average.

[@lkreinmiller-author]

To many think digital means a key board. I write by hand but in a digital interface. I get the best of both worlds.

[@morefiction3264]

The only thing I'm having trouble with is distinguishing between "Creating an Omni-Outline" and replicating each of the chapter outlines I've done with 'chapter 1', 'chapter 2', etc. at the top. Otherwise, this works well with the workflow I've been building. Reading actively. Taking notes in a notebook, although you're teaching me that I'm taking too many notes. Then transferring that into an organized text editor. I'm using one called Joplin that lets me create different notebooks for different books and search the text of all my notebooks looking for related keywords. This also inspires me to create videos on the books I'm reading as though I'm teaching others.

[@VertexHero]

Great information. I learned from another video for a similar process called "short essays". However, yours is much more refined. Thank you for your help!

[@valleconexoes]

Bro, thanks a lot! Amazing content

[@Gumiweunoia]

thank you. This video is really helpful to me

[@jentan4531]

Very true. I always learn the stuff I teach better than anything else

[@jamesburwash5635]

Thank you good video, you a good voice for you tube, I enjoy your videos. Cheers from Vancouver Island Canada

[@asherlearmonth9787]

Can't believe you got 150k subs. You're a boss - 1mil soon.

[@mementomori4591]

Thanks, that's really helpful.

[@sherilynntellis7713]

Love all the content you put out! Valuable info, easy to apply and excellently communicated. Would you have any advice on how to take notes during an ongoing class? Especially when it's quite technical or there's a system or process to be understood (with diagrams and flow etc).

[@mindyshively4947]

This is good content. Thank you!

[@ramonmenendezrecio4442]

Great advice!

[@negar393]

New subscriber here! I’m loving your stuff! Keep up the good work

[@guri7616]

Same lmao

[@Noahsendir]

Thanks for everything :)

[@dian970]

thank you!

[@knw-seeker6836]

Thanks for the great advice Could you make a video in which you breakup in detail how you’re doing the outline on a text example.

[@aaronoverstreet1436]

Thanks Jared, useful tips. I’m about to commence study in philosophy at uni, which is how I came to discover your channel. I was just looking at a Kindle after not being able to find a few book titles in stores. How do you find it compared with a book? How comprehensive is the e-reader range for philosophy etc?

[@romeoaranjon5178]

Great video. I am struggling with keeping a commonplace book because I keep coming up with way too much I want to copy and move over to it from each passage I am reading. I am going to start trying your method on the next book I am reading.

[@dionysianapollomarx]

Awesome. I might have to do the same as your annotation method. I underline sentences I like which biases my reading of an important nonfiction work especially academic stuff. I need to get better fidelity of texts as they actually are. Think this will also help in reading fiction? I think it might, maybe especially tougher classic fiction.

[@eg765]

I love how youtube introduces us qualified person and helps us get useful advices easily.

[@syltmackaalexandus4998]

yeah thats true I noticed that Im good at showing others(telling them)

[@ToddBryantsr]

I used Rocket Notebook and then integrate those notes into Obsidian -- I also use Readwise Reader.

[@workout-7050]

Its that one page that shows if the reader is just a reader or a researcher. That one page is usually the last or first page of the book.

[@cbbcbb6803]

Very good point! I have heard that the best way to learn something is to teach it. And the student and the teacher can be one and the same person. I heard this years ago. People have to discover and then rediscover quality techniques. As for highlighting, why can't that be part of your "first draft" process? It may, or may not, be useful, but I think some people just like doing it. So maybe putting it in the first drafting steps might give it some (slight) usefulness?

[@LilyYadav-]

👍👍👍👍👍✊

[@Feelings..519]

Why is your channel underrated, cuz your helpfull and organized for the viewers so keep going.

[@_jared]

I’m just very thankful for all the support from viewers!

[@timbushell8640]

+800 views within hours of a release... it is supported. Just not that wide or deep yet. But over 100k subscribers.

[@davidbenjamin4534]

Excellent video. Thank you for posting. Question - would you modify this for a work of literature such as Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein?"

[@victorslach2384]

Great!

[@426F6F]

You can write notes after you highlight with your Kindle. I agree though, I wish there were better features for annotating. 😮‍💨

[@beancate]

im trying to shove in some grades for my current school year (11th grade) to make in for the grade screening for uni. i have so much potential, but i lost 2 years in depression and am trying to get back up

[@lesliewells-ig5dl]

I think if you highlight a passage on a k8ndle and put it on the clipboard there is a way to print them. That might help.

[@periteu]

- *¿Cuál es la enseñanza clave del video?* - Si buscas comprender una información, entonces asegúrate de tomar notas como si fueras a enseñarle a una persona esa información. - ¿Cuál es el mejor medio para tomar notas? - Tomar notas como si fueras a enseñarselo a alguien más - ¿Cuál es el proceso de toma de notas? - Anotación - Exportación - Bosquejo - Anotación - ¿Cuáles son buenos objetos de anotación? - Vocabulario que necesitas ser explicado - Ideas claves que quieres que todos sepan - Partes de la lectura que no se comprenden y son necesarias de comprender - ¿Cuáles son buenos signos para denotar las anotaciones? - Vocabulario que necesitas ser explicado, *se subraya* - Ideas claves que quieres que todos sepan, *se le pone una estrella* - Partes de la lectura que no se comprenden y son necesarias de comprender, *se le pone un signo de interrogación* - Exportación - ¿En qué consiste la exportación? - Escritura de un resumen - Escritura de un bosquejo sobre cómo se lo explicarías a alguien más - ¿Cuáles son buenas aplicaciones para el paso de la exportación? - Roam Research - Obsidian - Bosquejo - ¿Sobre qué información se crea el bosquejo? - los bosquejos creados por las exportaciones

[@sebastianfiege7765]

Que aplicación usa al final?

[@robilotte11]

great methods, probably will use it for finals or something important, but for day to day studying its just too much work that i cant spare with the amount of reading we´re given

[@_jared]

I think that’s the right approach. You can’t use this for everything.

[@PetarPopovic-mp1qg]

@Jared Henderson Can you share your must listen to podcasts or stories etc.. that are on Aura Health

[@pschmidty5]

Jared, do you think you could do this well in Notion? Or are Roam/Obsidian your recommendations?

[@wmalgal]

Tangent: Hi Jared. I have just discovered your channel. You mentioned you were a Christian. I am too and I also like Stoicism. How do you reconcile Stoicism with your Christian faith?

[@MrGoncharow]

Спасибо

[@rldluz]

Are you practicing Chopin? Which piece?

[@theninthcloud]

Great video. off-topic but what pencil are you using?

[@esotericsense]

would it be best to divide the sections you read into the chapters of the text youre reading or just find a suitable place to stop in the text and pick up from there wherever that might be

[@abhijit6545]

Which pen are you using??!

[@user-sh4ym9wv3n]

Thank you for sharing and explaining! How would you recommend to combine that approach and index cards from your previous videos? Thank you!

[@_jared]

I wish I’d mentioned this in the video. I think the notecards are useful for taking notes on a theme (or themes) in multiple books. This method is best for students who need to deeply study a single book. Does that make sense?

[@user-sh4ym9wv3n]

@@_jared thank you for your reply! Yes, it does. But I also thought about mixing them. For example, you finish a deep dive into a book with the teacher-student method and then add a separate section with index cards for the same book. In the future, you could use cards to mix them within the particular book and overall on a theme level. How do you think, would that approach work? And keep everything digital to have easy access anytime. I just want to find a balance between efficiency, material study, and future accessibility :)

[@Eesalitepill99]

Define the term

[@nathanhubball]

Great video! Q: would you read the book/section through before any annotation or annotate as you go along?

[@Alto-hf6rd]

I think it depends on what works best for you. I prefer annotating as I read (one of the benefits of this is "talking to"/arguing with the author in the margins), but if you're unsure, I'd recommend: Reading a section before annotating it; then annotating the next section as you read; and finally, deciding which method was the easiest/most fun.

[@airtwo2270]

Did you manage to create an effective system for book notes in Obsidian? I find that program very challenging but super interesting, would love to see your approach if you have one!

[@_jared]

Personally, no, but I don’t spend much time with it. Other people on KZbin are much more adept than I am.

[@eely225]

How would you compare this approach to the index card exporting method (the Sertillanges approach)? Have you switched to this approach or do you use both for different kinds of reading/writing?

[@_jared]

Great question. I use the notecards when I want to get key ideas or quotes from many books and group them by themes, usually when I’m tying it all together for a writing project. This approach is great to dive deep into a single book.

[@huizylove]

First seconds, I subscribe 😅 adobe pdf has a highlight option with notes

[@Parimitaa]

Hi Jared, do you mind sharing any omni-outline of yours? So that we can have a close view on that.

[@jquint321]

Hi Just wanted to let you know the Obsidian link sends me to an error page on their website. If you mind updating in the comment with the correct link. Thanks!

[@tinkerjel6701]

Do you do the 3 things that you've mentioned while reading or you read all the content first before do the aforementioned? Make sense? Because how will you enjoy the book when you don't understand it firsthand. Respect my comment. Thank you.

[@AJearth]

This might be a stupid question, but how do I know what is important? Maybe things that stand out? I'm currently reading Plato's 5 dialogues ( published by Hackett publishing)

[@_jared]

It’s a skill you pick up over time. Focus on what stands out. You eventually start to get an intuitive feel for it.

[@gjsb6wfg995]

It doesn't matter whether you write or type, if you don't exude honest effort, all you'll end up with is a pile of trash, so in that sense typing is still superior, since it saves you physical space and money, plus you're also saving the trees!

[@BourneThisWay]

I’m studying for a certification exam and I dread finishing the book every time. I read about 50 pages in a sitting and haven’t picked it up in a few days. My problem is getting started.

[@matejamarkovic860]

I don't know why, but I got a little confused in the explanation of the third part. Do you think I should describe the whole book in one go, or go through all the main parts again adding more information and those things that are difficult to understand and I didn't write them down in the second part

[@andersonneil2293]

Is there an alternative method to annotating that you would recommend for library books? Obviously i can't write in them

[@_jared]

Use those sticky book tabs I briefly showed and write on those. It's the only viable option for library books, I think.

[@michelleherald9619]

Post it notes with page numbers...you can arrange them how you need...make an outline on the wall or back of the door. If writing a paper you can use them to determine order of info and where you will insert quotes.

[@rcr6546]

Try post-it notes and index cards inserted in the corresponding pages

[@urdarkside1]

Random question, what pencil were you using @1:43?

[@__M__133]

i think it may be a Kaweco Special mechanical pencil

[@Haileyjane2004]

I usually just write notes after different sections of reading.

[@nateyinglingmusic8550]

Me taking notes, on a video tutorial about taking notes

[@GHSB7462]

what are the names of the apps? roam and obsidian (english is not my first language)

[@_jared]

Roam Research (which requires a subscription) and Obsidian (which is free)

[@GHSB7462]

@@_jaredokay thanks! i love your channel

[@timbushell8640]

@@GHSB7462 Obsidian - a little harder to use on multiple devices - and charges for 'their' inhouse sync'ing . BUT if you are woking on to a simple home network or a single device - then Obsidian is great - as it is ALL local files. Things that the core of the Obsidian app doesn't do or does in a limited way - can be expanded with extensions and plug-ins. Plenty of vid support from users - both 'here' KZbin and via the support/community forums. Come, come join the dark side. : ))))))

[@petesdaily]

What pencil are you using?

[@__M__133]

i thinkg it's the Kaweco Special mechanical pencil

[@EllosPL]

Great content as always. I see you added some stock clips. I think it doesn't fit your videos. It looks artificial and fake. Just my 2 cents

[@ip3931]

Who taught you?

[@luciusrex]

This comes naturally for a lot of people actually. In uni, the best way I found to study was to do the exact same thing: an outline, chapter by chapter covering every single detail. Every topic in a paragraph. Every paragraph in a section etc. Reviewing my own notes everyday until exam day. On the floor, those notes become reminders too. It's very likely I'm not the only one in my class, let alone in the world, to use this method out of necessity (pass our class).

[@Literallyjustmint]

Hi, I was just wondering, are you a religious person?

[@bookgains]

I read with my phone because i need to search word meanings everytime i read.

[@productivity6693]

Is it me or do you have a new mustache?

[@_jared]

I shaved the beard down and kept the mustache a week or two ago.

[@productivity6693]

@@_jared Ah okay cool, have to get used to it a bit. Really love your videos btw. Got myself a few books on Stoicism thanks to your suggestions. Regarding this video, I like the ideas. The principles are allright, but speaking in terms of Cognitive Science it's not the most efficient. Again, still like it, and much of the sentiment is adequate. Keep up the good work.

[@4justo740]

2:42 You're using a paper notebook/pad in front of your laptop but you don't explicity discuss this tactic. Just describe how you don't like a Kindle feature.

[@xochiltrodriguez428]

It would have been cool to have to actually show more of what you recommend than just talking about it.

[@stevesutton772]

Take notes

[@VertexHero]

P.S. @ 6:00 quick tip for fellow pen and paper friends - a notebook that has good wide margins are great for making revised notes (in a different color). This helps reduce the amount of major rewrites. I don't have a ton of notebook recommendations, but the Maruman Mnemosyne 194 is a good quality Japanese notebook that has ~1in. margin on the left and right . I usually go to Obsidian for the final draft. Works for me, to each their own. Hope this helps!

[@cristianmicu]

NO 1. explain phylosophy pages to a beginner is taking considerable time explaining every concept if not every other word ,on every page, don't tell me otherwise cause i am a beginner and i tried reading phylosophy no 2 taking notes in phylosophy books is a total different thing than taking notes on a novel... e.g. a fiction book, where you do need to remember what you just read, but not in the same sense as with the phylosophy book

[@duh.itsyaboi]

Bro I'm watching this right after your "How to read better" vid, and gosh you looked way better in that video than this.

[@stevesutton772]

Kindles SUCK the hype is FAKE good lord. I hate it.

[@Ultrarock369]

Just wasted 9 minutes of my time

[@headlessspaceman5681]

STOP TRASHING BOOKS. Everybody needs to STOP underlining and highlighting in books. A book can be read many times, infinite times. But it only takes one person with a pen underlining or highlighting to trash the book for all future readers. There's nothing more distracting. It would be like if actors shouted every third line they deliver, Or if every third burger you bought was already 2/3's eaten when you unwrap it. STOP IT. Stop trashing books. If that is literally and/or figuratively the ONLY way you can remember what you read then you MUST xerox the necessary pages and do your underlining/highlighting to the xeroxed pages. I don't really care how you remember stuff or what tricks you employ. That's your problem. When you trash a book, you make it everyone's problem. You make it perfect for throwing in a dumpster. There's no justification for treating a book like your single use napkin.

[@anitas5817]

If I plan to read a book once then give it away, like reading a popular fiction book, I don’t write in it. When I plan to study a book like a classic or a nonfiction book, I bought it for me to learn from, and I’m not planning on or concerned about anyone else reading it. If you don’t like books that have been written in, don’t buy them. You can get used books with no marking. It’s not like there’s only one copy in the world.

[@Exidose]

lol stop talking, I bought the book so I'll do what I want with it.

[@alazar7685]

great video... bookshelf/collection tour please?

[@_jared]

Maybe one day. Right now 99% of my books are in storage as I prep for a move.