Stop trying to replace reading a book with reading a summary of it.
No one's life was ever changed from reading a book summary.
Here's the right way to use book summaries:
No one's life was ever changed from reading a book summary.
Here's the right way to use book summaries:
1) Book Summaries = Movie Trailers
Summaries and trailers are a great way to SAMPLE content.
Just how you watch a movie trailer to decide whether the movie is worth watching, you want to read a book summary to decide whether or not the book is worth reading.
Summaries and trailers are a great way to SAMPLE content.
Just how you watch a movie trailer to decide whether the movie is worth watching, you want to read a book summary to decide whether or not the book is worth reading.
The truth is that most books aren’t worth reading.
So it’s helpful to use summaries as a way of sampling the book to see if it’s interesting to you or contains lessons you’re looking for.
If you like the summary, that’s a good sign you should get the book.
So it’s helpful to use summaries as a way of sampling the book to see if it’s interesting to you or contains lessons you’re looking for.
If you like the summary, that’s a good sign you should get the book.
2) Book Summaries = Personal Tutor
Book summary apps hire people with PhDs or domain expertise to write detailed yet easy-to-understand summaries.
If you’re having trouble understanding the book you’re reading, try reading a summary of it to help you out.
Book summary apps hire people with PhDs or domain expertise to write detailed yet easy-to-understand summaries.
If you’re having trouble understanding the book you’re reading, try reading a summary of it to help you out.
For example, earlier this year I read “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse.
It’s a deeply spiritual and philosophical read, so I knew there were things I missed or went over my head.
So I read a summary of the book to help me better understand the book’s key events and lessons.
It’s a deeply spiritual and philosophical read, so I knew there were things I missed or went over my head.
So I read a summary of the book to help me better understand the book’s key events and lessons.
3) Book Summaries = Cheat Sheet
Book summaries provide an easy way to refresh your memory about the key lessons from a book without having to reread it.
If you've lost your notes, want to review important lessons, or want to apply a book you've read, read a summary of it.
Book summaries provide an easy way to refresh your memory about the key lessons from a book without having to reread it.
If you've lost your notes, want to review important lessons, or want to apply a book you've read, read a summary of it.
For example:
If you're negotiating your salary, read a summary of a negotiation book you've read in the past.
Or if you read a book years ago that's now the book for your company’s book club, read a summary of it to remind yourself of the key lessons.
If you're negotiating your salary, read a summary of a negotiation book you've read in the past.
Or if you read a book years ago that's now the book for your company’s book club, read a summary of it to remind yourself of the key lessons.
Recap:
DON'T replace reading books with reading book summaries.
DO use book summaries as a way of:
-Sampling books before buying them
-Better understanding what you're reading
-Refreshing your memory on the key lessons of a book
DON'T replace reading books with reading book summaries.
DO use book summaries as a way of:
-Sampling books before buying them
-Better understanding what you're reading
-Refreshing your memory on the key lessons of a book
PS: If you want to try a summary app, @_shortform is the best one I've found.
They have 1,000+ summaries and exercises in each one to help you apply what you learn.
Use my link to try Shortform FREE for 5 days & get 25% off their membership here: shortform.com/alexandbooks
They have 1,000+ summaries and exercises in each one to help you apply what you learn.
Use my link to try Shortform FREE for 5 days & get 25% off their membership here: shortform.com/alexandbooks
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
