And it makes me wonder…

Enjoy

How to read texts and know stuff

A student of mine asked me recently to address reading methodology.  Having never considered the topic, it took some time for me to figure out exactly what I do.  Perhaps because I’ve always fancied the complex, indulgent, and nuanced, my process evolved to keep pace with the advanced level of my materials.

My scholarly maxim: input is worthless without output.  Or, put in a more concrete manner, reading is the spiritual predecessor to writing.  Information is the cash reserve of our creativity.  It spawns new ideas, inspires us, gives us focus, and gives us freedom.  When I read, I begin the creative process at page one.  By articulating authors’ ideas into my own, I provide meaning, shape, and form to the ambiguous.  I furnish poignancy and scholarship from input.  I type out quotes, I rewrite phrases, and I tab.  I never highlight.  Why?  The cost to benefit ratio of highlighting compared to rewriting is obvious.  Use it as a last resort.

In short, make the author’s ideas your own.  Draw from your bank of material, find connections – the world needs more ideas.  Good ones.  So get started.