Margin notes
Writing in the margins while reading, especially where you disagree with the author
Reading with a pen and arguing with the book as you go: a line under the claim, a question mark, a counterexample squeezed into the margin. Note-takers say it forces them to connect new material to what they already know rather than letting the eyes slide over the page, which is why it roughly doubles the time a book takes. Many only do it for nonfiction, or for the books they expect to think about later. It costs nothing beyond a willingness to mark up the copy.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Austin KleonDoes it
Writer and artist · Steal Like an Artist
Marks up books with a pencil and likes soft lead that can get really black. The Musgrave 600 is his favorite for it, and the chunky Prismacolor Ebony does the same job as well as shading backgrounds in his diary comics.
Source: AustinKleon.com: Studio gear - Bill GatesDoes it
Microsoft co-founder · Gates Notes reading lists
Writes notes in about a fifth of the books he reads, which he says doubles the time each takes but is key to his learning. If he disagrees with an author, the counterargument goes in the margin.
Source: CNBC Make It: Bill Gates: On vacation I get to read about 3 hours a day“And the more I dislike a book, the more time I take to write margin notes.”
CNBC Make It: This is the simple trick Bill Gates uses to remember what he reads (opens in a new tab) · 21 Mar 2019 - Ryan HolidayDoes it
Writer · The Daily Stoic
Marks passages, writes questions in the margin and folds the bottom corner of any page he wants to find again. He carries a pen for it, usually one taken from the last hotel, and says those marks are what he later transcribes onto cards.
Source: RyanHoliday.net: Here's Some Stuff Worth Carrying With You Everywhere - Seth GodinRecommends
Author · Seth's Blog, published daily
Tells readers to pick three things they will change at work before opening a business book, then read hunting for those three. Sticky notes, index cards or a highlighter are there to turn the reading into something to act on rather than a record to file, and he sets a three-week test: nothing done by then and the time was wasted.
Source: seths.blog: How to read a business book
Aimed at the same thing
Other entries filed under focus or productivity.
- HabitFREE, no cost
Daily reading
A fixed daily reading block, usually books rather than feeds
On record from 25 of 62 tracked people: 23 do it, 2 recommend it - HabitFREE, no cost
Early rising
A fixed, early wake time, often before anyone else is awake
On record from 11 of 62 tracked people: 10 do it, 1 has discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Daily writing
Write something every day, published or not
On record from 10 of 62 tracked people: 8 do it, 2 recommend it - HabitFREE, no cost
Phone-free first hour
No email, news or social media until you have done something of your own
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it, 2 recommend it - HabitFREE, no cost
Thinking retreats
Blocks of time cleared of the schedule to sit with one hard problem
On record from 4 of 62 tracked people: 3 do it, 1 has discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Written goal sheet
Goals written down, in numbers, and kept where you see them every morning
On record from 3 of 62 tracked people: 3 do it
Habit entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.