How to Actually Remember the Books You Read | EP101
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Jun 16, 2025
Discover why many readers struggle to remember what they’ve read. The host shares insights into treating books like relationships for better retention. Explore deep reading techniques and learn practical tips, such as using sticky notes and journaling to enhance your connection with texts. It’s all about engaging deeply with complex ideas, enabling you to hold onto the wisdom even after the last page.
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Book Club Insight on Forgetting Books
Eddie Hood shares a book club experience discussing "Behave" by Robert Sapolsky, highlighting the overwhelming amount of information.
The difficulty in remembering details after reading a large, dense book is a common challenge faced by many readers.
insights INSIGHT
Books Are Like New Friends
Reading a book is like meeting a new friend for dinner; a single interaction gives only a superficial understanding.
True acquaintance, or deep understanding, requires repeated experiences and engagement.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Review and Reflect to Remember
After finishing a first read, review and highlight only the most important passages with sticky notes.
Journal and relate these key ideas to your life to deeply embed them in long-term memory.
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Published in 1939, 'The Grapes of Wrath' is a powerful and poignant novel by John Steinbeck. It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members. The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity. It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless. Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society[2][4][5].
Letters from a Stoic
Seneca
Seneca's "Letters from a Stoic" comprises a collection of personal letters offering practical advice on living a virtuous life according to Stoic principles. Written to Lucilius, a friend and student, the letters cover a wide range of topics, including dealing with adversity, managing emotions, and finding inner peace. Seneca's writing style is engaging and relatable, making complex philosophical concepts accessible to a wider audience. The letters offer timeless wisdom on self-improvement and ethical living. They remain a valuable resource for anyone seeking guidance on navigating life's challenges.
Behave
The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
Robert Sapolsky
In this book, Sapolsky delves into the complex interplay of biological processes, including neuroscience, genetics, and hormones, to explain why humans behave in various ways. He examines behavior on multiple time scales, from the immediate neural responses to actions that occur over centuries and millennia. The book addresses topics such as tribalism, xenophobia, hierarchy, competition, morality, and free will, providing a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of human behavior. Sapolsky's approach integrates cutting-edge research across several disciplines to offer insights into the biological basis of human actions, both good and bad.
In this episode, I talk about why so many people forget what they read—and how I’ve changed my habits to remember the books that matter. It’s not a trick or a hack. It’s just a way of treating books like relationships. You can’t know someone after one dinner, and you can’t know a book after one reading.
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