> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://thepolymathproject.gitbook.io/reading/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://thepolymathproject.gitbook.io/reading/reading-deeply-going-from-passive-to-active/brain-dump-active-reading-techniques.md).

# Brain Dump: Active Reading Techniques

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This is a quick "brain dump" off all the strategies / techniques I can think off for better active reading. Sorting will be done later... maybe.
{% endhint %}

Active reading:

* Take a walk and think / talk through the text. I find this helps me to the "big picture" thinking I need to do to situate and idea, connect it to abstractions, etc.
* Iterative reading - Going from TOC / headings, etc. -> first casual read -> deep dive read
* Seminars / discussion groups - In the style of [The Partially Examined Life](http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/)
* Summarizing the ideas
* Connecting / abstracting in-book ideas to other thinkers
* Asking questions (helps you detect holes in your knowledge)
* Drawing diagrams (I've never been very good at this... Perhaps a dispositional thing?)
*

Other things that people recommend (but I don't like):

* Copy a passage word-for-word. I dislike this for the same reason that I disliked copying Chinese characters hundreds of times as a child—it does not turn things into an active process.
*