Storyline/ information retention

Some questions for voracious readers =)

How much of a book do you retain in your head?

Is it worth it if you read and then forget the information written? Is it as if you never read it?

Do you read a book cover to cover, or only the bits you find interesting?

Do you catalogue your books?

Do you read finish a book even if you don't like it?

From the books you have read.. would you say that reading in haste is inversely related to information retention?

Would you say that being forced to read a book (ie, classics) would lower the enjyment and thus quality of reading a book?


Thanks if any of you would like to offer some input. No, it's not for any formal statistical/ research purposes. 🙂

I read two or three books at one time .
I unlike a lot of people who say they are speed readers read every word .
I pick up where I left off in a book and it all comes back to me. after a long time I will remember parts.
I always remember the main plot and the start and end some detail I loose.
But some detail reaily isn't that emportant You take P.D. James books there is a lot of unimportant detail.
where as books like the (Russia House) and (The spy who came in from the cold) LeCerie has important detail that must be remembered as you read to connect the dots.

How do you utilise the information from your books to daily life?

Do you read non-fiction?

How much of a book do you retain in your head? Most of it, characters and plot. I tend to retain emotion and mode of dress. Interaction between people or environment.

Is it worth it if you read and then forget the information written? Is it as if you never read it? I retain essentials so I'd mentally pick up where I left off. So I will re-read a book for pleasure, not because it's *new* to me.

Do you read a book cover to cover, or only the bits you find interesting? Cover to cover.

Do you catalogue your books? Nope.

Do you read finish a book even if you don't like it? No, if I am not interested within the first chapter at least it goes to someone else who might like it.

From the books you have read.. would you say that reading in haste is inversely related to information retention? I like to take my time and read, mull things over, absorb it. If I read quickly I would miss key elements.

Would you say that being forced to read a book (ie, classics) would lower the enjoyment and thus quality of reading a book?
No, I quite enjoyed all the classic literature in school. And have an extensive collection of it now.

How do you utilise the information from your books to daily life? I utilize it within thought processes. If I am reading something that has great meaning to me I implement it.

Do you read non-fiction? Yes, I do.

I do not read self help books.
I do read some fiction
I read a lot of history such as (The Last Lion) by Manchester about the wilderness years of churchill.
I also read a great deal of papers and logs dealing with physics and science theory.
Utiliseing it in my day to day life I have never thought about it.
So I have no statistically useful information.
I am sure in ways I don't even think about I do use things I have studied in my day to day life.
example in my head I do simple math.
If you were to ask me to add all the numbers between 1 and 100 in my head I can tell you the answer is 5050.
How I do this in my head is by grouping numbers.
1 &99=100 2&98=100 3 &97 = 100 47&53 =100 48&52 =100 49&51=100 so you have 49 groups of 100 with 100 on the end and 50 in the middle so you have 5050.
Things like this come from having used numbers and reading about different ways of using numbers.
Maybe this helps or answers your question.

Thanks for all your interesting answers.

james tate.. whoa @ the numbers thingy.. looks like youve uncovered the secret of life..!



I ask this because I've read books that I've totally forgotten.. or so I think. One author is Mitch Albom. I think I've read 2 of his books but I no longer recognise the words when I picked them back up. But I know one of 'ems about an old mentor teaching a younger guy.


How much of a book do you retain in your head?

I think 5-15% , usually the gist of it.

Is it worth it if you read and then forget the information written? Is it as if you never read it?

I hate that.

Do you read a book cover to cover, or only the bits you find interesting?

Cover to cover but I find that doing that's detrimental especially if you realise you dont like a book after a while orfor some chapters. It leads to many unfinished literature.

Do you catalogue your books?

Yes. I'm getting pretty obsessed with it.

Do you read finish a book even if you don't like it?

Yes, especially if I have read it halfway. I don't like to give up. Perhaps I will pick it up again if its a lib book.

From the books you have read.. would you say that reading in haste is inversely related to information retention?

Yes. The goal then is to race to the end, not to assimilate the information.

Would you say that being forced to read a book (ie, classics) would lower the enjyment and thus quality of reading a book?

I think if I wasnt forced to read classics, I wouldnt have the depth and breath of appreciation I have for the works. I have read classics on my own, and I doubt I grasp the meanings as well as if I had studied every nuance.

"How much of a book do you retain in your head?"

I retain much if not most of it.

"Is it worth it if you read and then forget the information written? Is it as if you never read it?"

Well, I do know I don't forget, even the things I'm not so crazy about. But if I did forget details about the book, at least I read it and could give an educated opinion.

"Do you read a book cover to cover, or only the bits you find interesting?"

Always read every page.

"Do you read finish a book even if you don't like it?"

If I'm not in the mood for it, I'll put it aside until I am and will eventually read it from cover to cover.

"From the books you have read.. would you say that reading in haste is inversely related to information retention?"

I won't read anything in haste. If I can't retain what I've read, it's probably because I don't understand it as in Joyce or Faulkner. But even if I don't understand it, I still retain it - gives quite a headache 😉

"Would you say that being forced to read a book (ie, classics) would lower the enjyment and thus quality of reading a book?"

Forced? Hmmm, I love suggestions for books I would never choose on my own. This usually leads to a new found passion. And classics are my love so probably being forced to anything written by Dan Brown or what the masses love would cause some consternation.

"But even if I don't understand it, I still retain it - gives quite a headache"

You retain everything, including page numbers and exact conversations?
I thought brain cells die and depreciate every second.. you must have some reverse depletion spiral.

People think that just because the masses love something, it must be a bad book. Where's the logic in that? Usually things are popular because they are that good..

Plus, classics are also evergreenish-popular.. Dan Brown may not be THAT good, but his plot was intricately tied up in the end, very nicely. I did enjoy his first two books.

As for classics, my fave is Macbeth.

Posted by spica
"But even if I don't understand it, I still retain it - gives quite a headache"

You retain everything, including page numbers and exact conversations?
I thought brain cells die and depreciate every second.. you must have some reverse depletion spiral.

And you must suffer from stick-up-your-arse syndrome. WTF is wrong with you? You make no sense and YES, I do remember storylines & bits & pieces if it's a stream of conscious writer like Joyce. Don't think you get it since you never read anything that challenged you.


People think that just because the masses love something, it must be a bad book. Where's the logic in that? Usually things are popular because they are that good..So McDonald's has great, 4 star food because it's so popular. Nice logic. The masses are sheep, what fills your tummies/heads "cuz I'ms reading a book", makes you soooo smart. Forget about the quality or substance, just 'read ya some words on da page'. BAAAHH!

Plus, classics are also evergreenish-popular.. Huh? Making up words now? See, if you read more classics, your vocabulary would improve so you wouldn't have to resort to embarrassing displays of idiocy. Dan Brown may not be THAT good, Winner of understatement of the year! He's a proven fraud and he's never received awards for his writing ability so his popularity is due to the subject matter and the sheep's love for following each other's tails unquestioningly. plot was intricately tied up in the end, very nicely. I did enjoy his first two books. Give the man a fricking medal! A 5th grader can tie up plots. I did enjoy his first two books. Saw that coming.

As for classics, my fave is Macbeth. So you took English 101, Yay! But it's really a play. There are so many more incredible classic books. They blow away most contemporary writers. It requires a different mindset to appreciate them. A good grasp of vocabulary helps and a mind willing to delve past the superficial mores of a TV sitcom mindset.

Mistery, mistery , mistery!
I am deeply hurt that you bring sheep into this.
It is true that most people have empty minds and full intestines
but do not insult the sheep.

Posted by james tate
Mistery, mistery , mistery!
I am deeply hurt that you bring sheep into this.
It is true that most people have empty minds and full intestines
but do not insult the sheep.

😄 I do love sheep. Please accept my apologies. They are so cute & fluffy.

And tasty. YUM!

They are quite nice with a bit of mint

Posted by Mistery
Posted by spica
"But even if I don't understand it, I still retain it - gives quite a headache"

You retain everything, including page numbers and exact conversations?
I thought brain cells die and depreciate every second.. you must have some reverse depletion spiral.

And you must suffer from stick-up-your-arse syndrome. WTF is wrong with you? You make no sense and YES, I do remember storylines & bits & pieces if it's a stream of conscious writer like Joyce. Don't think you get it since you never read anything that challenged you.


People think that just because the masses love something, it must be a bad book. Where's the logic in that? Usually things are popular because they are that good..So McDonald's has great, 4 star food because it's so popular. Nice logic. The masses are sheep, what fills your tummies/heads "cuz I'ms reading a book", makes you soooo smart. Forget about the quality or substance, just 'read ya some words on da page'. BAAAHH!

Plus, classics are also evergreenish-popular.. Huh? Making up words now? See, if you read more classics, your vocabulary would improve so you wouldn't have to resort to embarrassing displays of idiocy. Dan Brown may not be THAT good, Winner of understatement of the year! He's a proven fraud and he's never received awards for his writing ability so his popularity is due to the subject matter and the sheep's love for following each other's tails unquestioningly. plot was intricately tied up in the end, very nicely. I did enjoy his first two books. Give the man a fricking medal! A 5th grader can tie up plots. I did enjoy his first two books. Saw that coming.

As for classics, my fave is Macbeth. So you took English 101, Yay! But it's really a play. There are so many more incredible classic books. They blow away most contemporary writers. It requires a different mindset to appreciate them. A good grasp of vocabulary helps and a mind willing to delve past the superficial mores of a TV sitcom mindset.

You're the epitome of ugly.

I was not here for a fight but you turned everything ugly. Yuck. Talk about cultured. You still haven't learnt manners. Ugly mind, you have.

Again, I must soak in epsom salts to get rid of bumping into creeps like Misery. And to think you have some "popular" actress as your avatar. Who are you kidding.

*prays Misery Mistery goes away for good*

A lesson for those who live in glasshouses. I answered your questions honestly and you cast the first stone.

Posted by Mistery
A lesson for those who live in glasshouses. I answered your questions honestly and you cast the first stone.

Hahahahahaha.. cast the first stone? I was just pointing out some pretentious, irrational logic of "remembering everything you have ever read". I hate that when people butter themselves up to look superior when it's obvious they don't actually do. Even if this was a job interview, you'd not make the first cut by selling yourself so pretentiously.

For someone so sensitive you really retaliated with a bloodbath. I don't blame you. Surely with all that culturedness you seem to project, you are still a beast underneath. I can see your knives hidden under your pen..

But nice try hiding them all in the end under a cool, nice exterior. Hope it implodes the bearer.

And surely for someone who disdains contemporary writers, you sure watch mindless contemporary chick flicks.

Loser.

How much of a book do you retain in your head?
Most of the books that I read. Characters and their quotes. Their ideas and opinion. Also the description of the environment.

Is it worth it if you read and then forget the information written? Is it as if you never read it?
Mostly I remember about the information but reading a book is never unworthy.At least it helps you to improve your reading skills,etc.

Do you read a book cover to cover, or only the bits you find interesting?
Usually Cover to cover.But weirdly enough,sometimes I read back to forth.

Do you catalogue your books?
No.But sounds like a good idea.

Do you read finish a book even if you don't like it?
Yes,always. Once I started I always finish it. But I`m kinda selective about the books I`m going to read.

From the books you have read.. would you say that reading in haste is inversely related to information retention?
I don`t like read in haste, if I do I`d misunderstand the main idea, or miss the important plots etc

Would you say that being forced to read a book (ie, classics) would lower the enjyment and thus quality of reading a book?
I don`t know, I usually find any kind of book is interesting except the books about politics( full of bullshit)
I can not understand why some people must be "forced to" read a book,so...