From the End to the Beginning

Whether you use PhotoReading or not here is a tip that will help you get your reading done faster and with better comprehension. It can even help build your curiosity and make the subject much more interesting.

Start at the back of the book. Spoiler? Not always. For some novels maybe. This is especially important for textbooks and books that have a glossary.

If you’re dealing with complex text or have to study something that may have several words you don’t know the meaning of, read the glossary first. Or put it this way. If the book has a glossary start there. Kick-start your understanding by getting on the same wavelength as the author. They may not be using the precise dictionary meaning.

Here may discover new words or words that excite you and get your curiosity going. Since they give you hints what the text covers and is a concise way of finding out what the book is about. It can even improve your mind probing question. Most of all it will help clarify what authors mean when they use that particular word. It will give you something to look forward to, like where did the author us that word. In what context and how does it build on what you already know. It’s the shortcut for learning something new. If you have a daily goal of learning 3 new things a day, then look at the glossary of a book.

The end of a book is a great place to start even if it hasn’t got a glossary.

It seems like an unusual place to start yet that’s the place the author placed everything that provides background information to help you understand what the text is about. It provides extra information that may even be all the information you need from that author. Also reading the last chapter, the glossary and even the end notes first, will help build the conscious comprehension and understanding faster

For novels, many people will avoid reading the last chapter of a novel to avoid spoiling the story, that’s fine. Yet if you’re not getting it. If it’s not making sense or boring you and you have to read it. Go ahead and read the last chapter now. It’s an ideal approach for a book you simply cannot get into. You can then decide if you want to read it to know how the hero got to that point or you can safely dump it if it was just too predicable. This is especially helpful to those who do read any book from beginning to end. When you think about it. It’s a waste of precious time. Time you could be using on more interesting books even. If you’re spending 12 hours reading a novel do you want to be boring? Read the final chapter and if that doesn’t spark your curiosity then dump the book.

Now if the book is essential reading and you cannot get into it. You must read the final chapter. Then ask yourself questions like how did the hero wind up here. What problems have been solved. Where did this take place.

To read for understanding you need to build your curiosity. So check out the back of the book first. And if you have already started and are struggling. Read the back pages now. Whether you are activating or just traditionally reading. It will boost your understanding of what the text is about.