Become More Than a Reader; Be a Practical Student. Prioritize Comprehension and Application

"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother."—Albert Einstein

One of my old friends boastfully told me he knew someone who had finished the Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary, cover to cover. Instantly, my eyelids rose. Why? You may ask. This is because of his extravagant assumption that finishing the dictionary is about the same thing as knowing every word it contains; or that is it about the same thing as understanding the details of what those words mean.

It is relatively easier to read a lot, even though many people in the world are averse to reading. However, the real challenge of learning is not the in the readings but in the understanding of what we have read. If you are a good reader, I say to you: bravo! But bear in mind that you still need to apply your knowledge in the real world, which only comes after a good grasp of your chosen genre of literature. And this is the focus of our study today.

What we want to learn here is to move beyond being a mere reader to becoming a true student. According to Encarta dictionary, to read is to learn something by reading, but to study is to investigate knowledge; it is about processing learning itself. And it takes diligent study to discover the hidden treasures in any form of knowledge. This is what differentiates the creative mind from countless superficial readers of books and casual observers of nature.

Think about it. As humans, we tend to keep our precious items in very secure (and often obscure) places. No sane human being will leave a highly valuable pearl in a spot, where it can be effortlessly stolen. This explains the need for locks, passwords, codes, safety boxes in security companies and big banks. The same way is true with nature and really great works of art. 

To get the gem of anything, you will have to get close and to get close; you need to pay rapt attention, you need to investigate, to dig, and to explore. Likewise, to gain thorough comprehension, you will need to study, to ponder and to fixate your mind on the essential pieces of your subject. And you don’t achieve that in a hurry. It takes patient and thoughtful study to get close; it takes even a little more effort to keep close after you get there.

This is why the German composer, Robert Schumann asks us you the following simple question:

“Can that which has cost the artist days, weeks, months and even years of reflection be understood in a flash by a dilettante?”

Answer that question for yourself before we move on to the crux of this article.

Questioning is a Crucial Element in Seeking Understanding.

Just like our one-time-dictionary-devouring guy up there, some buffs also brag about reading up to 50 new books per year. While I admire their desire to learn, something is a little off with that mentality. They can easily misconstrue reading wide with gaining thorough understanding. Whereas understanding is what uncovers the great secrets or subtleties of knowledge that tend escape most people, not just mere reading. Noah Webster, the editor of Webster’s dictionary said he preferred to thoroughly master a few good books than to read too many books.

Certainly, gaining mastery entails repetition; that is, reading the same book over and over again until it is fully absorbed. But the key element of that process is asking relevant questions to explore knowledge deeply and unlock the gates of profound understanding. 

While returning to the same book at regular intervals is necessary for mastery, you still need something more for thorough comprehension as the Canadian author, Brian Tracy says, “Never assume you understand. Ask the questions.”

So ask yourself important questions any time you read anything worthwhile. 

For example:

What are the essential lessons in this book?

Can I summarize those essentials in a single page or a single paragraph?

What is the most important point of all?

Can I explain it to my grandmother?

How can I use it to make my life better?

How can I use it to make life better for others?

If I were to rewrite this book, how can I improve it a little bit?

You see, the questioning is endless as long as you can think and use your imagination. This is the process that will unleash the unlimited potentials in you as a would-be inventor and able problem solver. This is the approach that gave birth to the likes of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. 

Even though, none of these men completed formal university education as we know it, but their legendary successes prove to the entire world that they were some of the best students of knowledge and life. The Canadian self-made millionaire, Bob Proctor enlightens us further by saying, “No amount of reading or memorizing will make you successful in life. It is the understanding and application of wise thought which counts.”

Therefore, I challenge you to use the power of your mind to the fullest while you read. So don’t let the authors of whatever you may read do all your thinking for you. Instead, think independently by asking meaningful questions along the way to enhance your understanding and inspire application. 

The American astrophysicist, Carl Sagan concludes this prose for us with the pleasing byproduct of any beneficial study. He says: “The brain is like a muscle. When it is in use we feel very good. Understanding is joyous.” 

In summary, we all need to become more than mere readers; we need to improve through our knowledge.