I have read many books but forgot most of them. What is the purpose of reading?

The Purpose of Reading

The purpose of reading…

…is to discover your ignorance.

That's right.

Think about it—it’s impossible to remember everything you read. But you still retain a lot.

Psychologists say there are two types of memory:

Long-term

Short-term

Our short-term memory can handle 7 to 9 items at a time. But long-term memory? It can store 100 to 10,000 items.

Don’t believe me?

Try to remember your first date, 20 years ago. I bet you can recount it in great detail. That’s an event from 20 years ago!

How is that possible?

It’s because of synesthesia—when our senses work together to help us remember.

Back to reading. If you involve your senses while you read, you’ll recall more of what you learn.

Reading for pleasure is different from studying. It has its pros and cons. But I’ll leave that for you to discover.

Enjoy the journey.

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