Reading is not only very simple, but also very boring. As an avid reader, reading fills me with joy, even though it may take some time to fully immerse myself in the story. Luckily, there are many ways to make reading a delightful experience. One of these ways is called close reading, which we discussed in my last post. This method helps us absorb and remember important information from the text.
There are three purposes of close reading.
Determine what the text say
Determine how the text say it
Determine why the text matter
You can find lots of advice on the Internet, with universities sharing their own tips and tricks. I've read them all and applied them during my reading adventures. Some have been successful, while others haven't. In this post, I'll be sharing my personal experience.
Determine what the text say
Tips: Pay attention to title Title contains a lot of information about the main content of the chapter. |
It is noted that the authors are very careful to select the title of their text or paragraph. The title has to be impressive enough to keep their audiences stay with the chapter.
Look at the first chapter of Ikigai as an example. The phrase “Ikigai: A mysterious word” is easily captured in readers' eyes. This statement uncovers us as a simple messenger. When I read it, I know this chapter gives me information about the meaning of “Ikigai word”. I may guess what it means, where it comes from after reading.
I jot down two questions beside the title to guide my understanding. I look through paragraphs and I come across key points such as Tokyo, Barcelona, Viktor Frankl's logotherapy, and search for meaning in what they do and how they live (see it in the picture).
Each of these triggers associations in my mind.
Tokyo → Japan
Barcelona → a country related to Spain located in Europe
Viktor Frankl → The popular author of the man’s search for meaning.
Search for meaning in what they do and how they live → purpose of life, life philosophy
Based on these details, I guess “Ikigai" is a concept related to the meaning of life, possibly derived from the Japanese word or Barcelona word.
I continue reading the chapter, and draw the conclusion that Ikigai is the Japanese concept about happiness.
This chapter is longer than two pages. But by focusing on the title and making questions, I save time to understand this concept.
Determine how the text say
Tip: Creating a question and finding the answer |
Once the title has been fully comprehended, we embark on a journey of delving deeper into the text by formulating questions. I still use the first chapter of Ikigai as an example.
Before I write down key points in my notebooks: “Ikigai is the Japanese concept, meaning “the happiness of always being busy.”, and begin to ask questions and find the answer hidden behind the text. These are my random questions
What was the purpose of the author when he mentioned this word?
What benefit of Ikigai?
How does it work?
As I generate my own inquiries, my brain is stimulated to actively seek out key information. I continue viewing the book and I realize there is some vocabulary associated with the same meaning. I can easily see these words such as longevity, centenarians, the village of longevity, Japanese centenarians, the highest expectancy and eldest residents while reading the chapter. They remind me about longevity in Japan, and it could be one of the benefits of the Ikigai lifestyle.
The intention of the author to write this book is mentioned at the end of the chapter, he says: “ The purpose of this book is to bring the secrect of Japan's centenarians to you and give you the tools to find your own Ikigai.” . From this, I infer that the insight of the author could be to bring the method (Ikigai) that helps us to live a meaningful and joyful journey through life.
However, I can't find the answer to the third question I made. But, I don't worry about it, knowing that it may be unraveled in the forthcoming chapters.
Determine why the text matter
Ask yourself, does it matter to you? |
After reading this chapter, I don't move on to the next one. I spend one or two minutes thinking about the importance of the chapter.
I review notes that I wrote while reading:
“ Ikigai is the Japanese concept, meaning “the happiness of always being busy.”
“ The insight of the author could be to bring the method (Ikigai) that helps us to live a meaningful and joyful journey through life.”
“ The purpose of this book is to bring the secrét of Japan's centenarians to you and give you the tools to find your own ikigai.”
I realize that Ikigai is a way of life in Japan. If I adopt this lifestyle, will it benefit me? Do I need it? Is all of this information relevant to me?
My answer is yes, so I will keep reading this book. I really want to read this book because sometimes I lose the meaning of life. In the morning, I have no reason and motivation to get up. The job makes me overwhelmed and I constantly question if I am truly living or just surviving.
However, if my answer were no, I would question if it could still be useful to others or if I could gain new insights from it. This prompts me to extract as much useful information as possible and avoid wasting time reading the book.
In summary, a thorough reading technique involves understanding what the text says, how it says it, and why it matters. I break down each aspect in my own way and share my experience with you. Feel free to use it as a reference and create your own approach.
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