No matter the level you decide to read, reading should be treated as a conversation between you and the writer. The way you converse with the writer - whether of a book, article, essay, or some other piece - is by highlighting important passages and writing relevant notes. (View Highlight)
Bolded or italicized text, strongly declarative sentences, and summaries are all good signposts of highlightable passages. Highlights should inform your conclusions, be used as references in later summaries, and communicate important knowledge from the author. (View Highlight)
Questions: What is unclear to me? What would I ask the author? What philosophical questions do I have? (View Highlight)
Context: Sometimes you need additional context for a highlight, or you thought of something else you read that you want to link to a particular passage, or you have some background knowledge that rounds out what you’re reading. Contextual notes are some of the most important notes to take. (View Highlight)
Ideas and inspirations: If contextual notes are the most important, ideas and inspirations might be the most fun. Sometimes you will come across a passage that unlocks something in your mind, it inspires you to action, it gives you a blueprint of how to do something more effectively. Write this down immediately! Flashes of inspiration are precious things, don’t let them go to waste. (View Highlight)
