Summary
Highlights
Professor Miller introduces the concept of reading like a professional, differentiating it from casual reading. He uses an analogy of throwing a baseball versus being a major league pitcher to illustrate the skill and deliberation required. Many professions, such as advertising, marketing, publishing, and journalism, demand careful reading skills.
The first tip is to always read with a pencil (or an equivalent tool). This encourages active engagement with the text. The speaker recommends using physical copies of texts whenever possible, or digital alternatives like styluses, highlighting programs, or a separate notebook for notes if a hard copy isn't an option.
The second tip advises taking two types of notes: those about the language of the text and those about your personal emotional reactions. It's important to note specific language, recurring themes, ideas, concepts, words, images, and metaphors. Simultaneously, record your feelings of excitement, boredom, confusion, or what struck you as unusual. Avoid using external sources like the internet as it can hinder original thought.
The final tip is to develop a quick and efficient annotation system that doesn't disrupt the reading experience. The speaker shares examples from Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart', demonstrating a system of symbols (e.g., double bar for personal relevance, frowny face for sadness, specific icons for themes like 'British', 'woman', 'man', 'misogyny', 'Christianity', 'animals', 'death'). The core idea is to notice things during reading and analyze them later.
The video concludes by reiterating the three main tips for professional reading: always read with a pencil in hand, divide your attention between the text and yourself, and notice details during reading for later analysis. The speaker encourages viewers to reach out with any questions.