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How to study
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1917
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 29, 2014
I thought I might give it a try after a not-too-great year of studies at the university. Published by an MIT and Harvard professor in the early twentieth century, this is a formal piece of non-fiction dedicated to the practice of successful studying and to finding the student's niche and line of work. Rather than advising on how to pass all one's courses with the minimum 50%, with the least amount of effort included, Swain clearly instructs how one can and should thoroughly master his subjects, by not taking short-cuts, not relying on vague understandings, and by profiting on a passion and interest in the subject or problem on hand. The work stretches only about fifty pages, but is densely and fully laden with the advise of an academic figure who wishes to see his students achieve expert knowledge and skill in their future profession - and thus who wishes to have a society built upon capable and responsible workmen, developers and professionals. Should be an insightful read if you want to change your method of studying (for the better).
March 5, 2016
This book just basically put down in words what I already knew about studying. To me, it was not that useful, but it might be for people who are easily distracted or have been through a school path which did not involve much learning by heart.
July 29, 2020
Short and sweet book that delivers what it promises.
I'd wager to say that all subsequent "How to study" books are probably varying amounts of derivative from this one. I definitely recognize many points I should have paid more attention to from my college advisors. Since I can't imagine that our ability to gather and retain information has changed much in the past 100 years, you're probably best off reading this and ignoring the other nonsense out there.
The author also liberally quotes Goethe whom I have the biggest nerd crush on. So thats nice.
Btw this book is old. Check it out for free here.
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3...
Couple points. A lot of this book is encouragement to engage more with the text you read. Good books have a lot of thought put into them, Swain is emphatic in his urging to think and criticize while reading. I think for me it's a call to read slower and more deliberately. Instead of chewing through books like soft rice. Maybe undercook the rice a bit, give it some nice texture and cheweyness.
No? Dont do that to your rice? Ok. I'm not a rice expert.
Anyways....
1) Think critically while you study. Read to categorize and understand, not to simply read. How does this information fit into your preexisting model of the world? What fits? What doesn't? Why doesn't it?
2) Think critically before you study. This critical thinking shenanigans doesn't stop. Attempt to understand what you are going to read. What do you know about it? What do you hope to learn? Why can't it be spoon fed to you through a cerebral drip like in the Matrix?
3) Think critically after you study. (you see the pattern here?). Digest what you have read before (ahem* cough* no sorry, just something in my throat *cough*) regurgitating some half baked review onto Goodreads in order to score internet points. Since I've already set a personal highscore for the year for quantity of books read, maybe I'll (*cough*).....possibly.... consider this....
4) Don't just read. Interact with the material. For today's educational environment, look up videos, tutorials, or go to whatever concept you are interested in directly. Talk about it with strangers on the bus. I'm sure that shabby looking gentleman on the corner needs someone to discuss Quantum Physics with. Well, he sure seems excited about something. Multiple modes of learning is best.
5) Be interested. Less helpful if in school, and you are being forced to learn about....uhhhh.... whatever nonsense you are supposed to learn about there..... I dropped out of a premed program because I don't like blood. Don't look at me for answers. But go and pursue things you have interest in. If that's obscure Chinese Science Fiction, so be it. Don't read things because some daft codger told you to. Read the things you find interesting that challenge you and help you to grow. Life's too short to read shitty books.
I'd wager to say that all subsequent "How to study" books are probably varying amounts of derivative from this one. I definitely recognize many points I should have paid more attention to from my college advisors. Since I can't imagine that our ability to gather and retain information has changed much in the past 100 years, you're probably best off reading this and ignoring the other nonsense out there.
The author also liberally quotes Goethe whom I have the biggest nerd crush on. So thats nice.
Btw this book is old. Check it out for free here.
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3...
Couple points. A lot of this book is encouragement to engage more with the text you read. Good books have a lot of thought put into them, Swain is emphatic in his urging to think and criticize while reading. I think for me it's a call to read slower and more deliberately. Instead of chewing through books like soft rice. Maybe undercook the rice a bit, give it some nice texture and cheweyness.
No? Dont do that to your rice? Ok. I'm not a rice expert.
Anyways....
1) Think critically while you study. Read to categorize and understand, not to simply read. How does this information fit into your preexisting model of the world? What fits? What doesn't? Why doesn't it?
2) Think critically before you study. This critical thinking shenanigans doesn't stop. Attempt to understand what you are going to read. What do you know about it? What do you hope to learn? Why can't it be spoon fed to you through a cerebral drip like in the Matrix?
3) Think critically after you study. (you see the pattern here?). Digest what you have read before (ahem* cough* no sorry, just something in my throat *cough*) regurgitating some half baked review onto Goodreads in order to score internet points. Since I've already set a personal highscore for the year for quantity of books read, maybe I'll (*cough*).....possibly.... consider this....
4) Don't just read. Interact with the material. For today's educational environment, look up videos, tutorials, or go to whatever concept you are interested in directly. Talk about it with strangers on the bus. I'm sure that shabby looking gentleman on the corner needs someone to discuss Quantum Physics with. Well, he sure seems excited about something. Multiple modes of learning is best.
5) Be interested. Less helpful if in school, and you are being forced to learn about....uhhhh.... whatever nonsense you are supposed to learn about there..... I dropped out of a premed program because I don't like blood. Don't look at me for answers. But go and pursue things you have interest in. If that's obscure Chinese Science Fiction, so be it. Don't read things because some daft codger told you to. Read the things you find interesting that challenge you and help you to grow. Life's too short to read shitty books.
July 2, 2017
Classic book. Just read it.
September 11, 2018
Good advice. Every student should learn some of the skills in this essay.
September 4, 2020
This book was published just over 100 years ago, but lessons from George Fillmore Swain are still useful to every student and life-long learner.
I wish I read books like this when I was a student, but it is not too late to read it now. I divide the book into 3 main parts corresponding to 3 big ideas: proper mental attitude, proper method, and proper habit of study. Within each idea, the author provided numerous insights. It's hard to remember them all, however, we can pick up 1 or 2 of them at a time for practice. I found several points that are really helpful to me now.
- Proper mental attitude: to study with caution and an open mind
- Proper method: to study understandingly, build your knowledge from the fundamental, then create a system of knowledge by forming connections
- Proper habit: to study a book thoroughly, take time to think of a subject and apply what you learnt
George Fillmore Swain was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later at Harvard University. He wrote this book for students but I find it really helpful for educators like me. The point I agree with him the most is "the only real education is self-education". In the end, no one can give you the knowledge or skills, you must be the one, who seizes them and make them yours. Teachers are just facilitators showing students what students can do and encourage them to take step by step in their own way.
I think I will translate this book into Vietnamese and share widely with all of my students. I hope this will help my students as it did to me.
I wish I read books like this when I was a student, but it is not too late to read it now. I divide the book into 3 main parts corresponding to 3 big ideas: proper mental attitude, proper method, and proper habit of study. Within each idea, the author provided numerous insights. It's hard to remember them all, however, we can pick up 1 or 2 of them at a time for practice. I found several points that are really helpful to me now.
- Proper mental attitude: to study with caution and an open mind
- Proper method: to study understandingly, build your knowledge from the fundamental, then create a system of knowledge by forming connections
- Proper habit: to study a book thoroughly, take time to think of a subject and apply what you learnt
George Fillmore Swain was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later at Harvard University. He wrote this book for students but I find it really helpful for educators like me. The point I agree with him the most is "the only real education is self-education". In the end, no one can give you the knowledge or skills, you must be the one, who seizes them and make them yours. Teachers are just facilitators showing students what students can do and encourage them to take step by step in their own way.
I think I will translate this book into Vietnamese and share widely with all of my students. I hope this will help my students as it did to me.
May 20, 2017
The book has very good advice on how to Study. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in getting more out of their readings. The author has condensed the knowledge from other literature and has offered the necter of wisdom out of his own learning.
October 7, 2022
Teaches some good strategies for learning
Don't let some of the statements discourage you. The strategies and techniques taught should help for personal, academic, and professional study.
Don't let some of the statements discourage you. The strategies and techniques taught should help for personal, academic, and professional study.
September 13, 2020
Basic principles for practical study.
December 25, 2021
The formal discourse was fine to read and remember. Certain ideas were insightful.
January 6, 2023
“Without interest your study will be perfunctory and of little use to you. Make yourself believe that for you, at that time, it is the most important thing in the world.”
December 11, 2016
How I wish I read this during my college days!
January 3, 2017
Good
I believe that this book covered all major subjects. For me the language and level of literacy was very tough, but I'm sure that for someone with English as their first language it should be a breeze.
I believe that this book covered all major subjects. For me the language and level of literacy was very tough, but I'm sure that for someone with English as their first language it should be a breeze.
January 5, 2016
As a study guide for students and adults of all age, “How to study,” is a book written by George Fillmore Swain. Based on Swain’s experience as a professor of Harvard University and MIT, this book explicates tips/fundamentals of what we recall as, “proper studying.” Or in another word, good study habits. Swain uses proverbial phrases and quotes by famous people as examples to convey his point to the readers.
This was also one of the reasons why I was attracted to this book. It was an online quote from this book that captured my attention, which led me to wonder in curiosity what this book was all about. Below is the following quote:
"….Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much, Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
This quote was shown in the first chapter of this book, where Swain introduces the mental attitude one needs in order to get the full benefits of education. This chapter particularly focuses on the theme wisdom and the humble position one should have towards education. As this book has 5 main elements of the subject, studying, Swain divides the book into 5 chapters building on to his previously stated crucial study methods.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book despite its sophisticated language throughout the 5 chapters. It is fairly short compared to other books, yet I believe it carries out the most fruitful information for any student who seeks help on improving their study habits. This book may be boring for some as it contains many philosophical explanations and examples outside our knowledge range, but it would be a good book to read once in a life time. However, I would highly suggest readers to read it twice, since the information the book embraces can’t be remembered by just reading it once.
This was also one of the reasons why I was attracted to this book. It was an online quote from this book that captured my attention, which led me to wonder in curiosity what this book was all about. Below is the following quote:
"….Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much, Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.”
This quote was shown in the first chapter of this book, where Swain introduces the mental attitude one needs in order to get the full benefits of education. This chapter particularly focuses on the theme wisdom and the humble position one should have towards education. As this book has 5 main elements of the subject, studying, Swain divides the book into 5 chapters building on to his previously stated crucial study methods.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book despite its sophisticated language throughout the 5 chapters. It is fairly short compared to other books, yet I believe it carries out the most fruitful information for any student who seeks help on improving their study habits. This book may be boring for some as it contains many philosophical explanations and examples outside our knowledge range, but it would be a good book to read once in a life time. However, I would highly suggest readers to read it twice, since the information the book embraces can’t be remembered by just reading it once.
October 7, 2015
An older book giving out key points to effectively studying. One of the more interesting things I learned is that when you're reading or studying something and you stop comprehending what you're trying to learn, you should take a break and do something else like go for a walk or play around. Physical activity is important for keeping the mind sharp. The most effective students don't continue reading on if they don't understand something, they will pull out a dictionary and make sure they understand the entire context of what they're reading.
August 15, 2016
Good book to go through...
Good little book on how to study... Helpful for the studying minds....recommend it to any one who wants to know basics of studying... I will surely go for the references suggested in the book one by one from where the writer of the book has got inspiration..
Good little book on how to study... Helpful for the studying minds....recommend it to any one who wants to know basics of studying... I will surely go for the references suggested in the book one by one from where the writer of the book has got inspiration..
February 22, 2016
Good thoughts
Thank you for making this amazing book available for free on kindle. Few pages and worth it for students who wants main tips rather than detailed long boring explanation.
Thank you for making this amazing book available for free on kindle. Few pages and worth it for students who wants main tips rather than detailed long boring explanation.
June 22, 2012
Good read on studying while teaching at the same time. Summer read for my student.
June 27, 2014
Nice read
Pretty good book very general but helped motivate me. I would recommend to anyone who procratinates or finds trouble studying.
Pretty good book very general but helped motivate me. I would recommend to anyone who procratinates or finds trouble studying.
January 5, 2015
Okay
It didn't contain any systems our methods of studying. Just common sense knowledge on how to go about it with the correct mindset.
It didn't contain any systems our methods of studying. Just common sense knowledge on how to go about it with the correct mindset.
April 6, 2015
Useful and practical advice very few people would find helpful today.
November 21, 2015
must read for students to know about their study habits and make it more effective.
January 3, 2016
Good
I like it. Very good. Very helpful .good proverbs. Nice
I like it. Very good. Very helpful .good proverbs. Nice
January 20, 2016
Very useful. This book not only teaches you how to study but also gives you guidelines how to look at any new information. Question everything!
April 2, 2016
Old but good. Some are not exactly true but most of them are pretty helpful.
August 22, 2016
I have yet to see the effects of this book, but I do believe it's techniques are quite helpful and rather motivating. It comes to me as a surprise that I'm the first to writer a review in it.
July 9, 2020
Real helpful I think.
April 25, 2017
How to study - don't think it is a book for kids - it is a book for all, a really wonderful book about reading - in my opinion one should read this book first and follow the instructions to read the other books...
April 5, 2018
This is an interesting guide in how to study.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews