This is something I actually struggle with a lot. I read something that strikes me as profound, and that I agree with, but as soon as I try to explain it it’s all gone, and I’m left with bits and pieces that don’t make much sense to anyone else.
I’m not sure if this is a failure on my part to understand, simplify an idea, or explain it.
It means that you had a deep understanding for a few seconds, and then lost it. Or that you got trapped in the same confusion as the author, absorbed what made it seem appealing, and then “corrected away” the confusion.
To determine which one happened, try the following:
reading it again
rephrasing it in your own words as many different ways as you can
seeing how the thesis connects to other topics, and if that connection can be independently verified
Eventually, you should be able to either gain the understanding, or recognize where the error is.
Whenever I’m reading things that I want to actually learn and retain, I read with pencil and notebook and write down all the important points in my own words. I’ve found this to be helpful because it forces me to slow down and think about what I’m reading and how each new piece of information relates to everything that came before it. I’ve also found that having pencil and paper close at hand encourages picture drawing, which is often helpful when learning something (though it depends on what you’re reading).
I had a similar problem when I read Feynman’s QED. His explanation felt so simple and easy to understand when I read it, but when I tried to explain it to someone else I couldn’t make it make sense.
This is something I actually struggle with a lot. I read something that strikes me as profound, and that I agree with, but as soon as I try to explain it it’s all gone, and I’m left with bits and pieces that don’t make much sense to anyone else.
I’m not sure if this is a failure on my part to understand, simplify an idea, or explain it.
It means that you had a deep understanding for a few seconds, and then lost it. Or that you got trapped in the same confusion as the author, absorbed what made it seem appealing, and then “corrected away” the confusion.
To determine which one happened, try the following:
reading it again
rephrasing it in your own words as many different ways as you can
seeing how the thesis connects to other topics, and if that connection can be independently verified
Eventually, you should be able to either gain the understanding, or recognize where the error is.
This is an excellent diagnosis, and those are excellent suggestions for really learning the material.
Excellent!
Whenever I’m reading things that I want to actually learn and retain, I read with pencil and notebook and write down all the important points in my own words. I’ve found this to be helpful because it forces me to slow down and think about what I’m reading and how each new piece of information relates to everything that came before it. I’ve also found that having pencil and paper close at hand encourages picture drawing, which is often helpful when learning something (though it depends on what you’re reading).
I had a similar problem when I read Feynman’s QED. His explanation felt so simple and easy to understand when I read it, but when I tried to explain it to someone else I couldn’t make it make sense.