How did you become well read/knowledgeable about a wide variety of things?

20 comments

1. I read slowly and deliberately. But you might not learn that way. Try audio books or podcasts. Maybe educational music.

2. are you reading stuff you enjoy? Find topics that you like and then you will absorb it. Reading is great and all but if you want to be knowledgeable about a wide variety of things you need to actually do them and not just read about them. There are things you just can’t learn in books

3. I was born with an eidetic memory. I rarely forget things ive read. Im also curious by nature so whatever piques my interest, i delve into. Put me in any social circle and i will thrive in conversations.

4. I just kind of remember a lot of facts naturally. Ive never had to take notes in college. I just listen to the lecture and it sticks with me mostly.

5. I think you might be trying to judge yourself by a random metric that might just not apply to you.

   Being “well read” does not mean you can recall all the facts and spew textbooks at people on demand.

   Focus on your interactions with people and engaging in conversations even if you haven’t heard of a subject before. That’s going to be more productive than trying to read your way into being able to talk about a subject.

   You cannot read your way to confidence.

6. I dont know if this is an adhs thing…but what ever questions pops into my minde, i research it and try to answer all the follow up questions in my head.

7. Rather than knowing little about a lot. Focus on learn a few topics which you find most interesting more deeply.

   When speaking to people about topics you don’t understand. I usually just ask questions try to learn more about it. No shame is admitting you don’t know much on a topic.

8. What i have realized just lately is that when you actually DO have meaningful conversation about the topics you have just read or heard about, those topics and information will stay in your brain way better. So i would try to find someone to talk about these things you read about who is also interested about the topics, face-to-face maybe one-on-one if possible so you can really think with this person what you just learned. No matter what lot of things will be forgotten but this helps me to remember better.

9. I read scripts i came across with full attention and try all i can to grap the Message in there.

10. What do you care about?

11. The articles in Playboy.

12. Try podcasts and audible books.

13. When you read about a subject you are interested in or a particular author, always read 3-4 related books in a row. That will reinforce foundational knowledge and give you closer to what a college class might offer. I usually try to read a couple of generalist overviews of a subject and then one or two more specific books. As others have said, talking to others or writing about them helps a lot.

14. Autism

15. Reading is great, and I do a lot of it, but experience is the real teacher. Knowledge doesn’t stick unless you apply it to something. Try new things, move outside your comfort zone, say yes more often, and you’ll find yourself a wiser person.

16. Perhaps reading isn’t how you best absorb information.

    I can read something a dozen times but if I hear it spoken or see it as a visual representation I pick it up much more quickly.

    Do you find it easier to remember information you’ve heard from podcast? Or perhaps instructional videos or informational television? What about hands on classes?

17. NPR

18. Reading, or the modern equivalent, youtube.

19. Never deny yourself a spark of curiosity or interest. Don’t push off your questions till after work. Just learn once the thought hits your brain.

    Additionally, Wikipedia and YouTube rabbit holes

20. Read alot about alot of different stuff. It’s that easy