Have you ever finished a great book — like Outlive by Peter Attia or Atomic Habits by James Clear — only to draw a blank when talking about it with others? It’s frustrating, especially after spending weeks reading. You might blame your bad memory, but the real issue lies in your reading habits, not your brain. Here are four simple strategies that work:

Start with sharpening your focus while reading — this is the bedrock of retaining what you learn. Memory legend Nelson Dellis — who once memorized 339 digits in 5 minutes — says focus is the foundation of good memory. To avoid distractions, put your phone away, close your laptop, and listen to music without lyrics. Also, keep asking: “How can I use this in my life?” This helps you spot useful, memorable content.

Another powerful trick is to visualize what you’re reading — treat the book like a movie playing out in your mind. Our brains remember images better than abstract words. You don’t need to picture every detail — just the main ideas. For example, if you read about time management, imagine yourself following the tips and finishing tasks easily. This makes the content stick longer.

Don’t overlook the power of handwriting interesting ideas instead of typing them. Beethoven kept sketchbooks to remember his music, and studies show handwriting helps us retain information better than typing. When you write, you pick out key points instead of copying every word, which deepens your understanding. Even if you never re-read the notes, writing alone boosts memory.

Finally, make reading an active conversation with the book — not a passive activity where you just “get through” pages. Reading isn’t passive — underline important lines, use stars for impactful ideas, or write questions in the margins. After finishing, stick notes on key pages. Some fear ruining books, but the ideas inside are more valuable than the book itself. This way, you can refresh your memory anytime by flipping through the pages.

With these strategies, reading becomes a true investment in your knowledge, not just entertainment. You’ll no longer waste time forgetting what you’ve read!

1.1. What does Nelson Dellis believe is essential for a strong memory?

A Concentration.

B Technology.

C Practice.

D Curiosity.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据第二段的“Memory legend Nelson Dellis—who once memorized 339 digits in 5 minutes—says focus is the foundation of good memory”可知，Nelson Dellis明确表示“专注是良好记忆力的基础”。故选A。

2.2. The word “visualize” in Paragraph 3 most likely means to ______.

A create mental pictures

B read every single detail

C watch a related film

D improve reading speed

解析：选A。A词义猜测题。第三段上下文描述“treat the book like a movie playing out in your mind”（把书的内容像电影一样在脑中上演），并提到大脑更擅长记忆图像，因此“visualize”在此处的含义是“在脑中创建图像（A）”，而不是阅读所有细节（B）、看电影（C）或提升速度（D）。故选A。

3.3. Why is handwriting better than typing for remembering?

A It is more time-efficient.

B It selects crucial information.

C It makes the notes reviewed later.

D It ensures a complete record of the text.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。第四段说明，手写时人们会筛选关键点（pick out key points），而非照抄所有文字，这个过程加深了理解。选项B准确抓住了这一核心优势。故选B。

4.4. What is the primary benefit of interacting with a book actively?

A Perfect preservation of the book.

B Minimal use of additional tools.

C Easy recollection of knowledge later.

D A significant increase in reading speed.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。最后一段指出，通过划线、贴便签等主动阅读方式，可以随时快速刷新记忆（refresh your memory anytime）。因此，其主要益处在于便于日后对知识的回忆（C）。故选C。