Reading multiple books simultaneously on the same subject

AI Thread Summary
Reading multiple textbooks on the same subject, such as topology, can enhance understanding by providing diverse insights and perspectives on the same topics. Different authors present unique definitions and theorems, which can deepen comprehension and reveal alternative proofs for the same concepts. This approach allows for cross-referencing, where theorems in one book may appear as exercises in another, reinforcing learning. Despite initial concerns about time, readers find that they can efficiently navigate through the material by focusing on one topic at a time across the books. Overall, this method is viewed as an effective strategy for mastering complex subjects.
mathboy
Messages
182
Reaction score
0
I'm currently reading four textbooks in topology at the same time. When I read one topic, I don't move on to the next topic until I've read the same topic from the other books first. This may seem weird and a waste of time but I've noticed some following benefits:
1) Different authors give different insights into each topic. I can read one topic, understand it, and then read the topic from another book and realize "Hey, I didn't think of it like that!"
2) Some definitions appear in one textbook but not in another.
3) Many theorems appear in one textbook and not in another.
4) Theorems that appear in all the books are often proved differently, allowing me to learn more ways to prove the same thing
5) Very often theorems in one book appears as exercise questions in another.

And the list goes on. I honestly feel that I'm learning much better than if I read only one book. Anyone tried doing this before? Do you think this is a good idea? By the way, it does not take me four times longer to read four books, because I only read slowly in the first book and breeze through the others in the same topic.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
I do exactly the same thing as you do, I find that it is much better to get many different view points on the same thing and leads to a greater understanding.
 
I've never thought about doing this, but it seems like a very good idea. I'll definitely try this in the future.
 
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Suppose ,instead of the usual x,y coordinate system with an I basis vector along the x -axis and a corresponding j basis vector along the y-axis we instead have a different pair of basis vectors ,call them e and f along their respective axes. I have seen that this is an important subject in maths My question is what physical applications does such a model apply to? I am asking here because I have devoted quite a lot of time in the past to understanding convectors and the dual...

Similar threads

Back
Top