Studying How am I suppose to read heavy textbooks?

  • Thread starter Thread starter flyingpig
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Textbooks
AI Thread Summary
Heavy textbooks pose significant challenges for reading, particularly due to their size and weight, making it difficult to hold them at an angle without discomfort or risk of injury. Many users share experiences of struggling to maintain a comfortable reading position, leading to tired arms and even accidents. Solutions discussed include copying chapters for easier handling, utilizing book holders or stands to keep the books open and at a suitable angle, and laying the textbooks flat on a table to avoid strain. Some participants humorously suggest unconventional methods for absorbing information, such as sleeping with books under pillows or drinking boiled notes. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for practical strategies to manage heavy textbooks effectively while studying.
flyingpig
Messages
2,574
Reaction score
1
You know some textbooks are just so big and heavy that it is nearly impossible to read it from a 45 degree angle? When you try to put it on a 45 degree angle it slides and strikes your feet/stomach?

You know how annoying it is to keep it leveled with your arms and they get tired?

How do you guys read heavy and giant textbooks? I nearly broke my toe last night
 
Physics news on Phys.org
We used to copy one chapter at a time and hole punch the pages and put them in a notebook. This was helpful in a class where the professor only covering half the text. (The rest of it was continued in a 2nd class).
 
Huh, I guess I read them from a steeper angle. Copying chapters is a great solution, though a bit costly.
 
Ryker said:
Huh, I guess I read them from a steeper angle. Copying chapters is a great solution, though a bit costly.

I guess we were lucky at my school - we were allocated a certain number of free copies every quarter. I'm not 100% certain the copying was legal, but I did purchase the textbook, so I assumed it was ok for my personal use.
 
Copy? As in write it all out? What?!
 
flyingpig said:
Copy? As in write it all out? What?!

As in a Xerox machine.
 
Math Is Hard said:
As in a Xerox machine.

A what? I probably don't have one...
 
I've heard of a gizmo for holding big books called a tabble? teble? something like that.

Now the real problem is getting all that info into your head. We used to try slapping our foreheads with the books hoping for some quantum brain tunneling.
 
  • #10
Daverz said:
Now the real problem is getting all that info into your head. We used to try slapping our foreheads with the books hoping for some quantum brain tunneling.
Did it help?
:rolleyes:
 
  • #11
MathematicalPhysicist said:
Did it help?
:rolleyes:

I am pretty sure slapping it does more damage than inputing into it.
 
  • #12
flyingpig said:
You know some textbooks are just so big and heavy that it is nearly impossible to read it from a 45 degree angle? When you try to put it on a 45 degree angle it slides and strikes your feet/stomach?

You know how annoying it is to keep it leveled with your arms and they get tired?

How do you guys read heavy and giant textbooks? I nearly broke my toe last night

Back in school, I used to leave my textbooks in my locker and bring them home only to study or during exam season.
Put the book on the table. Don't hold it.
Textbooks are good as reference materials. Rarely read them in class word for word. We'd copy teacher's notes or do exercises.
We'd write the notes in simpler form and key equations separately and revise on these. When studying or to get more info, then we would refer to the textbooks.

Daverz said:
I've heard of a gizmo for holding big books called a tabble? teble? something like that.

Now the real problem is getting all that info into your head. We used to try slapping our foreheads with the books hoping for some quantum brain tunneling.

Some say sleep with the textbook under your pillow. The info will diffuse into your brain.
Another tip, boil the notes in water. Filter the water and drink it. Instant absorption. :biggrin:
 
  • #13
I use a book-holder for any book I read. It's small, and build in such a way that no matter how big the textbook, it will hold it in place. I only paid <$20 for it, some time ago. I suggest you get one if you do not already, or you can just steep your notes as suggested above, or try quantum brain tunneling.
 
  • #14
flyingpig said:
You know some textbooks are just so big and heavy that it is nearly impossible to read it from a 45 degree angle? When you try to put it on a 45 degree angle it slides and strikes your feet/stomach?

You know how annoying it is to keep it leveled with your arms and they get tired?

How do you guys read heavy and giant textbooks? I nearly broke my toe last night

Why not lay the textbook on a table? :confused:

If you want the textbook on a π/4 angle, you could try one of those tables for artists that tilt. That seems like a large investment when you could just tilt your head while the textbook is flat on a table...
 
  • #15
Settia said:
Why not lay the textbook on a table? :confused:

If you want the textbook on a π/4 angle, you could try one of those tables for artists that tilt. That seems like a large investment when you could just tilt your head while the textbook is flat on a table...

Yes, I often lay physics and math books flat on a table or desk when I read them, with paper beside the books. Then, I can use pencil/pen and paper to work through stuff that comes up in the texts.
 
  • #16
flyingpig said:
You know some textbooks are just so big and heavy that it is nearly impossible to read it from a 45 degree angle? When you try to put it on a 45 degree angle it slides and strikes your feet/stomach?

You know how annoying it is to keep it leveled with your arms and they get tired?

How do you guys read heavy and giant textbooks? I nearly broke my toe last night

Haha, I've had this problem too before. I still haven't found an answer because I just study on a desk now. But I used to try to lay on the couch and set the book on my stomach but it hurt after a while. Also, my arms got tired quickly. I did a quick search for something. LEVO is the company that makes a lot of them: http://www.bookholder.com/

They make this one too, which would be awesome for a lazy Sunday study. You could read about some crazy Physics then casually fall asleep and probably have a dream about it. Although, if the book was too heavy it might fall out. Hahaha. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ABHIXG/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #17
80 bucks for a freakin book holder? No thanks you.. it'd be cheaper to make one (maybe).
 

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
5K
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
5K
Back
Top