Is Passive Reading Effective in Physics?

[zahero_2007]

What do you think about this reading style ? Iam used to passively read a textbook in physics or math to get a picture about what this is all about then I Actively read the text carefully with a pen and papers . Passive reading makes me cover a lot of material in a relatively short time for example in differential geometry . What do you think of this method?

 

[Tosh5457]

If it works for you, it's ok

I used to do that studying other disciplines other than math/physics. I can't do it in maths or physics because I can't understand anything if I read things fast, and I usually think it's harder than it really is. I always see very rapidly what's on the book just for curiousity, but it doesn't help me...

 

[yungman]

I first go through the deriving of all the formulas and then go back to read passively to understand in English.

 

[Truecrimson]

http://www.overcomingbias.com/2010/05/chase-your-reading.html

It seems to me that while reading non-fiction, most folks are in searching mode. Most would be more intellectually productive, however, in chasing mode. It helps to have in mind a question, puzzle, or problem, and then read in order to answer your question, explain your puzzle, or solve your problem.

One particularly helpful comment for me is that

Searching allows you to create the boxes that chasing can fill in the first place.

I, too, really need to get a big picture before delving in any specific topic, otherwise I'll forget the details easily. However, I'm going to fall asleep if I read books passively. So I have to keep in mind when reading passively that my goal is to find an interesting problem, a piece of the big picture, and get started deriving and calculating things.

 

[Klockan3]

However, I'm going to fall asleep if I read books passively.

Why is that bad? When I study I usually read for 30 minutes, then sleep/rest for 5-30 minutes depending on how exhausting the read was, repeat. Resting/sleeping while studying helps your mind process and retain the information.

 

[Truecrimson]

I actually exaggerated that part. But there was one time when I took a particle physics class using Martin and Shaw. It's that bad.