Reading multiple books simultaneously on the same subject

Click For 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.
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Replies
28
Views
904
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 71 ·
3
Replies
71
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K