I learned a system for remembering everything

I learned a system for remembering everything 🔗 **Source:** [I learned a system for remembering everything](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: [memory_systems, note_taking, learning] > author: Matt D'Avella > source: YouTube > reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0 > date created: 2024-12-28 12:00 > > # 🏷️ Title: I learned a system for remembering everything >  ## 🧰 Action Inbox - [H1] Test Ryan Holiday's analog note-taking system with next book — use highlighter, bookmarks, note cards #memory - [H2] Create external brain system to organize book insights — transfer highlights to note cards by theme #knowledge-management - [H3] Slow down reading process to improve retention — prioritize depth over speed #learning ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) - [📚 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ### 🔗 References - [Original Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0) - [Ryan Holiday Books](https://ryanholiday.net/) ## 📝 Summary - Matt D'Avella explores why he forgets most of what he reads and tests Ryan Holiday's analog note-taking system - Ryan Holiday, who has read 3000+ books, shares his three-part system: take notes while reading, revisit notes when finished, categorize by theme - The system works because it leverages heuristic memory processing - our brains prioritize frequently used, recently used, or decision-relevant information - Key insight: You can't remember everything, but you can store it outside your brain in an organized system - Bottom line: Memory improvement requires systematic external storage, not just willpower ## 📖 Main Content The video addresses a common problem many readers face: poor retention of non-fiction content. Matt D'Avella demonstrates this by struggling to recall details from recently read books like "Steal Like An Artist" and "48 Laws of Power." Ryan Holiday, author of bestselling books like "The Obstacle Is the Way," learned his system from Robert Greene while working as a research assistant. The system involves three steps: annotating while reading (folding pages, highlighting, making notes), transferring key insights to note cards after finishing, and organizing cards by theme to create an "exterior brain." The scientific basis for this approach lies in heuristic memory processing - our brains naturally prioritize information that is frequently accessed, recently used, or relevant for decision-making. By actively engaging with material through note-taking and organization, readers signal to their brains that this information is worth retaining. Holiday emphasizes that analog systems (physical books and handwritten notes) tend to produce better recall than digital alternatives like audiobooks or e-books, possibly due to reduced screen time and deeper physical engagement with the material. ## 🗒️ Notes #### ⏱️ [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=0) — [H1] The Memory Problem - Key idea: Most people can't recall basic facts from books they've read recently - Evidence: Matt struggles to remember details from "Steal Like An Artist" and "48 Laws of Power" despite reading them recently #### ⏱️ [01:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=90) — [H2] Memory Varies Wildly Between People - Key idea: Memory ability ranges from terrible to photographic, with most people having unreliable recall - Evidence: "Our ability to remember things varies wildly from person to person" #### ⏱️ [02:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=135) — [H1] Ryan Holiday's Impressive Recall - Key idea: Holiday has read 3000+ books and demonstrates effortless quote and story recall - Evidence: Pulls references from Eisenhower, William James, Blaise Pascal, Buddha, Marcus Aurelius seamlessly #### ⏱️ [03:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=225) — [H2] Be Kinder to Yourself About Memory - Key idea: Getting one or two life-changing insights from an $11 book is actually good value - Evidence: "If those are important things that could change your life, you paid $11 for this book like is it so bad that you only got two life changing things from it" #### ⏱️ [04:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=270) — [H1] The Three-Part System - Key idea: Holiday's system involves annotating while reading, transferring notes to cards, and organizing by theme - Evidence: "I fold pages as I'm reading and then I make notes to myself... I put them on note cards... I sort those note cards by theme" #### ⏱️ [05:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=345) — [H2] Testing the System - Key idea: Matt tests the system using "Courage Is Calling" with highlighter, pen, bookmarks, and note cards - Evidence: Demonstrates the physical tools and process of active reading #### ⏱️ [06:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=390) — [H1] Heuristic Memory Processing - Key idea: Our brains prioritize information that is frequently used, recently used, or decision-relevant - Evidence: "We tend to prioritize information that is frequently used, recently used, or likely to be needed to make decisions" #### ⏱️ [07:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=435) — [H2] Analog vs Digital Advantage - Key idea: Physical books and handwritten notes produce better recall than digital alternatives - Evidence: "I do tend to find that people who are like, 'Oh, I listen to a lot of audiobooks'... the recall's not there" #### ⏱️ [09:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=540) — [H2] The Process Slows You Down - Key idea: Taking thorough notes reduces reading speed by 30-40% but improves retention - Evidence: "This process of taking thorough notes throughout the entire book, definitely slow me down even more probably by 30 or 40%" #### ⏱️ [11:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=690) — [H3] Reading as Pleasure, Not Speed - Key idea: Reading should be enjoyed like a conversation with great minds, not rushed - Evidence: "You would never hear someone be like, 'Dude, I have the fastest sex'... I'm having a conversation with Ernest Hemingway or Marcus Aurelius" #### ⏱️ [13:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=795) — [H2] Organizing Notes by Theme - Key idea: The final step involves categorizing note cards into buckets and themes - Evidence: Matt demonstrates sorting 20-30 note cards from "Courage Is Calling" #### ⏱️ [14:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=840) — [H1] You Don't Remember by Accident - Key idea: Memory requires systematic organization and external storage, not just willpower - Evidence: "You don't remember things by accident, which means I need to systematize and organize all of these notes" #### ⏱️ [15:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=900) — [H2] Holiday's Physical Storage System - Key idea: Holiday maintains at least seven boxes of organized note cards in his office - Evidence: "I'm looking I have one, two, three, four, five, six, I have seven in my office right now" #### ⏱️ [15:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvey9g0VgY0&t=945) — [H1] Start Imperfectly - Key idea: Beginning with an imperfect system is better than waiting for perfection - Evidence: "You're better off starting imperfectly than being paralyzed by the hope or the delusion of perfection" ## 📚 References - [Ryan Holiday's Website](https://ryanholiday.net/) - [The Obstacle Is the Way](https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358) - [Courage Is Calling](https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Calling-Fortune-Favors-Bold/dp/0593191676) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase - Most people struggle with poor retention of non-fiction books despite investing time in reading, but this is normal and shouldn't be a source of shame - An effective memory system involves three components: active note-taking during reading, post-reading review and extraction of key insights, and thematic organization of notes for future reference - The brain naturally prioritizes frequently accessed and practically relevant information, so systematic engagement with material through note-taking signals importance and improves retention ## 📰 Newsletter **Boost Your Learning: A Simple System for Remembering What You Read** Ever finish a book and struggle to recall even basic points? You're not alone! This week, I discovered a powerful three-step system that transforms how we retain information from our reading. **The Game-Changer:** Ryan Holiday's analog approach - annotate while reading, transfer insights to note cards, then organize by theme. It's like building an external brain that actually works. **Why It Works:** Our brains prioritize frequently used, recently accessed, and decision-relevant information. By actively engaging through note-taking, we're telling our brains this stuff matters. **Your Next Step:** Try this with your next read. Yes, it slows you down 30-40%, but retention skyrockets. Remember: start imperfectly rather than waiting for the perfect system. Happy reading! 📚 Resources: [Learn WordPress](https://learn.wordpress.org/), [Developer Docs](https://developer.wordpress.org/), [WP-CLI](https://wp-cli.org/) ## ✅ Action Items #### DevRel - Create workshop: "Building Learning Systems for Developer Education" - teach note-taking methods for technical content - Develop documentation retention metrics - track how developers recall and apply API documentation - Launch "Developer Memory Palace" content series - apply memory techniques to programming concepts #### Community - Design book club methodology using Holiday's system for WordPress community reading groups - Create template note cards for organizing WordCamp talk insights and conference learnings - Establish mentorship program pairing experienced note-takers with new community members #### WordPress - Training: Develop lesson plans incorporating spaced repetition and active note-taking for WordPress skills - Documentation: Create "Learning Path Journals" - guided note-taking templates for developer onboarding - Community: Launch "WordPress Wisdom Cards" - curated insights from community leaders organized by theme ## 🧪 Hypotheses - Analog note-taking systems produce 25-40% better retention than digital highlighting for technical documentation - Developers who use structured note-taking systems demonstrate improved code review and debugging performance - Community members using thematic organization show increased participation in multiple WordPress teams - Physical note cards create stronger neural pathways than digital tags for cross-referencing concepts ### 📊 Methodology - A/B test analog vs digital note-taking with WordPress developer training cohorts - Survey retention rates of documentation across different learning methodologies - Longitudinal study tracking community engagement patterns based on note-taking practices ### ❓ Questions - How can we adapt Holiday's system for rapidly evolving technical documentation? - What role does handwriting play in technical concept retention for developers? - Can themed organization of community insights improve cross-team collaboration? ### 🔮 Future Research - Neural imaging studies comparing analog vs digital information processing in technical contexts - Large-scale analysis of documentation retention across different industries and learning styles - Cross-cultural validation of note-taking effectiveness in distributed development teams ### 💡 Implications - Practice: Slower reading with active note-taking may dramatically improve skill development timelines - Education: Traditional highlight-heavy study methods may be significantly less effective than assumed - Community: Physical meetups focused on shared note-taking could strengthen learning outcomes - Funding: Investment in analog learning tools may yield higher ROI than purely digital approaches ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment Reading level estimate: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 8 #### 👀 Visual learners - Present: Clear demonstration of note cards, physical organization system, book annotation examples - Improve: Flowcharts showing the three-step process, before/after memory comparisons, brain diagrams #### 🔊 Aural learners - Present: Video format with clear narration, interview segments with Ryan Holiday - Improve: Audio summary of key techniques, podcast version for mobile learning #### 🗣️ Verbal learners - Present: Clear definitions of heuristic memory processing, step-by-step explanations, analogies - Improve: Glossary of memory terms, comparison tables of different systems #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners - Present: Hands-on demonstration of note-taking tools, physical card organization - Improve: Practice worksheets, memory technique exercises, guided reading sessions #### 🧠 Logical learners - Present: Scientific explanation of memory processing, systematic three-step approach - Improve: Decision trees for choosing techniques, metrics for measuring retention #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners - Present: Interview format, mention of book clubs and shared learning - Improve: Study group guides, peer accountability systems, collaborative note-sharing #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners - Present: Individual reading and note-taking focus, personal reflection emphasis - Improve: Self-assessment quizzes, private journaling prompts, solo practice guides #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners - Present: Organic learning process, growth mindset approach - Improve: Learning ecosystem metaphors, seasonal review cycles, natural retention patterns ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics - Present: Clear video narration, logical content flow - Improve: Detailed alt text for note card demonstrations, transcript formatting with proper headings #### Keyboard navigation - Present: Standard YouTube controls - Improve: Timestamped chapter navigation, keyboard shortcuts for key concepts #### Contrast and readability - Present: High contrast note card examples, clear text overlays - Improve: Ensure 4.5:1 minimum contrast in all visual elements #### Media and captions - Present: Full video transcript provided above - Improve: Professional captions with speaker identification, downloadable SRT files #### Forms and interactions - Present: Basic YouTube interface - Improve: Accessible note-taking templates, form-based system builders ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth - Present: Western academic approach, English-language examples - Improve: Note-taking traditions from other cultures, translated key concepts #### Inclusive language - Present: Gender-neutral examples, accessible vocabulary - Improve: Avoid assumptions about literacy levels, include dyslexia-friendly alternatives #### Neurodiversity support - Present: Multiple learning modalities, visual organization - Improve: ADHD-friendly chunking strategies, autism-considerate routine building #### Representation - Present: Two male voices, traditional academic setting - Improve: Diverse note-taker examples, varied professional contexts ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning - Inductive strength: Multiple examples lead to general principle about memory systems [05:45-07:15] - Causal reasoning: Clear link between active engagement and improved retention [06:30-07:00]