4 ms·

It strictly depends on the category of the book: Insightful → process subconsciously; Informative → summarize. -- Update: yes, it is not just a matter of te

by mdp2021 3y ago

It strictly depends on the category of the book: Insightful → process subconsciously; Informative → summarize. -- Update: yes, it is not just a matter of texts. The annoying snipers that infest these boards should summarize as a general practice: this will help them with an exercise in thinking, expression, so that maybe one day they will also be able to formulate and present an argument. And stop abusing the freedom they should not be granted.

marcosdumay 3y ago
If it's informative, you can't really summarize. Summarizing is the act of throwing most of the information away. If it's informative, you have to read and take your conclusions. And if you later decide to use the information for different conclusions, you'll have to read it again. It's little wonder that informative texts don't usually come in the form of books.
- carlmr 3y ago
  >If it's informative, you can't really summarize. Something can be informative, but still longer than necessary. A lot of non-fiction books could do with 10-50 pages, but marketing wise they won't sell because people feel they don't get enough for their money. So the authors are prone to extend the contents to an amount of pages people are willing to pay for. Let's say 200.
- pxc 3y ago
  > If it's informative, you can't really summarize. Summarizing is the act of throwing most of the information away. Yes, but in the case under discussion you're not writing summaries for someone else's consumption— the summary is also your own notes. And in that case, even a heavily abbreviated summary can serve to bring to mine many, many details, including details omitted from the summary. > If it's informative, you have to read and take your conclusions. And if you later decide to use the information for different conclusions, you'll have to read it again. 100%. I think improving recall is still at least somewhat valuable there, though.
jrm4 3y ago
Not gonna lie, it strongly feels like the latter is a job for them newfangled AI thingies :)
- eloisius 3y ago
  The summary isn’t for you to read it later, it’s for you to write.

marcosdumay 3y ago

If it's informative, you can't really summarize. Summarizing is the act of throwing most of the information away. If it's informative, you have to read and take your conclusions. And if you later decide to use the information for different conclusions, you'll have to read it again. It's little wonder that informative texts don't usually come in the form of books.

carlmr 3y ago
>If it's informative, you can't really summarize. Something can be informative, but still longer than necessary. A lot of non-fiction books could do with 10-50 pages, but marketing wise they won't sell because people feel they don't get enough for their money. So the authors are prone to extend the contents to an amount of pages people are willing to pay for. Let's say 200.
pxc 3y ago
> If it's informative, you can't really summarize. Summarizing is the act of throwing most of the information away. Yes, but in the case under discussion you're not writing summaries for someone else's consumption— the summary is also your own notes. And in that case, even a heavily abbreviated summary can serve to bring to mine many, many details, including details omitted from the summary. > If it's informative, you have to read and take your conclusions. And if you later decide to use the information for different conclusions, you'll have to read it again. 100%. I think improving recall is still at least somewhat valuable there, though.

jrm4 3y ago

Not gonna lie, it strongly feels like the latter is a job for them newfangled AI thingies :)

eloisius 3y ago
The summary isn’t for you to read it later, it’s for you to write.