Question

whats the best way to retain anything thats read once?

Answer 1

Either take notes while you are reading, or just retain the most important parts by memory, and take notes afterwards.

Answer 2

Either way, you should take notes! =)

Answer 3

Yes, it's a bit unrealistic to expect to retain information on a single sitting. You will retain only parts of it, and only those which are of little complexity and have left a notable impression upon you.

Answer 4

you can actually achieve it... you just need practice. Memory is like a muscle, so, when you work it, you make it stronger.

Start with 1 page texts. Read them once, wait five minutes and then try to write everything you remember... do this every day for a week, the next week try 2 pages, and so on... but you have to be very persistent and have a lot of dedication, much like going to the gym. But you will star seeing results in like 2 weeks.

Answer 5

There was a theory that scent, could help you remember things. It was tested by science professors in Missouri. What you do is spray a perfume or cologne in the air while you read it. Make sure you are smelling it as you read. Then, before you goto bed, spray it on your pillow to help your memory link the two together. When you need to remember what you read, spray the perfume/cologne somewhere on you wrist. Then, if you need to remember something about what you read, you smell the spray, and the scent will trigger the memory of what you read while you were smelling the scent. It has worked several times for me, and I recommend it to you.

Answer 6

Try making connections in your mind to things you already know.