I just want to remind people, watching self-help content does not make your life automatically better! You cannot make yourself a better person by just listening, it takes activity and thorough effort to improve in the ways you want to.

My school awarded the kids who read the most by the end of every month... and I won almost every month. While rooted in good intentions, these awards ignited a lifelong tradition of consuming too much with a feeling of superiority over my peers who spent time on video games or at parties. I scoffed at my mom, a slow reader who leans over the same pages for months, showing her my never-ending list of books. Only in the last two years have I started questioning and unlearning the notion of "hustle learning", as you brilliantly put it. Thank you for your content, and for inspiring thoughtfulness against the tide of social media.

The world has become so fast paced that every area of life is now supposed to have immediate results and success be it studies, career or even health. The idea of not having 'enough time' has been drilled into our brains by these gurus so heavily that everybody is unintentionally partaking in a sort of rat race in their own heads. The beauty of enjoying the process is no longer emphasized on, only reaching the goals, as fast as one could, is relevant. When I started reading, my goal would also be to 'read a certain amount of pages in a certain amount of time' so I could have this satisfaction of having read enough books. The goal was not to learn, but to get done with the reading. Recently I slowed down my learning and took more time to indulge deep into whatever I was reading on. It made such an impact! I was not only remembering more of it, but I was also becoming more aware and conscious of ideas related to what I had read on to have my own reflection on it and discuss it with my friends. Take your time. Read. Watch. Learn. And don't forget to have fun.

Just today I decided that I should slow down when learning & winning at life. Rushing things lead me to do worse in everything, so I went through my routine + goals and made them more singular.

Yes, your learning should become a part of who you are. This has been my mission in life and what supports my own YouTubing, which is not focused on learning/reading/studying, but on sharing the fruits of decades of reading and studying literature (I don't use any apps, just traditional study techniques). Love what you do and enjoy following your journey.

Hi! Ever since I saw your mini essays video I have tried to slow down my reading speed and think about what I am reading. I have written more in the last three months than I have in years of trying to write. And most importantly, I enjoy reading more. What we consume becomes part of us, it deserves time. Your advice is great! Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Argentina!

good advice. Better to know few books well than many poorly. Admittedly a lot of current books have a single idea that could have been a chapter. But good stuff takes time.

the moment I realized I was "optimizing" and podcasting too much was when I realized that I had some really great thoughts but none of them were original.

Yes!! I love this video so much. I used to tell my high school and college students in my literature classes (I taught for five years) that one important reason to read the books themselves rather than only reading someone else’s summary of them is because it’s the difference between reading someone else’s highlight of a trip they took and going on the trip yourself where you experience every detail and nuance of the journey, landscape, culture, and people. Another way to put it is that overconsuming content is about stockpiling information, where slow and intentional consumption like what you described here is about personal transformation. We don’t want to be encyclopedias, we want to develop rich characters.

you uploaded this at the right time because there's now an app that does to books what tiktok did to movies

Immaculate advice, Recently I myself have been grappling with managing multiple interests. Because of the overwhelming content internet provides, Ive been really lacking on reading meaningfully. After understanding the concept of slow productivity, I think I will have to sacrifice my lesser prioritised subjects to improve more on what actually projects me into success. Thank you for the video. ❤

Thank you, this video was so needed! I've just finished my A-Levels, and my plan for my gap year was to 'educate' myself properly before I start higher education. Over the past week (since completing my final exam), I've spent the whole time stressing over everything I want to learn and not actually starting on anything. This reminded me to slow down- I just need to pick something and begin, rather than stress over how to cram in every last topic I want to study in one year.

I just came from a writing session with a friend. I used pen and paper, while he used his laptop. I got more done because I was more focused. He got distracted and wrote little because he was connected to the WiFi. So, I agree with you that writing with pen and paper is effective, and it can help you remember and refine your ideas.

This video was relatable on so many levels, I had to stop by and say thank you! Maybe one needs to remember that no matter how fast and how much one reads, the book list to read just gets bigger. So better to read less but better books and deeper. Keep up the good work!

It took me years to understand that doing something fast is not the better approach if you want the end result to be great. This is especially true when it comes to learning. Most people never slow down to really understand what they are doing. There are times when I feel like I'm falling behind, because of my thorough approach. So, I'm learning to let go of my ego, and do things at a pace and a way that is best for me.

I needed this tbh, I am a really fast learner but at the end of last year I was trying to do too much with too little time. In that process I wasnt able to remember anything I learn over a long term, I was preparing for an college admission exam. I failed the 1st one. but somehow after being burnt out with so much studying (14+ hrs Physics chem maths all three in one day! ) I barely managed to pass and score a 96/100 in the backup exam. I dont want to be in this situation ever again ! Now I will get it right and make sure I am embracing slow productivity to maximise the output. thanks for the video it was like a reminder to me. not gonna repeat stuff in college life now.

I am now u know following the same approach deliberately I'm reading Clarissa a big doorstopper with just 5 to 6 pages per day . Reading other complementary works as well . I am tempted to fast read as the plot picks up but I slowvdown and reread and its mind blowing!

Constantly feeling overwhelmed with wanting to change and improve has made me not progress at all. I really needed this video to kinda lean back and reflect upon my objectives and how to get there. Thanks for the content!

I like the premise of this video! A common thread in your other videos is how the beliefs of hustle culture can be self-defeating. This one reminds me of how you've spoken about comprehensive time management in the past, and I'm curious if you could maybe make a future video on how you manage your day and week without hustling or forgetting work-life balance. Thanks once again; you're an inspiration!

I agree with the concept of how reading and learning just sort of become a part of you over time through habit and lifestyle rather than always having to be some kind of metric to measure up against

Subscribed to you when you were at 28k , felt genuine happiness when I saw the 97k today. Great to see worthy content getting recognition :)))

You are god damn right sir, I went through the exact same process that Johnny Hustle, and I actually love the friction of learning now, looking back. PD: Please tell you are a professor because man what a story telling skills you have!!

babe wake tf up...the goat has posted 🔥

was in my analytics and saw ur channel name and a 100k below it, congrats man. while the subs dont matter that much, its definitely a huge milestone.

I've been on a journey to improve at chess by reading thematic bbooks, and that's what I mostly count as reading today. Your advice rings very true to my experience: slowing things down really helps. Great video!

Oh damn I was doing the exact same thing with my notes. Thanks for helping me realize that. I also use writing as a forcing function to process information and deepen my understanding. As well as active meditation.

I used to read a lot as a kid. Overtime I stopped and now it feels like a chore. I loved reading so much that I literally used to finish a book in day ( 200 pg books mostly ). I am trying to get back to reading again. Starting with simple classics from Kafka now. It's like I am going back to zero. What helped you to get back into reading and staying consistent ? I am quite against hustle culture too. So appreciate the video !!!!!

Wow, this was great. On its own merits, but also because as you were speaking, I was thinking of various things I'm doing, and how I can do them more effectively. So thank you!

This!! at 15:13 practice how you think and articulate yourself, i think it deserves a video on its own. It's so frustrating when you have an awesome idea or opinion about something but when it comes to communicating those thoughts to people it becomes a mess, like you can't even arrange your word properly it's so embarrassing. I've been struggling with this problem for a long time now, the moment i start speaking to people i immediately see them struggling to listen, i could see it on their faces Mastering this skill will work wonders in our everyday lives not just reading and writing.

It makes me really uncomfortable if I am just sitting there consuming something. Not stopping the video like yours some four times to think aloud or a book if i do not pen paper or type or write. I just can not go ahead.

I love your videos man. Keep the good stuff up.

I totally agree that handwriting makes the learning process better. Not only learning but thinking at all, it's just much faster and simpler to work with a pencil. But it's hard to store that information. That is why I started using iPad+ipencil. Same way as paper, but you digitalize information immediately and can store it in your fault. It's expensive but works really good.

Great advice. Thank you for sharing.

I've experienced the crippling pressure that all these self-help gurus and podcasts can bring to someone new to the whole concept. I like reading and taking notes slowly to 'digest' the book. Hustle culture poisons that value that reading brings. Thanks for this video, reached me at the right time 👍

Also, I love how your videos are so dense in content

Since finding your videos, it's really changed how i read. I'm still a very fast reader. But stopping to take notes, followed by a second reading connecting the notes not only ensures i'm not flying to quickly through things (i mean, I'd've read it twice), but that i'm getting all the "flavor" out of my reading. And after having adopted the mini essay concept, i can better synthesize my ideas. I've always been someone who wants to learn and share the information i've learned, and stopping to write 4-600 words about a topic lets me explore those single ideas greater, and connect them overall. I'd be interested in some videos about other aspects of this retooling of the polymath/Renaissance person. You've mentioned fitness and other rewarding hobbies in videos, but more about those and especially how they integrate and enhance the reading and writing would be good.

This is great learning. I have re-ordered hard copies of my four favourite books. Yes, I love them but have never really 'read' them. The book I am currently reading is at a slow pace - I am taking notes, rewriting, and exploring. I am a quarter of the way into this book and have found four new words. Sometimes I would check the meaning and move on - other times, I'd just skip it. I took your suggestion with Obsidian and have explored those new words further by using them in my own sentences. Some of those sentences have expanded into paragraphs and will become their own short stories. Once again, thanks for your valued suggestions.

Love you content man, do you have a reading list or suggested book list ? Would love to see what books caught your eye. Keep up the great work.

I put this video on and started peeling a five pound bag of potatoes, and it finished right as I finished the last one. I didn’t mean for it to go this way but it felt therapeutic and very in line with the “anti hustle” approach here :) thanks so much for sharing this, it’s helping me think! great as always, appreciate your approach and thoughts!

All your points have clear justifications. New subbie 🙌🏼

I'm watching your videos when 2k subscribers. I love you man.

I’ve wasted so much time trying to multitask. Say I want to learn Spanish I would aim for 1 hour a day but in reality I could not even stick to that. What will actually work is: doing the minimum for living your life, go to work, engage socially, fitness. But give ALL your energy to learning that language. Think of it everyday and night for months at a time. After 6 months your progress will be crazy and from that point on all you have to do is lightly maintain instead of push. Then move on to your next project. Great video btw

Thank you for this reminder. A deliberate and slow approach to learning seems to me to be the only viable path if one wishes to develop their intelligence deeply. Blinkist summaries, ChatGPT's, and all the various fast-foods of thought that exist today give us the illusion of knowing a lot of things, but very often, it turns out to be a waste of time...a passive consumption of content without real substance.

Thank you for the advice and content. I've got about three in progress books at the moment. Hoping to bring the number down to one but really digest the content that I'm reading.

I like to keep a journal so I can write down the stuff I annotate, and write down anything I'm thinking that doesn't fit in the margins. It's nice to have a notebook to go look back on and revisit the things that stood out to me. I like what you said about not reading for a few days so that you can reflect on what you've learned. I would love to start doing that with the books that really affect me; I get so excited about reading the next thing that I don't take longer than a day or two to reflect, and for me I know that isn't enough time. I really want to make certain books a part of my life and who I am, so I need to let it seep in. I'd like to share what I've learned, but don't have anyone in my life who is interested in what I have to say. Being a KZfaqr is not for me. But perhaps I can start a group online or some kind of blog. I do crave the feedback and interaction.

good job, you've explained it very well.

I invested in a typewriter to slow my reading and writing down a bit. I take handwritten notes on a book or article I am reading, write a short summary on a yellow legal pad, and finally, type up my final draft on my typewriter.

This is an amazing video. I always look forward to what advice you can give on learning. As a side note, the wall behind you is begging to have some framed artwork on it.

I would just like to add that it is also important to allow your own learning “style” to flourish. Try different things out and if what you are trying is not working out; see if you can adjust it before you try something else but do not feel bad for having tried it. For example, retyping my notes (I prefer handwritten note-taking) in obsidian was not doing anything for me so the zettelkesten method was not something I feel was going to work for me. So I am sticking to notebooks and book annotating but I am getting better at discerning what is worth writing down over just writing everything down.

Hello Odysseas, I just discovered your KZfaq channel and I am thrilled by your ability to simplify various concepts. Congrats!!! One more thing.Your English speaking level is really admirable.Do you have advice to other people that want to reach similar level of English? (Greek guy here)

I really appreciate you mentioning that we shouldn't just apply all this advice at once and expect to be able to stick to it but experiment and find out own balance. Feel like a lot of the "instructional" sort of videos are missing that part.

Thank you for this video!

I think wanting to support yourself for the sake of betterment is an honest intention, but I feel it can lead to a slippery slope unintentionally by consuming content pertaining to it. Hear me out. There is absolutely nothing malicious about content that wishes to help guide people, if that is their true, sole aim. It’s human to want to share with others to help benefit our lives. But it still feel like it can be harmful just as the ones just blatantly trying to sell you something because it brings about this ideation to ourselves that how we approach/do something is inherently wrong. This, inadvertently, can make engaging in hobbies, like reading, feel extremely daunting. Whether it’s against “hustling” or not, we can become trapped in this idea of having to do something a “proper way”. It’s torture for perfectionists. I say this because It dawned upon me as I watched this video; When did the prospect of just existing have to be so efficient? I feel as though I am viewing capitalistic ideals through rose-colored glasses as I consume this type of content. No wonder no one can get themselves to do anything, these spaces only feed the idea that there is always something to fix. It’s okay to just be, I think. Don’t misunderstand me, I am simply sharing some thoughts this video had evoked.

so nice to see you! good stuff here: ty

Great video and message. I have come to realize my brain will become “full” if I try to cram too much new content into it too quickly. I’m sure we’ve all hit that wall where you read the same paragraph 3 times and none of the words make sense (semantic satiation). That’s when I know it’s time to take a break and review what I’ve read thus far, usually in the chronological order I read it to help cement the ideas “into place”. I’ll also use physical books in addition to digital copies/kindle epubs. I’m able to write notes in the margins but I find it slows down my reading speed. Ebooks are great for speed reading and keeping my ADHD brain active by constantly scrolling down and keeping the next paragraph near the top of the screen.

What to do with the fear? Fear of missing out on books. Like If i read something and then i put it down. It is a beautiful concept really and in practise too but the fear of missing other books.

Applying the criteria of this video to itself, for it turned out that about 3-4 minutes had most of the bang for the buck. I would really like to see a scenario where carrying around my notes on say, the Crusades would be beneficial. What I’ve observed is that ppl will spend more time 1) deciding which digital app to use 2) endlessly tweaking said app 3) debating which note taking method is superior.

this validated my approach :) thank you

Golden recommendation pull. I definitely won the lottery by watching this video lol

I think alot of this applies to anything you strengthen and develop over time, optimizing for efficiency or other things doesn't always result in effectiveness overall

Great video, life-changing advice.

If you love note taking and notebooks I recommend diving into the world of fountain pens….its addicting and encourages more writing on paper

really resonated with a lot of the things you went over in this video.

Love your stuff. Thank you

I've always thought that pages that sell summaries of books are only good for one thing: when you want to take a first glance at the book before starting to read it, or when you have finished it and want to check if you got the main ideas.

Thanks, brother. I love your videos. I love speed because I've lost a lot of time. I want to make up for lost time. I want to become a polymath before I die.

When I read books, I like to check online communities to verify my opinions with other people who have read the book. Seeing opposing opinions from mine makes me understand the text at a deeper level since my notions of the themes, characters, and plot get challenged by the interpretations and perceptions of other readers. So I suggest that after you have formed an opinion towards the stuff you have read, you should communicate with other people to cement what you have learned. :D

Odysseas, thank you for this video. I'm a new subscriber to your channel and newsletter. I've decided to set up my Obsidian vault just like yours and I'm halfway through "How to Take Smart Notes." I have a question: what content goes into your source material notes in Obsidian? I'm trying to create a distinction between fleeting notes, permanent notes (main notes), and source material notes. When are the source material notes taken? After you've gone through a book once completely? During the read?

I like taking notes in notebooks and making small notes in my books as I read, but I don't really write reflections. That sounds like something that would help me remember what I've read more. Could you please do a video with a flip-through and/or breakdown of your notebook notes?

Brilliant stuff mate!

I liked the concept of how, your actual learning from a book happens when you finish it and then spend some to digest it and really think about the book. Or whatever content you've consumed. The trouble I seem to have is; what do I do in between moments where I can't take in information the way that I would like to? Most content I want to consume is of the nature where you have to sit with it, analyse it, make notes on it but I don't time to do that everyday. What do I consume in moments where I am waiting in lines, or waiting for work work to start? I really don't want to consume TikToks or reels or even Twitter. I know the answer though. It's just to be present Do you _really_ need to be watching/reading/listening to something whilst you wait in line for a coffee? Or when there are five minutes of nothing in your day? Not really. In fact, it might lead to better ideas I do like doing things all the time though haha so instead of scrolling, I do a bit of micro-journalling on my phone. That helps me ground myself and allows me to be present with my thoughts

Could you please make a video about HOW to do this thinking? I know there isn't a one size fits all tutorial to this but there could still be applicable, tangible advice to guide you in the right direction, right? Like guiding points to essay topics, how to ruminate on your half-baked ideas, etc Anyway I loved this video. It was shockingly relevant to my current mindset toward the appearance of gaining something from reading so much, rather than actually taking the time to slow down and do the thinking necessary to gain the value out of the books.

Some years ago i came across some books on speed reading. I did the exercises and got to where i could "read" at a pretty good speed. I could even talk to someone about the book and impress them with how fast i read it. The thing was, I no longer enjoyed reading. It wasn't until i stopped speed reading and slowed way down, sometimes deliberately slowing down and reading aloud, that i began to enjoy books again. And i realized that i had been missing the whole point of reading. It isn't about downloading input into your brain like Johnny 5, it's about the experience. That is the whole point. And the deeper you can make the experience, the better. I know a guy who watches movies at 2.5 speed, and i can't help but feel that he is not experiencing the movie in any way. Other than as a way to just knock it out and move on. Yuck

Hey Odysseas, quick question here about Zettelkasten in Obsidian. Do you link your source material with other source materials if it was mentioned? And have you also put tags on them?

I love this video, but I dislike relying on analogies to present your idea. It functions as a rhetorical shortcut to skip the logical steps: "A is like Y, and B is like Z. So if Y is better than Z, then A must also be better than B." The river analogy sounds similar to that, in my opinion, especially when considering the vast differences between a physical existence like "river" and a mental process of "learning." Still, describing the painstaking process in qualitative learning as "friction" really resonates with me.

Thank you for the thoughtful video. I've subscribed to your channel on the same day I unsubscribed from half the channels I was following, precisely to reduce the amount of information I consume. However, I want to take the time to pushback a little bit on the ideas in the video. First, I know you highlighted that each person should do as much or as little as they want, and that there's not one-size-fits-all. But since the main argument of the video is about creating friction, reading fewer books (or any content), both slower and more deeply, I'll pushback on that. I've found that there is a fundamental difference between two types of people. Or perhaps three, if we include the hustlers. I agree wholeheartedly that hustle culture is damaging, whether it's in learning, work, or even in personal life. But I think that there is one type of person to whom this video speaks the most, which is the person who likes to learn things in detail, who likes to know a lot about few things rather than knowing less about more things. Funnily enough, that is aligned with the modern notion of specialization, even though sometimes modern specialization is at odds with the slow learning camp when it comes to the goal. Specialization is more associate with productivity, whereas slow learning can be more focused on living a good life in the ethical sense. But there is also a different position that is not about hustling, but simply about exploring. And just to be forthcoming, I find myself in that camp, so I'm probably biased. In any case, when I read a book, often I don't want to know every detail about it, neither I want to be able to teach someone about it later. And that doesn't mean I'm not changed by the book, neither that I don't think deeply about the ideas discussed. I have a background in Philosophy, and I've done some very deep thinking about some very difficult ideas. And yes, I probably remember less about what I've read in the sense of who said what, or about the history of some idea. But I don't care about that, that's not why I read or learn things. I read and learn to explore ideas. When I read books, I care that they make me think about things I wasn't aware before, and that afterwards I'm changed in important ways, even if I can't remember which book changed me in what way. Besides, in defending slow learning, it seems to me that there is the assumption that the best ideas are the ones buried deep in the books, the ones you only get to when you read slowly and deeply. But I'm not sure if that's true. I think that often it's the overarching idea that makes the most difference, and in those cases the details are less relevant. For example, when someone reads Aristotle, I think it's more important to understand the idea of "ethics through virtue" than to know or to think about each of the virtues he puts forward. And I'm saying all of that having tried myself exactly what you propose: not reading something unless I am able to fully engage with it, taking notes and thinking about it thoroughly. And sometimes I still do that, especially when I need to reference it in a paper I'm writing, for example. But what I've found is that instead of making me get the most out of everything I read, more often than not it turns something I love to do (reading and thinking about it) into a chore. And because of that, I end up reading and engaging with the content even less than I would otherwise. Perhaps I'm lazy, or perhaps I lack the discipline. Or perhaps it's something else. To end on a brighter note, there is one technique I found useful for me, and that kinda gives me the better (even if not the best) of both worlds. When I'm learning about something and I want to go deep in it, but I don't want to allow it to block me because it turned into a chore, what I do is to find two sources on the same topic. One source I use to take notes and go deep(er). But to avoid cornering myself, whenever I don't have the energy, the time, or I simply don't want to have the trouble of taking notes, I go to my second source and simply read it at any pace I want, without worrying about processing it fully or commiting anything to memory. More often than not, an idea I've read superficially in one source will later reappear in the other. So even if I only get the gist of the idea without the details, it's enough to allow me to make connections and understand the context of the idea. Later, when I am able to process the first source more deeply, that idea already has some conections in my mind, and it's easier to go deeper. Anyway, thanks again for the video, and thanks for indulging my comment by reading it :)

Libraries were the original KZfaq. If you are a KZfaq University student like me then you will probably also love exploring different books in a library. You are not lazy for being naturally curious. "Becoming" a slow learner is therefore not a major shift in your character or motivation. Rather it is a simple choice to experiment with different forms of engaging your natural curiosity

I discovered it the hard way and i call it "Information Overload"

Does anyone mind telling me the books on the left side? especially the ones behind “how to read a book” it’s got ‘read’ on it’s title

One serious question concerning reading is, do you have a "reading chair" or "reading desk". I find it difficult sometimes reading for longer period of times due to neck pains, knee pains from sitting, back issues, etc. It works for me to go working out, because my muscles are somehow doing better after working out, if I don't go to thw gym for a week, my issues start again. So do you have those issues?

Love your content!

I like the idea of not consuming media unless you are going to engage in intentional learning.

damn you just described me for the last 6 months 🤣 great video

How can i learn to communicate my thoughts better? I love learning and reading but when it comes to having discussions and even writing about things, its an absolute mess of thoughts that don't have a lot of depth and seem rather generic :(

Can you please tell us what books are on the Thumbnail?🙏🙏

omg! i have that exact same bookstand! from etsy? wild

Sir when we share information with someone we get stuck and also loopholes in information.why it so

Did you put a snippet of the bioneer in just ro see who watches him and also your video? 😎

I started reading Odyssey today before sleep. Couldn't fall asleep and started reflecting, thought how original ideas come from slow thinking. Then opened youtube and saw you dismissing one of my favourite books - how to read books, and couldn't figure out which one you accentuated on the thumbnail. Turned out it's oddyysey and the video is about reflecting. Creepy.

"lazy" is a blanket judgemental word people use for things they dont understand nor care to learn about. i dont trust ppl who call others lazy.

I think you read the book by Sönke Ahrens, the zettelkasten principal I am just reading it too.

Great content mate. The newsletter sign up doesn't seem to be working atm. Have tried but I receive no email (tried 2 addresses and checked spam)

I found taking notes inside of a book ineffective. It basically had the same effect as using a highlighter - I always overdo it. Over time I developed I different philosophy which is that I allow myself to take one note per about 5-7 minutes of reading or if I feel a really strong urge to write something down. I think that overdoing notes stems in lack of confidence.

Be a planet: use both!

u r right, that s what i think thank bro

I've never subscribed so fast ngl

14:13 I love this guy man🤣

So, should I just read Odyssey or all these other books to the left? Do these books represent Hustle Culture or it's the opposite?

Good!

Strange. I just bought The Friction Project book and he says to put friction in your learning.