How to read long data science book

How to read long data science book

  1. Plan
    1. Set up the environment
    2. Budget and find time
      1. Compartmentalize schedule
  2. Prepare
    1. Capitalize your computer
    2. Use tools: Notion for annotation
  3. Stop linear reading
    1. Divide and Conquer: use hyper reading and social reading 
  4. Hyper reading
  5. Social reading

1. Plan

  • Set up the environment to get into flow

  • Make a music playlist for focus

  • Eliminate distractions
    • Loud noises.
    • Cluttered work areas.

    • Set focus on your phone, close the room door

1. Plan

  • Budget time

    • The average reader will read 100 pages in 2.8 hours when reading at a speed of 300 words per minute (wpm) according to this website.

    • For a 600-page book, about 17 hours.

    • If split by a week, about 3-4 hours a day

  • Find the best time of the day

    • Right after class

    • Early in the morning

    • Late at night

    • Worst: after food, before class

2. Prepare

  • Capitalize your computer
  • Use tools: e.g. Notion for annotation
    • Do not count on your short-term memory
    • Jot notes, copy and paste notable paragraphs
    • Build "reading" via creating notes
  • Test out sample codes
    • Copy sample programs and save in an R project

3. Stop linear reading

  • Read the Table of Contents, mark the must-read chapters
    • Introduction (2 hours)
      • This gives you the budgeting information to finish the book, i.e. what the book is about, what to focus, which is most interesting
    • Conclusion (1 hour)
      • This gives you what to remember, then go back to find out why and how
    • Pick and prioritize technical chapters most useful and applicable to you.

4.Hyper reading

  • Use computer to read (not tablet or iPad) so you can read and type (jot notes)

  • Learn James Sosnoski’s eight different hyper reading strategies:

    • Filtering: a higher degree of selectivity
    • Skimming: less text actually read
    • Pecking: a less linear sequencing of passages read
    • Imposing: less contextualization derived from the text and more from readerly intention
    • Filming – more graphical elements than verbal elements of the text
    • Trespassing: loosening of textual boundaries
    • De-authorizing: lessening sense of authorship and authorly intention
    • Fragmenting: breaking texts into notes rather than regarding them as essays, articles, or books

5. Social reading

  • Social reading is a collaborative form of online reading that incorporates discussion into the reading process and turns it into a communal experience (e.g. Perusall).

  • Set up reading group and discuss with members

Digital reading

  • Visual reading --> Visual thinking

  • Graphics!

    • Read charts first

    • Note the graphical elements

    • OOD creates lobsters

  • Take advantage of:

    • Search function

    • TOC and Reference list

      • What you cite is what you get

    • Audio functions

# Reward after reading session

  • Tune your brain into anticipating reward (e.g. ice cream, sports, hiking, play time with family, friends and pet)