On Reading Fragmented Knowledge

With the development of the internet, knowledge has exploded, and we can access all kinds of information.

However, this "dry goods" content is too redundant and chaotic—it doesn't form a system, and instead wastes a lot of our time and attention.

So, to cherish our limited attention, I suggest reading this way:

First, don't expect one article to bring complete enlightenment.

Most fragmented knowledge online is someone else's practical experience or book summaries. It can only give you a path—you need to read related books to solidify your knowledge system.

Second, don't be greedy about fragmented knowledge.

I once tried to finish all my daily subscriptions on Zhihu, WeChat public accounts, and Jianshu. Ended up reading until 1 a.m. and still didn't finish—and didn't gain much. I suggest collecting good "dry goods" on Instapaper and reading 10 articles a day. That's enough.

Third, learn to filter.

I once spent a lot of time reading articles about user personas, only to find most said the same thing in different words. So try to read articles that "supplement your knowledge system," not repeatedly read "redundant" knowledge and waste precious time.

Finally, learn to think critically and organize.

Reading isn't the same as thinking and organizing. After finishing, you should be able to summarize what the article was about and file it into your Evernote.