Absolutely In healthcare especially in the B2B space it’s not just about knowing the right strategies, it’s about applying them to solve real problems. I’ve seen how insights from the right resources (books included) can shape smarter systems, better communication, and stronger partnerships.
I write about these shifts on my Substack for those building or operating in the B2B health space. Feel free to explore if that’s your lane too.
The Forgetting Curve, as became known, was established by educational researcher Hermann Ebbinghaus in the 1880s. We forget +90% what we read/hear within 24 hours unless it's reinforced somehow. That research was repeated by Scandanvian researchers (Finland? can't remember) in the 2010s and found to be valid. Doesn't that have powerful implications for our educational system?
Which gives me something to write about tomorrow, so thanks. :-)
Looking forward to reading the post and seeing what angle you will approach.
I actually had a section with stats on why we forget what we read & some other things, but cut it last minute.
And you’re right, the implications for education are huge. We’ve got way more tools now to teach, learn, and actually retain. The challenge is shifting the system out of its pre-AI mindset and into where we are now.
In the U.S., our educational system often confuses activity with accomplishment. We continue to emphasize standardized testing (cognitive skills) and almost completely ignore emotions, the primary driver of behavior. Meanwhile, the world is burning down. Is AI useful? Absolutely! Will it turn the tide in education? No.
Same story in developing countries, and I’d bet it’s even worse. Emotion’s always been sidelined, right alongside the life skills people actually need to navigate the world.
Really love these tips! I’ve started using some recently, and they’ve been super helpful. Funny enough, I’ve also noticed I remember things better when I read non fiction or other books. Thanks so much for sharing.
Great tips! I also use voice mode while reading to get clear on some ideas. This way you don’t have to context switch all the time and stay in deep reading mode.
That’s great! I’ve been using voice mode more and more too, but I’ve noticed I tend to get carried away with the conversation when I do, haha. Do you use the native voice feature in ChatGPT or something else?
Thanks, Neil! For sure. But now, since GPT can read text from images (even handwriting), you can just snap a photo of any part of a physical book you want to dive into. And if it’s a well-known book, chances are it’s already somewhere in its training data.
Plus, the way I structured the prompts, it’s not about GPT spoon-feeding you summaries. You’re the one doing the thinking, GPT just helps you reflect. So it works either way. Uploading the full book is ideal, but not mandatory.
YESSS to all of this! 🔥 AI isn't here to replace our thinking, it's here to amplify it. I've been using similar strategies with my coaching clients and the transformation is insane.
The Feynman technique with AI hits different though. I actually have my clients do this after every automation workshop - having them "teach" ChatGPT what they just learned. The gaps in understanding become SO obvious when you have to explain it simply.
The real game-changer for me has been that connection prompt - linking new concepts to existing knowledge. I use a variation of this when I'm researching new AI tools. Instead of just collecting features, I'm connecting them to actual client problems I'm solving.
Love this, Tiff!! Appreciate you sharing your own grounded, real-world examples.
Totally agree on the Feynman angle. Teaching is hands down one of the best ways to learn.
I felt that big time earlier this year while building a career tool to guide people through their next job move. We used the OpenAI API to help users step-by-step, from discovering career direction (via personality quizzes and past experience analysis) to actually landing the role (CVs, LinkedIn, interview prep, all of it).
I learned way more building that product and coaching early users for free (just to understand their struggles) than I ever did back when I was job hunting myself a few years ago.
There’s something about teaching and doing at the same time. It just locks things in.
Loved this. I actually built a custom GPT a couple days ago to play a curious student/younger sibling (it's called "Curious Companion" and it's here if anyone's interested - https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68407e32d698819182b7344272edf2e8-curious-companion) so I can learn by teaching, and I've been using it a lot since then. It's really fun to use too, and has already sparked some new ideas. One trick I added is that I instructed it to occasionally misunderstand my explanations, in order to keep me on my toes and deepen my understanding by having to correct it too.
This fits with a lot of what's in 'Ultralearning' by Scott Young. The key points he makes are to (1) apply what you're learning ASAP, in as close to the real world application as you can, (2) practice active recall, forcing your mind to memorise it rather than relying on the text or notes in front of you, (3) create drills, breaking down a skill into its component parts to work on them one at a time, (4) explain it to others (the Feynman technique you mentioned), (5) get as much feedback as you can, so you know what's working and what's not.
One interesting tidbit in the book is that it helps to do a test before you've even *begun* studying -- it primes your mind to seek out and retain those answers so you perform better later. Perhaps we could add a "Phase 0"?
What's really great is this is all "swimming upstream". It's the opposite of getting AI to do the thinking for you, it's getting it to prompt *us* to think harder, better.
Learning by teaching is seriously one of the most underrated ways to actually get something. Curious Companion sounds great, love that it adds a bit of friction too.
Great ideas to retain information better. I recently started using one of those AI Whisper (speech to text) apps that is smart. Seems like a great use for this when reading. I don’t always want to type and I could use these principles to do the same things but through voice
Zach, I run a Linux laptop and would *love* to use Whisper, but it seems hard to install on Linux. How do you do it? DM me if you'd like. And thank you in advance.
You can use basic whisper integrations but the ones I like are MacWhisper (free tier) and wispr flow. I find the iOS app is surprisingly good: https://wisprflow.ai/r/ZACH98
It has one more step above whisper which is an AI model corrects your language before it pastes. That’s my referral code from inside the app. I don’t know them at all or have any affiliation.
I wish there was a free version as good, because I do not like that is is transcribed in the cloud. I would prefer a local one.
Yes voice to text. And the AI cleanup feature. Which lets me say “I really like like delete the second like pizza” and it spits out “I really like pizza” so it’s more intelligent with that feature on
I use journal entry's for outlining items I am interested in remembering from each non-fiction book I read. Numerous studies suggest that writing something down, particularly by hand, can significantly improve memory retention and recall. Some people here indicate that they type out the material, but my experience is that typing is not nearly as effective as writing information down by hand. It takes longer to do it this way, but I have found it very helpful. Finally, I don't believe using AI to respond to my queries is a good way to learn — but I will try it again, as per the examples. Thanks to the author for the interesting ideas.
I’ve had the same experience with writing by hand & it’s great to keep doing what works best for you.
With AI, I think the value is a bit different - it kind of gives you an extra hand to explore ideas more deeply, connect them, and figure out how to apply them in your own context.
Thanks for sharing those prompts. Now to apply them, but that is the point. I've added your piece to my PKM and will plan to use your ideas the next time I do a deep dive into one of my books on my 'reread' list and see how it goes. Thanks for the post.
I just finished a book, and I'm starting a new one. I will see how it works. My first read/listen is often passive to determine if there is any value or precepts that I can quickly identify. I then reread/relisten at a later date and will try to use your method for more active learning. My challenge is that it's an audiobook, so it seems I would have a better chance with a book for which I have PDF access to the material. But we'll see what happens. As for the PKM, I use HeptaBase now. I have used Evernote since 2010, so it holds about 6000 of my notes, but I've been using HeptaBase for over a year now and am switching to it for all deep thinking projects.
I have meant to return here and get a refresh. My mind is like a butterfly flitting around the garden of Substack flowers everywhere.
I had to add another comment when I was directed to an article by Itamar Shatz PhD that supports this post. It writes about how prep to teach may motivate us to learn better. Here's the link. https://effectiviology.com/protege-effect-learn-by-teaching/
I enjoy all the comments. They're like icing on the cake.
I’ve started reading books this way recently as well - it’s a game changer. For professional and business books, I not only retain more information but also role-play scenarios. Thanks for this article, I picked up a few additional ideas for prompts. I’m particularly going to try the one-month recall.
That was my experience too, total game changer. Glad it was useful for you as well! Let me know how the one-month recall prompt works out, super curious :)
Hey Joshua, love this question! To answer briefly: yes, for sure, you can do both.
But I think it’s better suited for a Custom GPT than a Project, since Projects hold all the context together, which might get messy if you’re using it across different books, and it might mix them up.
Thanks, Michael! I appreciate you taking the time. I’m currently working on a platform that will include all my prompts, workflows, and resources in one place, much easier to access and use.
Love hearing that, Michael. And yes, sometimes you gotta fight through a few cobwebs before it clicks :)) but that’s where the real insight comes. Appreciate you sharing how you’re experimenting with it.
That’s so amazing to hear!!! And such a great reminder for all of us, that repetition is key. Really appreciate you coming back to this and sharing it with me.
Absolutely In healthcare especially in the B2B space it’s not just about knowing the right strategies, it’s about applying them to solve real problems. I’ve seen how insights from the right resources (books included) can shape smarter systems, better communication, and stronger partnerships.
I write about these shifts on my Substack for those building or operating in the B2B health space. Feel free to explore if that’s your lane too.
The Forgetting Curve, as became known, was established by educational researcher Hermann Ebbinghaus in the 1880s. We forget +90% what we read/hear within 24 hours unless it's reinforced somehow. That research was repeated by Scandanvian researchers (Finland? can't remember) in the 2010s and found to be valid. Doesn't that have powerful implications for our educational system?
Which gives me something to write about tomorrow, so thanks. :-)
Looking forward to reading the post and seeing what angle you will approach.
I actually had a section with stats on why we forget what we read & some other things, but cut it last minute.
And you’re right, the implications for education are huge. We’ve got way more tools now to teach, learn, and actually retain. The challenge is shifting the system out of its pre-AI mindset and into where we are now.
In the U.S., our educational system often confuses activity with accomplishment. We continue to emphasize standardized testing (cognitive skills) and almost completely ignore emotions, the primary driver of behavior. Meanwhile, the world is burning down. Is AI useful? Absolutely! Will it turn the tide in education? No.
Because only we can save us from ourselves.
Same story in developing countries, and I’d bet it’s even worse. Emotion’s always been sidelined, right alongside the life skills people actually need to navigate the world.
Really love these tips! I’ve started using some recently, and they’ve been super helpful. Funny enough, I’ve also noticed I remember things better when I read non fiction or other books. Thanks so much for sharing.
So good to hear you’re already using some of this to better process books! It really is a different experience.
I guess non-fiction might stick because it feels useful or immediately applicable, while fiction hooks you emotionally through the story.
Both land, just in different ways.
Great tips! I also use voice mode while reading to get clear on some ideas. This way you don’t have to context switch all the time and stay in deep reading mode.
That’s great! I’ve been using voice mode more and more too, but I’ve noticed I tend to get carried away with the conversation when I do, haha. Do you use the native voice feature in ChatGPT or something else?
Great article. I bet this is easier with digital books.
Thanks, Neil! For sure. But now, since GPT can read text from images (even handwriting), you can just snap a photo of any part of a physical book you want to dive into. And if it’s a well-known book, chances are it’s already somewhere in its training data.
Plus, the way I structured the prompts, it’s not about GPT spoon-feeding you summaries. You’re the one doing the thinking, GPT just helps you reflect. So it works either way. Uploading the full book is ideal, but not mandatory.
Another option is to use a program like BundleIQ to curate all your books,notes, other media, and your own content.
https://www.bundleiq.com/
Great tool, thank you for sharing Steven!
Really? My friend Nick Mohnacky is the brains behind that company. Awesome!!!
YESSS to all of this! 🔥 AI isn't here to replace our thinking, it's here to amplify it. I've been using similar strategies with my coaching clients and the transformation is insane.
The Feynman technique with AI hits different though. I actually have my clients do this after every automation workshop - having them "teach" ChatGPT what they just learned. The gaps in understanding become SO obvious when you have to explain it simply.
The real game-changer for me has been that connection prompt - linking new concepts to existing knowledge. I use a variation of this when I'm researching new AI tools. Instead of just collecting features, I'm connecting them to actual client problems I'm solving.
Love this, Tiff!! Appreciate you sharing your own grounded, real-world examples.
Totally agree on the Feynman angle. Teaching is hands down one of the best ways to learn.
I felt that big time earlier this year while building a career tool to guide people through their next job move. We used the OpenAI API to help users step-by-step, from discovering career direction (via personality quizzes and past experience analysis) to actually landing the role (CVs, LinkedIn, interview prep, all of it).
I learned way more building that product and coaching early users for free (just to understand their struggles) than I ever did back when I was job hunting myself a few years ago.
There’s something about teaching and doing at the same time. It just locks things in.
Oohh! great idea. Thank you for the share.
Loved this. I actually built a custom GPT a couple days ago to play a curious student/younger sibling (it's called "Curious Companion" and it's here if anyone's interested - https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68407e32d698819182b7344272edf2e8-curious-companion) so I can learn by teaching, and I've been using it a lot since then. It's really fun to use too, and has already sparked some new ideas. One trick I added is that I instructed it to occasionally misunderstand my explanations, in order to keep me on my toes and deepen my understanding by having to correct it too.
This fits with a lot of what's in 'Ultralearning' by Scott Young. The key points he makes are to (1) apply what you're learning ASAP, in as close to the real world application as you can, (2) practice active recall, forcing your mind to memorise it rather than relying on the text or notes in front of you, (3) create drills, breaking down a skill into its component parts to work on them one at a time, (4) explain it to others (the Feynman technique you mentioned), (5) get as much feedback as you can, so you know what's working and what's not.
One interesting tidbit in the book is that it helps to do a test before you've even *begun* studying -- it primes your mind to seek out and retain those answers so you perform better later. Perhaps we could add a "Phase 0"?
What's really great is this is all "swimming upstream". It's the opposite of getting AI to do the thinking for you, it's getting it to prompt *us* to think harder, better.
Learning by teaching is seriously one of the most underrated ways to actually get something. Curious Companion sounds great, love that it adds a bit of friction too.
Great ideas to retain information better. I recently started using one of those AI Whisper (speech to text) apps that is smart. Seems like a great use for this when reading. I don’t always want to type and I could use these principles to do the same things but through voice
Love that idea, Zach! Would work amazing to use it when teaching back concepts out loud like the Feynman prompt, without typing a word.
And yet another great idea. By speaking it will be reenforced in another area of my brain, a different anchor point.
I have installed Speech Note, which is probably available for most Linux distros. It requires no Internet connection, and is quite useful.
Zach, I run a Linux laptop and would *love* to use Whisper, but it seems hard to install on Linux. How do you do it? DM me if you'd like. And thank you in advance.
The one I’m using is only on Mac windows and iOS. I would have to google to see if any good ones are available for Linux
I just asked ChatGPT and I found a cloud-based site that transcribes a recording. Are you doing it live, or via recording?
You can use basic whisper integrations but the ones I like are MacWhisper (free tier) and wispr flow. I find the iOS app is surprisingly good: https://wisprflow.ai/r/ZACH98
It has one more step above whisper which is an AI model corrects your language before it pastes. That’s my referral code from inside the app. I don’t know them at all or have any affiliation.
I wish there was a free version as good, because I do not like that is is transcribed in the cloud. I would prefer a local one.
That's another great idea. Thanks
I found a better one! Free or $19 one time fee https://www.voiceink.cc. I’m finding it better than the wisprflow one
Quick question before I go look at it. Do you use it for voice to text or something else? Thanks
Yes voice to text. And the AI cleanup feature. Which lets me say “I really like like delete the second like pizza” and it spits out “I really like pizza” so it’s more intelligent with that feature on
Thank you
I use journal entry's for outlining items I am interested in remembering from each non-fiction book I read. Numerous studies suggest that writing something down, particularly by hand, can significantly improve memory retention and recall. Some people here indicate that they type out the material, but my experience is that typing is not nearly as effective as writing information down by hand. It takes longer to do it this way, but I have found it very helpful. Finally, I don't believe using AI to respond to my queries is a good way to learn — but I will try it again, as per the examples. Thanks to the author for the interesting ideas.
I’ve had the same experience with writing by hand & it’s great to keep doing what works best for you.
With AI, I think the value is a bit different - it kind of gives you an extra hand to explore ideas more deeply, connect them, and figure out how to apply them in your own context.
Thanks for sharing those prompts. Now to apply them, but that is the point. I've added your piece to my PKM and will plan to use your ideas the next time I do a deep dive into one of my books on my 'reread' list and see how it goes. Thanks for the post.
Thanks so much, Tim! I’m glad you found the prompts helpful & curious how it goes when you use them on your next deep dive.
Also curious - where do you keep your PKM?
I just finished a book, and I'm starting a new one. I will see how it works. My first read/listen is often passive to determine if there is any value or precepts that I can quickly identify. I then reread/relisten at a later date and will try to use your method for more active learning. My challenge is that it's an audiobook, so it seems I would have a better chance with a book for which I have PDF access to the material. But we'll see what happens. As for the PKM, I use HeptaBase now. I have used Evernote since 2010, so it holds about 6000 of my notes, but I've been using HeptaBase for over a year now and am switching to it for all deep thinking projects.
I also like to do an initial scan or passive read to get a feel for the material before diving deeper.
I agree that this method works best for books you know you want to actively engage with.
If the books are well-known, you might not need a PDF, since some of the content could already be part of the training data.
And thanks for mentioning HeptaBase, I hadn’t heard of it before, but I’ll check it out.
I have meant to return here and get a refresh. My mind is like a butterfly flitting around the garden of Substack flowers everywhere.
I had to add another comment when I was directed to an article by Itamar Shatz PhD that supports this post. It writes about how prep to teach may motivate us to learn better. Here's the link. https://effectiviology.com/protege-effect-learn-by-teaching/
I enjoy all the comments. They're like icing on the cake.
Thanks for getting back to it and adding some more science-backed data on the efficiency of these learning methods!
I’ve started reading books this way recently as well - it’s a game changer. For professional and business books, I not only retain more information but also role-play scenarios. Thanks for this article, I picked up a few additional ideas for prompts. I’m particularly going to try the one-month recall.
That was my experience too, total game changer. Glad it was useful for you as well! Let me know how the one-month recall prompt works out, super curious :)
Terrific and super practical advice !
I wonder if I can create all of these prompts into a Project feature to go back to or create a GPT on all of these ideas.
Hey Joshua, love this question! To answer briefly: yes, for sure, you can do both.
But I think it’s better suited for a Custom GPT than a Project, since Projects hold all the context together, which might get messy if you’re using it across different books, and it might mix them up.
I invested time to store your prompts where it is easy to insert them into a chat. I think I could have saved the post and my time.
Whatever, I don't think it was a bad use of time, because I want to figure out how to use all this new stuff I keep finding on Substack.
Thank you
Thanks, Michael! I appreciate you taking the time. I’m currently working on a platform that will include all my prompts, workflows, and resources in one place, much easier to access and use.
Glad you found value in it so far!
Hi Daria. I worked with 2 prompts on notebook lm today and used Wyndow’s post on James Clear habits.
I had to clean out a lot of cobwebs but the thinking machine was able to function a bit.
I was able to explain a few things to my wife. Not all mind you.
Thanks again.
Love hearing that, Michael. And yes, sometimes you gotta fight through a few cobwebs before it clicks :)) but that’s where the real insight comes. Appreciate you sharing how you’re experimenting with it.
Super curious - what book are you diving into?
I have not used it for a book but a post by Wyndow
That is a good start for me for now.
https://open.substack.com/pub/aimaker/p/how-i-used-james-clears-atomic-habits-build-ai-systems-run-my-life?r=44d6c&utm_medium=ios
And sorry, I misread when you said it before
oh, got it! That’s a really cool use case, works great for long-form posts like that.
It’s easy to forget about one good idea when I find so many on Substack daily.
I returned to this post and found more prompts to use.
I’m excited to sort out confusion next time I study.
I will be confused for sure for sure.
Thanks Daria
That’s so amazing to hear!!! And such a great reminder for all of us, that repetition is key. Really appreciate you coming back to this and sharing it with me.
I have explored your Substack very little because each post is so important and helpful.
Such a great approach in this fast-paced world where information is consumed so quickly and superficially. Thanks for the reminder, Michael.