One of the key advantages of the audiobook format is multitasking, which can also turn into a disadvantage for many.
It is hard to focus and concentrate on audiobooks while multitasking. Reading a physical book keeps us engaged in ways that audiobooks simply cannot.
It is incredibly easy to lose focus while listening to an audiobook which leads to not remembering anything and all those listening hours are wasted.
In this article, I will share a few tips to help you capture and retain key ideas from audiobooks.
Why bother to remember the audiobooks you listen to?
It is important to know what is the intention behind listening to a particular audiobook. Are you listening for pleasure or learning?
In my case, I intend to remember information from nonfiction titles more than fiction, autobiographies, etc.
If I am listening to a self-help book, I want to be able to retain the information that I learned from the book so that I can apply it and grow as a person.
Fictions are mostly for pleasure, where you do not need to remember stuff. They are easy to follow and do not include many new ideas, data, or studies that you want to remember.
Sometimes, you like a quote that you can note down.
How to Remember Audiobooks? Here are 8 Tips to Help You
If you are looking at how to retain information from audiobooks, here are 8 tips to help you.
Tip#1: Have a Dedicated Listening Session
It’s tempting to do something aside from listening to an audiobook. Multitasking is an art, and getting used to doing parallel activities while listening to audiobooks takes time.
Not all books require the same level of focus. If you are listening to a title with valuable information that you want to retain and use in the future, I recommend having dedicated listening sessions to better focus on an audiobook.
Shorter and uninterrupted dedicated sessions are best to retain information from audiobooks.
Tip#2: Choose the Right Kind of Multitasking Activity
Either have a dedicated listening session during which you do not do anything else or do things that do not require conscious thought.
I recommend things that you can do on autopilot, like cleaning, laundry, driving, walking, etc. You can also play mindless games that do not require much of your attention.
I enjoy audiobooks while walking as I feel my mind is more active, and I can remember things better.
If you need to focus and concentrate more on the other task, pause the audiobook and resume again when you can pay attention to both tasks.
You can also rewind to listen again if you miss anything. Most audiobook apps have the rewind option to rewind 30 seconds with one tap.
Tip#3: Experiment with the Narration Speed
Experiment with the narration speed to find a balance between being fast enough and comfortable enough for you to absorb and remember the information.
This varies depending on the speed of the narrator and the complexity of the topic.
If the narration is too fast, it’s not easy to focus and remember anything. You should fiddle with the narration speed until you can comfortably follow the story and absorb the information.
Non-fiction titles tend to have lots of new ideas, insights, and scientific facts that you want to remember to implement later.
Fictions and biographies are form of stories which come as more natural and are easy to follow while listening.
If you are multitasking and the narration is too fast to keep up with, you can slow down the narration a bit to focus better on both tasks.
Note: You can use our speed calculator to see how much time you need to finish a title at different narration speeds.
Tip#4: Take Notes
One of the best ways to summarize and remember what we have listened to is by taking notes.
You can take notes manually and maintain a book journal or use apps like Apple Notes, Evernote, or Simplenote.
I have a Book Notes folder in the Apple Notes app where I write bullet points with the main takeaways from a book or particular section that I want to remember.
If I am listening to an audiobook while driving, I send myself a WhatsApp audio message or open Apple Drafts on Apple Watch to record an audio message.
I can then add those messages to the Notes app when I have time to write.
At the end of an audiobook, I have an Apple Notes file with all the important information and takeaways from the book I just finished.
Tip#5: Use Bookmarks and Clips Feature
Most audiobook apps have bookmarks and clip features. I use the clips & bookmarks feature in the Audible app all the time.
Clips are used to cut your favorite part from a book, including a short story, a quote, a joke, or anything else that catches your interest and that you want to remember.
A bookmark is used to mark a specific point in a book to return to it later.
I have a detailed article on how clips and bookmarks work in Audible that you can check out.
Some users consider clips and bookmarks a lot of work and do not use this feature, but it is a lifesaver when I want a quote from a book or go back to a part that is referring to a study or sharing some numbers.
Tip#6: Reflect and Summarize after Each Chapter
When you are looking at different options on how to retain information from audiobooks, it is important to take out time to consider what you are listening to.
You do not want to run the risk of sleepwalking through the listening process.
Stop every 20-30 minutes and reflect on what you just heard. If you can’t recall, you can listen to it again. Try to picture how what you just heard applies to your life or business.
You can also summarize each chapter into a few bullet points and take notes along the way.
Tip#7: Make a Book Summary with a Mind Map
Creating a mind map can help deeply embed the information from an audiobook into your brain.
Make a mind map of the key ideas from the audiobook once you have finished listening to it. A mind map also helps you visualize how ideas are connected.
It is a simple process to create a mind map for a book summary
- Identify the central message of the book
- Create primary branches with major points or sections
- Create secondary branches for related details
- Add details with tertiary branches
Use keywords and draw symbols and images when writing details on branches. Here are two articles to help you get started with mind maps.
With a mind map, you can summarize the main ideas from your favorite titles on a single page.
It is also a good idea to have a mind-mapping book to keep all of your maps in one place.
Tip#8: Buy the Physical Copy
If you love an audiobook and want to remember the important sections and retain information, consider buying a physical copy.
It is easier to concentrate and pay attention when you are reading. You can highlight the important pieces along the way or take notes in the margins.
Visual learning is more effective when it comes to retain the information from a book.
I hope these 8 tips help you remember the key takeaways from audiobooks. Do you have anything to add? Let us know in the comments.
Sohail Ahmed
I love Audiobooks and this blog features my first-hand experience with all major audiobook apps and services … Know More