Reading Non-Fiction: How to Make it Easier and More Effective
From a book lover and EdTech specialist
I have a very complicated relationship with nonfiction books. As a curious person, I love to learn new information about media, education, brutalism, time management, and the life of monkeys in Madagascar. I want to know more, but the process of reading nonfiction sometimes kills me.
I started reading non-fiction only in my university years as I had this stereotype in my mind that non-fiction is boring. Still might partly agree with it. Some of my favorite nonfiction books in my list like works by Emili Nagoski on female sexuality or Edward M. Hallowell on ADHD. They are written in an easygoing language, filled with jokes and real-life stories. These kinds of books are easy to read, but still, you might need to use some concentration and memorization techniques to store facts and proceed information properly. But some of the books (let’s not give concrete examples here) are very hard to read. It is not the content that is boring, but the way of representation of the information. But let’s give some more detailed explanation of what is so specific about non-fiction books that makes them “boring and hard to read”.
- Information overload
Sometimes non-fiction books are written in a more professional language. So if you are not a specialist, it might be hard to get into numbers, definitions, professional terminology, and how one fact is connected to another. Reading requires a lot of concentration and work, so the urge to give up is hitting you every two lines. Do I really need to know all this information? Do I need to put all this effort into this or can I just open Wikipedia?
- Dry Writing Style
Some non-fiction books are written in an academic or overly complex way, making them less engaging. It is another problem of the non-fiction industry — making interesting facts boring and hard to get with complicated writing and style. Not all non-fiction books are the same, but in general, you don’t need to read non-fiction to enjoy beautiful writing.
2. No Clear Narrative
Unlike fiction, non-fiction doesn’t always follow a story structure, which can make it harder to stay engaged. Without a story to follow, facts and concepts are harder to remember and you easily forget the information you read two chapters ago because you never use it.
3. No Practical Application
You read, but in most cases, you don’t use the information you are getting, especially in the case of historical nonfiction or just some books with scientific facts. You read about the planets or biology research, but now what? It's very interesting, but what is next?
The only solution for all these issues is engaging with information, not just reading it. Even though you may love the topic, reading it passively will not help you to process information. So what to do?
Here are some tips from me
Don’t Read Cover to Cover
Non-fiction isn’t a novel — you don’t have to read every page and read all the books without a break.
- Skim the table of contents and introduction first to see which sections are most relevant.
- Jump to the chapters that interest you instead of forcing yourself through the whole book.
- Take a break for a week or even more and finish reading later if you feel like it. No pressure or judgment, no deadlines to finish reading (if you don’t have some study obligation, of course)
Read in Short Sessions
Non-fiction can be mentally demanding, so avoid long reading sessions.
- Read 10–20 minutes a day instead of forcing yourself to sit for hours.
- Pair it with a daily habit (e.g., reading while having coffee or commuting).
- Make reading enjoyable: read in a place you like, go to a coffee shop or in the park, and drink a cup of coffee or tea (or glass of wine if you like). I like reading in the park or near the river, if I have a chance I always read outside.
Read, Watch and Listen
If you are tired from reading, try other formats. You can start with reading one book then switch to audio and come back to reading if you want to.
- Use audiobooks (especially for dense books) — i like listening while going for a walk.
- Watch YouTube summaries before or after reading — it helps not to miss important ideas.
- Check book summaries (Blinkist, Shortform, or free summaries online).
Use What You Have Learned
If you don’t use it, you’ll forget it. Using can include discussing or deeply analyzing the subject. Also you can:
- Teach someone else what you read — retelling the story will make you to reinforce what you learn.
- Write a short summary or post about it (e.g., on your Instagram).
- Find a way to use one idea in your daily life — especially it is effective for more practical books with advices.
Take Notes
Don’t just read — engage with the material. Use highlights & marginal notes (mark key insights). Write down what you think about the book or chapter. Make a short essay just for yourself.
- Try the app for taking notes with dates, facts, and key ideas. You can make flashcards there and just go through them when you have a moment. It will help you to memorize important information.
- For longer notes use either a paper notebook or some other digital note taking system you like: notion, miro, google documents or something else you find important.
Join the Reading Club
Book clubs are amazing. They motivate you to read, make you think and analyze the information on a deeper level. And also give you ideas on what to read next!
Actually, reading clubs are kind of summarising all other advice I gave you as they force you to take notes, engage into the material and help you see different perspectives and clarify ideas you might have missed. For me personally, it was nice to meet other people who like reading and discuss books with them. Having long conversations about books now is something unique and precious. Feel super smart and kind of new elite, sorry for being a bit snobbish!
Stop Reading Bad Books
Not every book is worth finishing! If you don’t like it or have lost interest in the topic, have more interesting topics to read about, just put the book away. No guilt.
Good luck with your reading journey! And share your favourite non fiction recommendations in the comments, I would love to read.
