StudentHacks.org » Books

How to Start Remembering Everything You Read

studenthacks.org — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:07:59 +0000

Here are some various strategies to help you start remembering what you’re reading:

Write Summaries in Your Textbook
Summarizing your reading causes your mind to comprehend, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information better. You’re not just reading information passively, you’re causing your mind to join ideas together so you can condense it down yourself. Write down brief summaries as you read various sections in your textbook.

Say it Out Loud
After reading and writing summaries for about 30 minutes – stop and take a break. Try to recite out loud from memory what you’ve just read. Pretend to give a lecture on what you’ve read, and do your best to recall what you’ve just summarized. This might be difficult at first, but you’ll get better at it as you keep practicing.

Argue With Your Textbook
Another great way to remember what you’ve read is to start an argument with your textbook. Think critically about everything you’re reading and question concepts that seem foreign to you. Add question marks and underline areas that cause you to question. And make sure to write down questions in your textbook. These are also great questions to pose in class – or to ask your professor during office hours. It shows you’re an active reader.

Create a Mock Essay Exam
After finishing a chapter, write a mock essay exam question about what you’ve just read. And then take 15 to 30 minutes to write a detailed answer to the question from memory. This is a great way to make the information stick.

Record Your Verbal Summaries and Listen
I know this sounds geeky, but I used to record myself summarizing my textbooks. And I would listen to these recordings at night while falling asleep. This is a very easy way to help you memorize a lot of information without even thinking very hard.

The more actively involved you are with your textbook, the more you’ll comprehend and the more interesting you can make your reading experience.

Recommended Reading

10 Creative Ways to Recycle Old Books

studenthacks.org — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:07:41 +0000

If you have any old books that you never plan on reading again, here are some fun ways to recycle them:

1. Hide stuff in your hollowed out book.
Read tips on how to hollow books with a ruler, pen, box cutter, and Elmer’s white glue.

2. Make Book Bookends.
Learn how to turn an old textbook into a bookend.

3. Create an invisible book shelf.
Learn how to stack books on your wall without any shelves.

4. Turn a book into a clock.
If you have a book cover you really like, learn how to turn it into a clock.

5. Make a lamp shade out of a book.
Easy way to convert a book into a lamp shade.

6. Turn a book into an iPod case.
Go ahead and stick your headphones into that book. I’m not kidding.

7. Make table legs out of books.
Any English Major or grad student has probably countless books stashed in their bookshelves or closet. Learn how to make a table out of books.

8. Make a Lift-the-Flap Book for Toddlers
Kids love board books — especially lift-the-flap books. Learn how to make one as a creative gift for that next baby shower or birthday party.

9. Trade your old books for new books.
There are a variety of websites that let you trade books. Check out bookmooch.com, paperbackswap.com, and bookins.com

10. Set a good book free with BookCrossing.com
Over 680,000 people in over 130 countries have decided to let a favorite book go free. You simply register your book – leave it at a favorite coffee shop or wherever – and track its progress. Learn more at BookCrossing.com.

Recommended Reading

Free AudioBooks and eBooks for Your iPod, PDA, or eBook Reader

studenthacks.org — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:38:38 +0000

ManyBooks.net is a website that aggregates free eBooks and audiobooks for your PDA, iPod, or eBook reader.

The site makes it easy to sort through ebook titles, categories, and authors. There is also a reference section with a variety of encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other useful books for download.

Everything is absolutely free – including their list of audiobooks.

You can also subscribe to their RSS feeds to get an updated list of free eBooks or Audiobooks sent directly to you.

Recommended Reading

Where to Buy Cheap College Textbooks – 29 Nifty Websites

studenthacks.org — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:12:23 +0000

Classes are starting up for me this week, so that means I need to start ordering my textbooks.

Buying textbooks is always a pain because of the inflated costs involved.

Last semester, I had to buy a 150-page textbook written by my professor that cost $97 used. And I’m sure that cost doesn’t surprise you.

Textbook prices are out of control – especially after reading on Digg.com that textbook prices have risen almost 186% since 1986.

However, there are plenty of places online to buy textbooks on the cheap.

Here are 29 places to buy cheap textbooks:

Abebooks.com
Free shipping and a way to shop 13,500 online booksellers at once.

Addall.com
Addall.com compares textbook prices across the web. It provides you with all the fine details – like taxes and shipping involved for each store.

Affordabook.com
Find discounted textbooks and novels.

Alibris.com
Alibris will connect you to independent booksellers across the United States. You can find some great deals here.

Allbookstores.com
Compare prices across hundreds of bookstores affiliated with Allbookstores.com – which looks a bit like Amazon.com.

Amazon.com
I’ve bought and sold my textbooks through Amazon.com many times. You can get connected to some independent sellers who offer great rates on used textbooks.

BetterWorld.com
Fund literacy, care for the environment, and save money on textbooks with BetterWorld.com. They even offer free shipping. Check out their prices.

Bigwords.com
This website is a book search engine that aggregates prices of textbooks across the web.

Bookbyte.com
Another website that allows you to buy and sell used textbooks.

BookCloseouts.com
Cross your fingers and pray that you can find a discounted textbook here. You can find some amazing deals.

BookFinder.com
Lifehacker.com recommends this book search engine to find cheap textbooks.

Books-A-Million.com
A site similar to half.com – which allows you to buy discounted textbooks and novels.

BuyUsedTextbooks.com
Buy and sell used textbooks

CampusBooks.com
CampusBooks.com claims to save students 58% on average on textbooks. Prices include tax, shipping and coupons.

CampusBooks4Less.com
Another bookstore search engine to find cheap books.

Campusi.com
This search engine compares textbook prices on over 200 online bookstores.

CollegeSwapShop.com
This nifty website allows you to buy, sell, or swap used textbooks.

CompareTextbooks.com
A cool spot to get price comparisons on your textbooks at different websites.

Chegg.com
Chegg.com allows students to rent college textbooks – instead of paying the high cost of buying them at your campus bookstore.

DirectTextBook.com
This websites compares textbook prices across a bunch of popular online stores like Ebay.com, Half.com, and Amazon.com.

Ebay.com
You might be surprised to find your textbooks on sale at Ebay.

eCampus.com
eCampus.com provides a place to buy and sell discounted textbooks. You’ve probably seen their ads in your campus newspaper.

FreeloadPress.com
I’ve never used this service, but they offer free textbooks in return for completed surveys. These textbooks have ads in them – which help pay the cost. Leave a comment if this service is legit or not.

Half.com
I’ve found some great discounted textbooks here.

Halfvalue.com
This is a typical buy & sell used textbook website.

iChapters.com
Save the environment and your money by purchasing only the book chapters you need to read as an eBook.

Textbookrevolution.org
A website that’s beginning to archive links to free textbooks across the web. A very cool project!

TextbookX.com
You may have heard of TextBookX.com because they have a handy Facebook app that allows students to buy and sell directly through your profile. I’ve never used this service, but leave a comment if you have. I’m curious if it worked for you.

ValoreBooks.com
ValoreBooks.com promises cheap textbooks for students.

And don’t forget about these free online textbook resources:

Any other websites you recommend should get added to this list?

The Best Fiction and Nonfiction Books of 2007

studenthacks.org — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:53:23 +0000

If you’re a book lover like me, you’re going to want to check out these lists of best fiction and nonfiction books published in 2007.

I’ve also included some book titles that I think look really interesting.

New York Times Books of 2007
Here are some interesting books that I missed this last year:

Boston Globe’s Best Fiction and Nonfiction in 2007
Boston Globe critics reveal their favorite books this year.

Publisher’s Weekly Best Books in 2007
Editors at Publisher’s Weekly compiled this great list – and they even include Stephen Colbert’s “I am America (And So Can You!)”

American Library Association
Here’s an interesting book they recommend:

The Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What it Means for Life on Earth

Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction in 2007
I think I’m going to check these books out at the library:

The Economist 2007 Pick of the Bunch
A bunch of great books that I can’t wait to read:

Library Journal.com Best Books of 2007
Some books that I’d like to read:

Amazon.com Best Books of 2007
It’s always interesting to look at top books at the biggest online bookstore. Some books that caught my eye:

What are some of your favorite books that you’d like to recommend?

Why You Should Talk to Yourself After Studying

studenthacks.org — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:12:02 +0000

The next time you finish studying, I’d like for you to give yourself a 5 minute lecture on what you just read.

Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but just give it a try.

You see, one way to help new ideas cement in your mind is to recite them back to yourself.

If you simply read a textbook passively, you will probably remember less than a third of what you should within a few days. And you will probably remember a lot less two months later.

However, if you’re actively reading and reciting key concepts back to yourself it will help connect these ideas to your core memory.

And if you’re able to attach these new ideas to subjects you already know well, this will help the new ideas stick in your mind much longer – and much easier.

So talk to yourself after you’ve studied.

It’s a great way to test yourself on what you just read. And it will force your mind to remember more and more each time you study.

Recommended Reading

Rent Books Online with BookSwim.com

studenthacks.org — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:54:36 +0000

Ever heard of BookSwim?

Yeah, I never heard of them either. It’s a fairly new website that allows people to rent books Netflix style.

That’s right: no late fees, no shipping fees.

You simply select the books you want to read for the month, and you’ll get them mailed to you. And when you’re done, you send them back. That’s it.

It’s a pretty cool if you live too far from a well-stocked library.

Anyway, check it out to see if it’s something you’re interested in. The lowest cost for this service is $14.99 per month—and that gives you two books at a time.

Free Downloadable Books for Your iPod

studenthacks.org — Wed, 16 May 2007 04:08:03 +0000

Want to catch up on some reading with your iPod? ManyBooks.net allows you to download tons of great books in a variety of file formats; including iPod notes. So the next time you get caught in class with your iPod, show your teacher how you’re just reading some Aristotle to pass the time.

Get Free Books at BookMooch.com

studenthacks.org — Mon, 07 May 2007 04:39:01 +0000

We received an email from a high school physics teacher in California. He recommends students check out BookMooch.com. It’s a website that allows you to trade the books you don’t want for books that you do. It’s a pretty cool site if you’re looking to get some free books. Check it out and let us know how it works for you.