Claire answers “My problem is that I can't recall what I...”

Kim asked this question about How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading:

My problem is that I can't recall what I read to be able to describe it to someone else. I have Bipolar Disorder & not remembering things is a side effect of it. Will this book help me recall the main points of what I read enough to describe it to someone else? I love reading & read non-fiction Christian books one right after the other.

Claire What you describe sounds more like a learning disability (LD): LD can be comorbid with other psychological/cognitive disorders or you can mimic such d…moreWhat you describe sounds more like a learning disability (LD): LD can be comorbid with other psychological/cognitive disorders or you can mimic such disorders when taking prescription drugs to treat other disorders.

I am a former sufferer of depression, and a graduate in psychology. I struggled in school but, when I complained to my health care providers, they always blamed the disorder or the drugs and said there was nothing I could do. After suffering for more than a decade, I stopped treatment AMA (it worked well for me, but I do not recommend this) and wound up in remission (my body finally recovered but the drugs were interfering with my body asserting itself). I still struggled with reading problems. Finally, being off meds and medically diagnosed as in remission, they listened to me and referred me for testing: turns out, I have had Learning Disabilities - including a form of dyslexia - since birth and they were always blaming something else.

My point is that Health Care Providers can get a little lazy, attributing everything to one diagnosis and missing the rest of the picture. I would ask your psychiatrist for help investigating this issue: some psychiatrists are qualified to diagnose cognitive issues/psychoeducational issues, most are not but they can refer you to an appropriate provider (usually a psychoeducational psychologist) for testing and consult. If you can afford it or your insurance will pay for it, it is worth it even later in life.

This book probably WON'T help with your issue: this book discusses different methods of reading, and changing your method will change your processing of the material, which may alter your memory of the material, it does not help with working memory. It will teach you how to find the main points, but that may not be enough if you have a memory issue.

That said, book club members often take notes as they go along and bring them to group: if you keep a book journal, know how to analyse such things and write them down as they occur to you (with an extra "download" or review when you finish the book), you will have more than enough material to describe and discuss. Going over notes will also strengthen your memory, and this book will teach you to take notes.

Good luck!(less)

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Kim Lauren, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to me in length & so thoroughly. I am currently waiting to see if I've been chosen in The Uni ...more
Mar 02, 2015 03:19PM · flag

Kris this is spot on what i have though has been happening to me with reading. I think I'll read your comment to my health providers next time I go to help ...more
Jun 19, 2022 02:37PM · flag

Claire I have since learned that a neuropsychologist performs the appropriate testing.

Also, I regret accepting the answer of “oh it’s this” instead of remind ...more
Jun 22, 2022 05:44PM · flag

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How to Read a Book

by Mortimer J. Adler

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