How to Actually Learn by Reading the Textbook

There can be nothing more ridiculous than trying to read the massive textbook for a class, but reading the book can be beneficial in many ways. It can give you a holistic look at any topic, and for a visual learner, it can help you learn better. If you didn’t understand the lesson when the teacher taught it, you can go back to the textbook and have the concept explained differently. Six years in college taught me, I didn’t always need to buy the textbook.

That being said, there are cases when you shouldn’t read the textbook, even when it is assigned reading. Yes, I am permitting you to leave the manual under your bed for safekeeping, but only if you meet the following criteria.

• Reading the textbook is not for you if you don’t learn by reading. We have all different learning styles, so if you learn better by hearing or hands-on, then reading the textbook is not for you.
• Reading the textbook is not for you if the teacher doesn’t follow or use the manual. Some professors have been teaching so long that they haven’t cracked open the book in over a decade. These professors are often pretty impressive, and you probably didn’t even need to buy the textbook for their class. Now you have a paperweight.
• Reading the textbook is not for you if the book doesn’t make sense to you. I have come across my…