Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer Syntopic Reading

In the 3rd Edition of the Photoreading Book, I am reviewing Chapter 11, Use Syntopic Reading for Life-Long Exploration. I don't understand the syntopic mind map on page 112. Specifically, I don't understand two points.

What do we write for gist in the circle "Title, Author, Date and Gist"? Do we just write a phrase that captures the author's main point? What if the author has a main point for the entrie book, but my purpose is only concerned with a subset of that purpose?

What do we write in branches for "Keypoint Related to Theme"? I am unsure if "theme" relates to entire book, or just branches related to our purposes?

Thanks,

Grant Davison

Hello Grant,

Fot the Gist you can write a one sentence summary of the book. Yeah it could very well be a phrase that captures the author's main point. In case your purpose is only concerned with the subset, then it is always a good idea to restrict your summary to that subset.

For branches specified as "Keypoint Related to Themes" you can write down the key words that susbtantiate or describe the theme. These could be your trigger words. Ideally you will use these words in a discussion to elaborate on the theme. Theme relates to your purpose. Just a gentle reminder, that purpose is supreme in PhotoReading Whole Mind system.

I hope I have been of some help to you.

God Bless You.

Kind regards
Vaibhav Sharma

The gist is the by line or second heading that an author has on the title of a book.

For example the book Natural Brilliance ... that's the title
Underneath is written "overcome any challenge... at will" That's the gist.

Since syntopic reading involves 4 or more books the central purpose is what you want to understand about the book. Themes are the main points the author is covering. Explained at item 7 for the steps of creating a syntopic mind map. They are not branches. On the branches you write the relevant passages from each book that addresses your purpose and what you wanted to learn from the authors.

Alex