Ancient Violence Toward the Individual: Built on Bones
This is the first entry in what may become a longer-term blog (or remain forever a single-entry blog) aimed at helping me remember what I read. I am someone who is very engaged with whatever text I'm holding. I prefer paper to e-readers--something that is supposed to help with information retention; I highlight and write in the margins of all my books--to the horror of some friends, but also an activity that should help with recall; and I read for enjoyment. Yet when asked to explain something I've read, I struggle, and when I feel urged to initiate an argument against something I know to be false, the clumsy sprint to the bookshelf and shuffling through of books to find the most appropriate highlight that will make my case most usually results in my keeping my mouth shut, or offering at most a tentative: "Hmm, I'm not sure that's the case, but maybe." Explaining what you've read and teaching it to others is supposed to be an excellent way to retain info...