We live in an age of information abundance. Whether you're a student diving into research, a professional keeping up with industry trends, a creative exploring new ideas, or simply someone curious about the world, you're constantly bombarded with new information. You might have a brilliant insight during a brainstorming session, discover a fascinating concept in an article, or even have a clarifying moment in a ChatGPT conversation.
You make a mental note, maybe jot something down, intending to revisit it later. But then life happens. Days, weeks, or months go by, and when you need that insight, it's vanished, leaving only a frustrating sense of "I know I read something about this somewhere..." This isn't a flaw in your memory; it's a consequence of how our brains process information. Saving and highlighting is only the first step. Without active engagement, even the most valuable insights can fade away. We need a system that not only captures information, but also helps us truly retain it.
That's where active recall comes in – the process of deliberately retrieving information, strengthening those mental pathways, and transforming fleeting awareness into lasting knowledge. In this blog post, we'll explore how to leverage the power of Readwise for GPT to transform your scattered insights (from articles, notes, conversations, and more) into a robust, readily accessible, and, most importantly, rememberable knowledge base.
The Science of Remembering: Why Insights Fade Without Active Recall
It's easy to blame information overload for our forgetfulness, but the real challenge is passive consumption. Simply reading or hearing something is like watching a sport – you might understand the rules, but you're not developing any skills. True retention comes from playing the game: testing yourself, actively retrieving the information, and applying it in different contexts. This forces your brain to build stronger connections, making those insights readily available when you need them most. Think of it as building mental muscle – the more you exercise it with active recall, the stronger and more reliable it becomes.
In this blog post, I will show you how to use ReadwiseGPT to save and retain knowledge using active learning.
How it Works
Preparation
- If you don't already have a Readwise account, you can get one here
- Get an API key from here
- Save your API key
Save Knowledge
- Open ReadwiseGPT
- Start a conversation with ChatGPT, using either its own knowledge base or information enriched with web knowledge. For example, you could ask for the
most influential AI scientists of all time - If this information is valuable and you want to ensure you remember it later, you need a technique like active recall. To prevent this information from getting lost among numerous notes, you can save it to your highlights in Readwise using ReadwiseGPT by simply typing
save highlights
Active Recall
- Once saved to your highlights, Readwise will actively remind you of that information using an email newsletter. Additionally, you can proactively request a quiz about those highlights within the GPT conversation at any time by simply entering
quiz readwise. The quiz not only provides answers but also shows you the original context of your highlights, reinforcing understanding.
Here is an example of a recent conversation:
First, I asked for a list of AI-powered popular analytics tools.
Then I asked to save it to my Highlights.
Now I have it in my highlights library in Readwise https://readwise.io/dailyreview
Retaining Knowledge
A few days later, I want to take a quiz on the knowledge I have saved (including previous highlights).
I simply open ReadwiseGPT and type quiz.
Now GPT starts asking me questions about previous highlights. In this case, I was asked about the most influential AI scientist of all time.
Building a Knowledge System
All your saved highlights, whether from the GPT or the extension, go into your Readwise library. From there:
- Review digests keep the knowledge fresh through scheduled reviews.
- You can export your highlights to tools like Obsidianor Notion.
- Your data is stored in open formats like Markdown.
- Spaced repetition algorithms optimize review timing for better retention.
Wrap-Up
This system is adaptable to various learning needs. Whether it's complex research, problem-solving, or idea exploration, your insights remain accessible and are reinforced through regular review. This integration transforms conversations into building blocks of lasting knowledge.
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