While all facts are true (or at least should be), not all are relevant to all people. Everyone has different emphases on what’s important to them. Here are several examples:
- A very common example is emphasis of different details in a news story. For instance, one may discuss a story with a friend about a crime near where they live. One person may remember the exact location (for it is nearby a store he patronizes), the other may focus on the time (since it may have woken him up, given it was overnight.) Both perspectives emphasize different elements, but the same core story.
- Non-fiction books I read, including certain scientific (and other) books, e.g., the Scientific American Library series, have details that stand out from the rest of the content. What these actually are depends on the individual. These things are more worth keeping in mind, and therefore more likely to stick. Depending on individual interest, understanding, etc., this can vary from person to person.
- A little adaptation of this principle concerns fiction works, wherein all details can be eventually be rolled up into a main plot.
Also, one thing I resolve to do now is not to try to pick up all details when reading non-fiction. After all, since when do people really want to “cram” things (except maybe before a test)? Again, a book may very well serve its purpose in what it communicates, to any level of detail, as well as to many different audiences.
For example, recently, I bought a geomorphology text through Amazon. While an interesting subject, certain topics, especially math-intensive ones, seemed quite specialized and not relevant (at least right now). Textbooks of any kind work best under a professor’s instruction anyway. The book was geared toward juniors and seniors in college, as well as graduate students, so it would have little relevance to me anyway right now. (I did sell it, by the way, at a local used bookstore, probably with the best revenue ever). Also, if possible, I might add a double major at the university (one year into enrollment) of geology to the primary biology major, but we’ll take it a step at a time. Let’s just concentrate on finishing CCP first. I have our finals for both courses this Monday.
You’re not a camera, so don’t strive for a photographic memory!
The Adventures of a Christian Bookworm 