Active Reading Vs. Passive Reading:Using Psychology-Based Critical Reading Skills To Increase Information Absorption & Retention
Active reading involves fully engaging with the material, critically analyzing concepts, and connecting new information to existing knowledge, thereby enhancing comprehension and retention. In contrast, passive reading, characterized by skimming or reading amidst distractions, often leads to superficial understanding. The first step to reading more actively is to review any questions related to the material before reading to identify key information. Second, read the passage multiple times, revisiting questions between each reading to reinforce understanding. Third, identify and define unfamiliar terms to prevent confusion. Fourth, summarize main ideas in the margins or in a notebook to reinforce comprehension. The fifth and final step is to mark important sections relevant to the reading objectives for easy reference. Implementing these techniques can transform reading into an active process, leading to better absorption and long-term retention of information.
This blog post was written by a human.Hi readers and writerly friends!
If you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by, and if you’re a returning reader, it’s nice to see you again! In this post we’re discussing the concept of active reading for comprehension and concept retention. This article is all about helping you ensure you’re actually absorbing what you’re reading and will able to put into application, the information you’ve read or listened to, rather than it simply going in one ear and out the other.
Passive Reading
Passive reading is when one reads quickly, skimming the material and not really taking it in effectively. This most often occurs when readers are cramming with little time to read, reading amidst distractions such as loud music, noises, or voices, or listening to books while doing some other activity that pulls their attention away from the information they’re trying to absorb.
To avoid passive listening, limit your multitasking and have a pen and paper close by so you can jot down any important notes as needed. If you must do something while listening to an audiobook or recording, combine that mental activity with a physical activity of low mental energy such as working out, going for a walk, bathing, or doing some other simple, automatic/repetitive task that won’t pull you away from the material. Where you can, try to have a copy of the physical book to read along with the audiobook for extra focusing power and immersion.
Active Reading
Active reading is the method of reading material by which you are fully engaged and able criticize concepts as they are presented to you, comparing what you are learning with that which you already know. By active reading, you are absorbing the information you are presented with and thus able to apply it moving forward.
How to read actively:
When reading chapters in text books or curriculum material, read any questions BEFORE reading the passage so you can know what key information you’re supposed to be looking for.
Where you can, read the passage three times and review the questions between each pass through. This will help you to cement the information in your brain and will ensure you’re becoming extra familiar with the material, introducing any key concepts you might have missed in the first pass through.
Underline and search any unknown words, subjects, concepts, or ideas referenced, that you might not be familiar with. This will avoid any confusion during the reading process. Write these terms and their definitions down so that you can reinforce your understanding of them.
Pay attention to headers and sub-headers as they typically provide clues to the main idea of that section. As you move through paragraphs, jot down a few words in the margins or in your note, to describe the main idea of each paragraph. This is especially helpful when writing a summarization or response paper for passages.
As you read, highlight or underline any concepts that may be relevant to the reading questions you reviewed before and between reading sessions. When it comes time to answer the questions, go back to the highlighted sections for easy and accurate answering.
As you read, take any notes on concepts, terms, or subjects you will be quizzed on later or save any ideas you will want to come back to. There are all kinds of ways to take notes, but opt for simplicity and efficiency. Notes do not have to be gorgeous or frilly to be effective. Legible handwriting, underlining, capitalization, and a few different color pens will go a long way. If you prefer, handwrite your notes and then type them up on your computer for extra studying power and better legibility.
The Benefits of Active Reading
Active reading ensures you absorb the material you’re reading, you retain more of what you read, and you remember the information for years to come. It’s a skill that takes time and practice to build but after a few sessions, you’ll have this useful skill in your toolkit forever. This skill is especially useful for students and educators but anyone who considers themselves an academic or lifelong learner would benefit from practicing this skill.
Active Reading Using The SQ3R Method
According to the American Psychological Association, the SQ3R method is “a study method developed on the basis of research in cognitive psychology which promotes enhanced learning of reading material (APA, 2020). The acronym SQ3R stands for the five steps in the reading process: Survey, Question, Read, Remember, and Review. This process is effective for reviewing previously visited material as well as reading passages for the first time. According to the Marbella International University Centre, the SQ3R method was proposed in the book Effective Study (1946) by Francis P. Robinson, a prominent American educational psychologist (Marbella IUC 2020).
Survey: Skim through the text quickly to get an overall idea of the subject matter. Pay close attention to section headers and sub-headers.
Question: If you are reading the passage for a particular purpose (for example, to answer an assignment), ask yourself how it helps. Ask these additional questions of the text: Who? What? Where? When? How?
Read: the text in a focused, and fairly speedy way. Take breaks between long passages to allow your brain to refocus and absorb more material.
Remember: Test your memory - but don't worry if you can't remember much. Flashcards are a great way to test your memory. Work with a friend or colleague or use Quizlet to create your own virtual flashcards to quiz yourself.
Review: Read the text in more detail, taking notes. Summarize and paraphrase important concepts. Being able to accurately rephrase content in an easily-digestible format demonstrates your understanding of the material.
Take Your Active Reading Practice A Step Further With The SQ4R Method
According to Weber State University, there are some other terms you could insert for a SQ4R method instead. Below are the optional R’s that can be used as a fourth step in this method and will take your reading, memorization, and application to another level.
Relate and Reflect: Making a meaningful, personal connection between yourself and the material will help cement concepts in your mind. As you read each chapter or section, try to create ties between the new concepts and the information you already know. How can this material apply to your life
Rewrite: Reduce the information to easily-digestible notes by rewriting and paraphrasing. Take notes that are both concise and complete, and double check your own version against the text. For your reference, include page numbers in your notes, so you can quickly trace the information back to the source text if needed.
Record: Retain essential information and key concepts either by literally recording yourself read aloud, saving bookmarks or timestamps in an audiobook, or adding sticky tabs to the pages of your physical text. Create a list of terms and concepts that you know will be on the test and write the page numbers from the source material as well as your notes so you can quickly and easily find the information you need while studying.
Repeat and Read Aloud: As with the Record option, you could read aloud your material. Studies have shown that reading aloud improves comprehension as well as memory. As per the Neurobehavioral Associates, a 2017 study from the University of Waterloo confirmed the production effect, or the “distinction experienced when words are read aloud, versus reading words silently. The speaking of the words is more active than silent reading, and therefore aides in the production of our long-term memories” (Neurobehavioral Associates 2018).
The ninety-five participants in the study “were asked to read silently, listen to someone else read aloud, read aloud themselves, and listen to a recording of themselves reading. While hearing a recording of themselves did show a small benefit, the greatest benefit to memory was, overwhelming, found when the participants read aloud” (Neurobehavioral Associates 2018). Try reading aloud to help retain important information and read along with your own recordings for even stronger concept retention.
Respond: As you read, write the answers to the questions you read before diving into 3R/4R part of the method. As necessary, ask yourself additional questions and write them with the answers in the margins or in your notes. When you go back to answer the actual test questions, double check that your answer is correct and include the page number with your answers if you have the space.
Active reading starts with the reader. It is the act of engaging deliberately with the material and absorbing it effectively. Readers can practice reading more actively with a few simple steps and by doing so will increase their information absorption and reading comprehension.
That’s it for my guide on how to practice active reading! Have you ever heard of this practice before? In what was has active reading helped you study smarter? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!
Bibliography
Kang, Jaeyoung Geoffrey. “Assorted-title-book lot photo.” Unsplash photo, July 31, 2019 (Thumbnail photo).Marbella International University Centre. “What is the SQ3R study method and how to use it?” Web article, November 17, 2020 (Paragraphs 1-2).Neurobehavioral Associates. “Reading Out Loud Improves Memory.” Blog post, April 11, 2018 (Paragraphs 5-6).Weber State University. “The SQ3R Method.” PDF found on Google.com, accessed September 12, 2022.
Further Reading
“SQ3R Reading/Study System.” Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’ Cook Counseling Center article, accessed September 12, 2022.“Active Reading.” The Open University’s Critical Reading Techniques series, accessed September 12, 2022.
Related Topics
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This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
How I Read A Book: My Book Reading Routine
I always love seeing how other people curate their perfect reading experiences and I know it seems to be a popular topic in the bookish world, so I figured, why not? So, snuggle up, get cozy, grab a warm beverage, and let’s take a look, shall we?
This blog was written by a humanHi readers and writerly friends,
This week in Bookish Things, we’re taking a look at my reading routine. I always love seeing how other people curate their perfect reading experiences and I know it seems to be a popular topic in the bookish world, so I figured, why not? So, snuggle up, get cozy, grab a warm beverage, and let’s take a look, shall we?
Vegan gummies and green tea. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Sips and snacks
I can never read on an empty stomach, and especially not if it’s a book that talks about food often or makes you crave certain dishes. I’m looking at you, Night Circus, with your caramel corn and other carnival treats! I probably just made you hungry for that, huh. Sorry! Anyways, I usually eat before reading or bring a snack with me and I always bring a drink either way. If you read my blog post, 20 Bookish Facts About Me, you might know, my go-tos for bookish beverages are either a hot black tea, a hot/iced mocha latte, or a nice glass of rose. Lately however, I have been enjoying Arizona Green Tea and these adorable and yummy candy kittens. (Yes, they’re vegan!) If this blog post is making you hungry, stay tuned for next week’s Bookish Things post because I will be covering 10 when a book made me hungry.
Cozy reading space
Of course, I also can’t read in an uncomfortable position, because that gets old really quick. Instead, I opt for a cozy armchair by the furnace, a nice, shady spot outside, or a good ole pillow nest if it’s a bit chilly. Either way, comfy clothes and blankets are essential. I prefer to read in a pillow nest on my bed, with blankets and my favorite pair of pajamas. I’d also recommend reading in the woods, on the beach, and some place new to you! These are all great ways to spice up your reading experience.
Clear panel booklight. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Ambiance and lighting
This one sort of ties in with the previous item in this list, but if you want to amp up the coziness factor, candles, mood lighting, and aromatherapy are key. I light either soy-based candles or put on my essential oil diffuser for a two-birds-one-stone kind of solution. String lights or other soft lighting such as salt lamps are a great way to bring in some warmth and light to you reading space. Of course, if you have a fireplace, that’s always a great place to read. Piggybacking on that, reading lights can be a great way to keep the reading going late into the night. I am currently loving this flat reading lamp from Shein. (Later in this post, I mention how our power is currently out due to the ice storm, and I just have to say, this reading light has been a life-saver!)
Book and a notebook. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Taking notes while reading
I keep track of information during my reading process in a few different ways. Lately I have been using a plain, lined journal to keep words and definitions in. I sometimes like to jot down words that resonate with me so I can reference them later on. In my bullet-journal (and on Goodreads, let’s be honest here) I like to keep track of my reading progress by writing down how many pages I read each day. I sometimes like to highlight particularly striking passages and then leave a sticky tab on the edge of the page so I can find it easily and quickly if needed.
Books, a booklight, vegan gummies and green tea. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Reading regularly
I have been trying for years to establish a daily reading routine, but I’m still not quite there yet. What can I say? I am a mood reader, not an escapist reader! Anyhow, I try to read as often as possible and never let myself go more than two days without reading. Sometimes life gets in the way— for instance, I am writing this as the great Oklahoma Ice Storm of 2020 is happening and our power is currently out all over the Midwest City area. We are running off a generator at the moment, but before we got that set up, all I could do to pass the time was read. Suffice it to say, I was well-prepared to read for a few months…
I digress. My point is just that, as a mood-reader it is extremely hard for me to get myself to read daily, but that’s no excuse to not read regularly. Like I said, my 2-day rule is what keeps me reading often. If you are a mood reader too, consider trying this method to see if it helps. Additionally, keeping track of your reading progress might incentivize you to keep working through your TBR.
And that’s it for my reading routine! How do you read? What is your preferred reading environment like? Do you eat/drink while you read or prefer to just soak in the book instead? Let me know in the comments below!
This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
How I Got Started Reading When I Hated It
It might be surprising to learn that a published author, creative writer, and professional editor used to hate reading books. The truth is I wasn’t always an avid reader. To fully understand how my love for books, and more importantly—my love for stories has grown over the years, I have to back up to a time before I appreciated books.
This blog post was written by a human.Hi readers and writerly friends!
It might be surprising to learn that a published author, creative writer, and professional editor used to hate reading books. The truth is I wasn’t always an avid reader. To fully understand how my love for books, and more importantly—my love for stories has grown over the years, I have to back up to a time before I appreciated books.
I really learned how to read books in the third grade. I hated reading because I wasn’t good at it and thus, I wasn’t good at it because I hated it. It was a vicious cycle that repeated itself anytime my teacher assigned reading for homework. This resulted in me not doing so well in school and having to be held back in the third grade. I’m not ashamed of it now, but it made me feel like a complete failure. As I got older, I realized it was essential to my growth as a student, reader, and writer and I had no idea it would ultimately become my lifelong passion.
So, even though I’d learned how to read around first grade, I really learned to read proficiently during my second round of third grade. I had a kind, caring teacher who was really dedicated to helping me grow as a reader and worked with me to build my skill. Following the third grade, I almost instantly did better in all of my studies, passing tests with accuracy that was once gated by my reading inability.
Woman covering her face with a book. Photo by Siora Photography.
I began reading books from the Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne and Barney the Bear-Killer, by Pat Sargent. I was drawn to Sargent’s story because of the cheetah on the cover of book seven in the series and reached for Osborne’s books of which I’d heard contained a magic tree-house that could take Jack and Sally anywhere they wanted to go. Between books that had to do my favorite animal, the cheetah, and endless adventures for kids, I had plenty of reading that I could connect with. These book series helped me to connect with compelling characters over a long stretch of books which kept me reading for a long time.
Games also helped better my reading abilities, which is why I am such a big advocate for giving children access to games. While video games are constantly under fire for promoting violence and toxic environments to children, I have to point out that playing World of Warcraft from the age of nine years old, has significantly benefited my reading skills. When I first started playing the MMO, my reading abilities weren’t too strong, and I had a lot of trouble reading game instructions and quest text. However, playing the games in combination with reading Sargent and Osborne, my reading proficiency increased.
Soon after I’d reached middle school, my family and I moved to Oklahoma and being the new girl, I turned to books until my friends found me. I got into graphic novels from James Paterson’s Maximum Ride Series and after falling in love with the characters from the manga books, I began reading the full-length novels.
In eighth grade, I attended Quartz Mountain Christian Camp for two weeks in the summer, and being new to the camp, I again turned to books. We had a lot of downtime in our cabins and with cell-phones off-limits, I decided to read a random book I’d packed in my suitcase on the off chance I’d get bored and have to read.
That’s exactly what happened, and the book I’d brought was Gillian Shield’s Immortal. This book was pivotal for me because it was the first time I’d read a book that I just couldn’t put down. It taught me a very important lesson in reading—there is a genre for everyone and if you don’t like reading, you just haven’t found the right genre. I didn’t know what genre it was yet, but I realized I had been reading all of the wrong books when I was younger and fantasy, romantic, thrillers, action novels and horror were where I should have been the whole time. (Okay, maybe horror isn’t something third graders should read, but still.)
My favorite genre to date, is the romantic thriller. I don’t know, maybe I really am one of those mushy, hopeless romantics after all, but there’s just something so compelling about supernatural love, forbidden romances, and tall, dark, handsome guys with way too much angst. What can I say? I think I have a type. Following Gillian Shield’s Immortals series, I dove straight into the Hush, Hush Saga, by Becca Fitzpatrick, which is my all-time favorite series to date. I’ve read it about eight times now, and I reach for the series every fall. (Except for 2019, where I got a little too excited a little too early and burned through the series in four days over the summer. Oops!)
By my freshman year of high school, I was so deep in the reading hole, I couldn’t get out. In one year, I’d read all of the Percy Jackson and Olympians series and Heroes of Olympus, both of which were written by Rick Riordan. That same year, I reread Maximum Ride, and read for the first time Gillian Shields new book, Destiny, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby, and the Warcraft: War of the Ancients Archive by Richard A Knaak. This was a new record for me, because not only had I read so many books in one year, I also burned through the last book, which was thicker than my upper arm, with proficiency.
Since I’d fallen in love with the game, it’s lore, and it’s characters, I was more prepared than ever to take on this thick tome of game lore, character backstory, and history of the world of Azeroth, in which the game was set. I’ve read it twice since then and every time, I enjoy it because I remember how enchanted and enthralled I’d felt when I’d first read it.
As a third grader, I’d never imagined I’d ever read at the level I do now, and as an adult I can’t imagine a life without books. They’ve helped shape me into the woman I am today, and through reading, I have cultivated a love for books and stories. I love equally the process of reading and the process of telling a story—two process that go hand in hand since a writer cannot expect to better their craft without reading the works of others.
I highly recommend reading and if it’s not something you’re interested in right now, keep looking, because I assure you, you just haven’t found the right genre yet!
And that’s the end of my hot take on reading when it’s something you hate. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Bibliography
Related Topics
How I Read A Book / My Book Reading RoutineHow I Got Started Reading When I Hated ItSelf-Care Tips for Readers and WritersReading Slump Emergency Kit: 15 Surefire Ways To Break Out of a Reading Slump!10 Tips For Planning Your 2020 Reading Challenge
Recent Blog Posts
This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
Immersion Reading: Audiobooks and Ambiance
Audiobooks aren’t really books. Or are they? While many argue that listening to an audiobook doesn’t really compare to reading a book, there’s something to be said about immersion reading -or reading text while listening to an audiobook simultaneously. By using two of the five senses, readers gain a richer reading experience and find it easier to get into the story.
Woman wearing headphones while reading. Photo by Karolina Grabowska.
This blog post was written by a human. If you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by, and if you’re a returning reader, it’s nice to see you again! In this post we’re discussing the practice of immersive reading with audio. Does listening to music or white noise interfere with properly encoding information? Are audiobooks really books? While many argue that listening to an audiobook doesn’t really compare to reading a book, there’s something to be said about immersion reading—or reading text while listening to an audiobook simultaneously. By using two of the five senses, readers gain a richer reading experience and find it easier to get into the story.
So, if reading covers one sense—sight, and listening tackles a second—sound, then shouldn’t this foster a better reading experience?
Not exactly. Many readers argue that audiobooks are distracting to the story, or their reading pace differs from the reading pace of the voice actor, or the narrators read in strange voices for each character. These are all issues authors face when considering having their manuscripts formatted as an audiobook. While these are real issues for readers and authors alike, they still receive an overwhelmingly positive response, and here’s why:
There’s a new trend in the reading community called immersion reading. As defined above, immersion reading is when a book (or e-book) is read in tandem with an audiobook. This has helped many readers better get into the story and has fostered, for many, a richer reading experience.
Not all voice actors read character voices. If you’ve listened to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire the first book in the Game of Thrones series, you know what it’s like listening to a narrator tell a story with character voices. Sometimes they nail the different character voices perfectly in timbre and tone. And at other times, it can be totally distracting and annoying. This is an issue for some because it doesn’t allow the reader’s imagination to create the characters’ voices, but instead spoon-feeds them a narrator-interpreted-and-performed character voice. However, this isn’t always bad; readers who want to focus on the writing and the content of the story won’t have to waste their time imagining voices if they hear them while they’re reading. Likewise, people who struggle with aphantasia may benefit from immersive reading with audio. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Aphantasia, or image-free thinking, is a cognitive characteristic that makes it difficult or even impossible for individuals visualize images in their mind. (Cleveland Clinic 2023) Since traditional reading often relies on mental imagery to enhance comprehension and engagement, those with aphantasia may struggle to create vivid mental pictures of scenes, characters, or abstract concepts. Readers who experience aphantasia may not be able to fully imagine the events of a story clearly in their mind, much less how each character looks and sounds. Want to learn more about aphantasia? Check out the Aphantasia Network resources in the Further Reading section at the end of this blog post.
By pairing text with audio narration, immersive reading provides additional sensory input, helping readers process and retain information through auditory cues. The tone, pacing, and emphasis in spoken narration can bring stories to life, compensating for the lack of mental visualization. Additionally, sound effects and background music in audiobooks can enhance emotional depth and atmosphere, making narratives more engaging. This multimodal approach can improve comprehension, memory retention, and overall reading enjoyment for individuals with aphantasia. That being said, a quick check in the reviews section of your audiobook will tell you if the narrator used character voices and if their performance overall was positively or negatively received.
The pacing can be changed to fit your natural reading speed. Readers often read at their own pace and many argue that audiobooks don’t read as fast/slow as they’d like. If you’re using an audiobooks app, there is typically a slider that allows you to change the narration speed without butchering the narrator’s voice.
Another way for readers to experience immersion reading is by playing music in the background of your reading space. No, I don’t mean Lady Gaga should be blasting while you’re reading your next high fantasy novel. Instead, you should put on music from the Slytherin Common Room at Hogwarts, or something fantasy-based. This helps drop the reader into the setting of the story and makes for a richer reading experience. A great place to find music like this is Ambient-mixer.com or on the Ambient Mixer app. This app allows the listener to create different sound loops and has a variety of looped tracks for any genre/setting.
The description of the Slytherin Common Room details what it’s like to listen to this audio:
“You are a 5th year at Hogwarts and you're sitting in the Slytherin Common Room trying to stay awake and study. But, you have never been a very studious person so your eyelids are getting heavy and you find yourself falling asleep in a brown recliner while two other Slytherins are able to stay awake with the aid of coffee. There aren't any windows for you to see outside, but since the common room is submerged under the lake you can faintly hear the sound of water just on the other side of the walls.” (QuoteRaven)
A screenshot of the Ambient Mixer Slytherin Common Room volume control panel. Photo by Payton Hayes.
A quote from the Ambient Mixer site describes what the site offers to listeners:
“Ambient-mixer.com is a community driven project offering you some unique quality soundscapes with different atmospheres for chilling, relaxing or your recordings using our endless audio loops. You can further effectively mix and create your own sounds absolutely free, with no software installations required. You can begin listening to our sounds by clicking on the images above, which are based on different themes. All atmospheres are royalty free audio files and you can use them even in your commercial projects, thanks to the Creative Commons Sampling Plus license.” (Ambient Mixer)
While not everyone supports the use of audiobooks over reading tangible books or even e-books, immersion reading is gaining traction and becoming more popular throughout the reading community.
Bibliography
Ambient Mixer. “What is this website all about?” (Homepage footer, paragraph 1).Pavel Danilyuk (@pavel-danilyuk/). “A young woman with white headphones looking at a planner.” Pexels photo, March 12, 2021. (Thumbnail photo).Grabowska, Karolina (@Kaboompics.com) “Woman Sitting on the Armchair and Reading a Book While Listening to Music.” Pexels photo, January 28, 2021.Hayes, Payton. “A screenshot of the Ambient Mixer Slytherin Common Room volume control panel.” Payton Hayes Blog, May 3, 2019.“QuoteRaven. “Slytherin Common Room.” Ambient Mixer Audio and Description, accessed May 3, 2019.Cleveland Clinic. “Aphantasia.” Cleveland Clinic Definition, last reviewed on August 21, 2023.
Further Reading
“What is Immersion Reading?” by Connie Pan, August 8, 2024.“What is Immersive Reading and How Can It Help Me to Read Faster?” by Darren Van Soye, Nov 8, 2023.“Listen Up! Why Audiobooks Count as Reading.” by Pernille Ripp, June 17, 2024.“Is Audiobook Listening Considered “Reading”?” by Dianne Coan, accessed March 14, 2025.“4 Powerful Pros and 4 Cons of Immersion Reading.” by Mark El-Ayat, May 16, 2024.“What Is Aphantasia?” by The Aphantasia Network, accessed March 14, 2025.“5 Ways to Enjoy Reading with Aphantasia.” by Bartholowmew Lander, May 15, 2021.“Imagination Without Images: Aphantasia and Science Fiction Readers and Writers.” by Kim Zarins, November 4, 2022.“Writing Fantasy Without a Mind’s Eye.” by Frank Shultz, June 11, 2024.“Describing What You Cannot See—A Horror Writer With Aphantasia Explains His Process.” by Chad Anctil, October 31, 2024.“How to Write with Aphantasia.” by Dustin Grinnell, June 30, 2021.“Being a Writer When You Literally Cannot Visualize Scenes.” by Alexandra Oliva, April 8, 2021.
Related Topics
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This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.