How do you read technical articles?

February 28, 2008

How do you read technical articles? Please comment and give suggestions!

After almost 25 years of marriage, I still love the way my wife engages with a book. Her formula is easy. Pick it up. Turn to the index. Find something that is interesting. Read till she is bored. Go back to the index to find more interesting stuff. Read some more. When the excitement is over, the book is done. No order, simply passion driven. Of course then I am left with a short and fairly focused list of; how to communicate with your wife, how to make time for her, 10 steps to treating her like a princess - just like you used to, how to have six pack abs, and so on …

I have come to realize that I don’t read linear. I am more like my wife. It doesn’t take much to grab my attention, but it takes a ton to keep it. There is an enormous amount of information out there and some of it is relevant and a tiny bit is revolutionary.

Specifically about technical reads, here is how I go about it…

Step 1 - Print it out. I don’t know why, but I read best when I have it in my hands. I don’t read a lot in to this such as; I’m a tangible learner and need to hold it to be felt or Having it in print makes it real. I simply think that I need to print it out because its convenient for me since I am multi-tasking. Plus, I have good intentions and make the decision to read prior to me actually reading, so I take it on the go. Or maybe its simply because I am in my 40s and the preferable reading distance is a variable arms length. Whatever it is, its cumbersome on my laptop.

Step 2 - Read the first few paragraphs to get a context of what the author intends. I don’t want to waste my time. If it fits with my needs at the time, I go to the next step. If not, then I drop it.

Step 3 - I turn every page and look for conceptual models, visual representations, graphs and charts. If it doesn’t have any, then I can only read a page or two - if it didn’t hook me by then, I pitch it.

Step 4 - Once I find the cool things (models, charts, etc…), I then try to get my head around them and piece them together to determine what the author is trying to get at. If a picture is in fact worth 1,000 words, then a picture saves me 10-15 minutes. To me, the conceptual representations and visuals must stand on their own. If so, then they are true and you only needs words if you go to the next level. If they are not true or overly complex or just plain ugly, I assume that the author doesn’t know what (s)he’s talking about.

Step 5 - If it’s a keeper, then I save it in to my file system that is organized as follows:

…Articles/Read Articles/

Architecture (EA, SOA, etc…)

Business Intelligence

Data Management

Data Quality

Governance

Master Data Management

Metadata Management

Personal

Program Management

Other Stuff

Strategy

Stewardship

The Social Side

Tools

In addition, I highlight in yellow all the really good concepts, ideas, funny statements, game changing methodologies etc… I also mark the articles up with pen, making notes like - “right on buddy” and “need to make sure we do this” or “Jim does this, suggest that he try blah blah blah”. These mark ups are quick and focused. The funny part is that I then save everything electronically. Ok, when I say everything, I really only mean the original article. I actually recycle the paper and loose all my markups. Knowing this and the fact that I take copious notes, but to date have almost never really read my notes, leads me to believe that this exercise really solidifies my thoughts and brain storage of memory. I don’t take them to refer to them later. It works for me.

I am also always thinking and asking myself…

How does this make me (my business) more efficient?
How can I apply this to my business?
Are my competitors doing this? When will they do this?
How can I tweak the concept for an unrelated solution (thus making it unique and game changing).
Is How would I do this?
Is there a better way to do this?
How can I leverage this information?
Who can make use of this?

But what I am really curious is, how do you read? What motives you to stay engaged? What do you like? Hate? What questions run through your mind? How much time do you read/research new things per week? (about 30 min. a day for me).