Why reading textbooks isn’t good enough for guys – and what to do about it

Importance of Visual Learning

Reading a book is great. Knowing how to read a textbook is really helpful. Having skills that boost your reading comprehension are key factors to success.

We’re confident saying this because in school you have to read a lot of textbooks. The logic is pretty clear, right?

Well, this part of the logic isn’t as clear: reading a textbook isn’t good enough if you’re a guy.

Study Skills

That’s right. We’re talking about guys specifically. Men. Boys. Dudes. If you are a guy and you’re just reading when given a reading assignment, you’re missing out on a serious study skill for guys.

We’ll get to what it is specifically in just a moment. But until then, we want to make an observation about guys.

Guys are highly visual learners.

This is an overgeneralization. We recognize that. But still, it’s a helpful overgeneralization.

Think about the kinds of activities dudes like to do. Many of us like watching sports. We also like watching movies. We like experiencing a live sporting event, too — as long as our tickets are good enough that we can see what’s going on. Most of us like experiencing the outdoors — which is more than just visual learning, but it is definitely visual learning.

If you’re not convinced yet, which would the guys you know prefer to do – watch the movie or read the book?

There is a slight problem though.

Textbook reading is highly verbal

Does this mean guys can’t read? No. It just means given the opportunity between reading a book or watching pretty much anything else on TV, most guys prefer to learn visually.

It also means this: if you are a guy who is focused entirely on verbal learning strategies, you should find some ways to make that verbal learning more visual. 

That’s right. As simple as this is, a great way for guys to improve their study skills is to make textbook reading as visual learning as possible.

Some textbooks help when they include maps, pictures, diagrams, and all that other good stuff. But beyond that guys can do themselves a favor by making their visual learning aids.

These don’t need to be gorgeous. They just need to be visual. For example, maybe you’re a guy who could benefit from making a timeline before any history test. It will help you bring everything together visually so that info doesn’t just stay verbal.

Want more info on how to help guys succeed academically? Check out The Dudes’ Guide to Study Skills.