Learning & Memory Resources
The best books and tools for remembering what you learn and building knowledge that actually sticks — curated recommendations grounded in memory research and cognitive science.
Books | Tools & Apps | Further Reading
Books
How to Take Smart Notes — Sönke Ahrens
Introduces the Zettelkasten method — a note-taking system designed to help you develop ideas and retain knowledge over time, rather than simply filing information away and forgetting it. Essential reading if you consume a lot of books, articles or lectures and want to actually use what you learn.
Where Good Ideas Come From — Steven Johnson
Explores the conditions that allow new ideas to emerge — from slow hunches and adjacent possibilities to the role of networks and serendipity. A thought-provoking read for anyone who wants to think more creatively and make better connections between what they know.
Tools & Apps
The tools below cover the full learning cycle — capturing ideas, building a knowledge base, and making sure what you read actually stays with you.
Anki — The gold standard for spaced repetition flashcards. Shows you information at precisely the intervals your brain needs to move it into long-term memory. Requires more setup than simpler apps, but nothing else matches it for long-term retention. Free on desktop and Android; one-time purchase on iOS.
Readwise — Automatically resurfaces highlights from your Kindle books, articles and notes using spaced repetition. If you read a lot but struggle to retain it, Readwise fills that gap with minimal effort on your part. Paid, from around £7/month, with a free trial.
Obsidian — A note-taking app built around linked thinking. Rather than storing notes in folders, Obsidian lets you connect ideas across everything you’ve written — making it easier to spot patterns and build on what you know. Popular with researchers, writers and knowledge workers. Free for personal use.
Audible — Audiobooks make it possible to keep learning during commutes, exercise and other time you’d otherwise lose. Many of the books recommended across this site are available in audio format. Subscription from around £7.99/month, with the first book free on trial.
Blinkist — Condensed summaries of non-fiction books, readable in around 15 minutes. Most useful for scoping a book before committing to the full read, or revisiting key ideas from books you’ve already finished. Freemium — paid plans from around £10/month.
Further Reading
New to learning and memory or want to go deeper? These three posts are the best starting points.
How to Use Spaced Repetition — How the spacing effect works and how to apply it to anything you want to retain. Start here if you feel like information goes in one ear and out the other.
How to Remember What You Read — Why most reading doesn’t stick, and the evidence-based techniques that actually move information into long-term memory.
How to Learn Faster — The cognitive science behind effective learning, and the practical techniques that make the biggest difference — from retrieval practice to interleaving.