Is rereading books a waste of time?

Quick answer

The claim: rereading a book is time you could spend on a new one, and with so much out there, it's a waste. Most readers pushed back hard. We think both sides are right, depending on why you're reading.

What 125x is: 125x is a web app at 125x.app. You connect your YouTube subscriptions, and it gives you a feed of the latest videos from the channels you follow, each with a summary: a verdict, the 5 key takeaways, and the spoiler, plus Actionable and Lessons tabs with more tips. You read that and decide what's actually worth opening.

Open 125x

For fun: reread freely

You catch details and foreshadowing you missed.
You notice how you've changed since the first read.
A familiar book is a comfort, and that counts.

To learn: the claim has a point

A 2013 review of study techniques rated rereading as low utility for learning. Practice testing and spacing out your study rated high (a 2013 review of study techniques).

Rereading feels productive because the material looks familiar. That feeling can fool you into thinking you'll remember it.

Do this instead

After a nonfiction book, write what you remember before rereading anything.
Reread only the chapters you couldn't recall.
Turn key ideas into questions. See test yourself.

FAQ: questions people ask