You can read a book and remember almost none of it a month later. Studying a book — reading it actively, with a plan — is a different activity, and it's the one that compounds.
Here's a lightweight framework you can apply to any nonfiction book.
1. Set a realistic pace
Decide up front how long the book should take and how much you'll read per session. A concrete pace ("~30 pages a day, done in three weeks") beats "I'll read when I can," which means never.
2. Name the key concepts before you start
Skim the table of contents and write down the handful of ideas the book is really about. Now you're reading for something instead of just moving your eyes over pages.
3. Write self-check questions
The best test of understanding is whether you can answer questions in your own words. Draft a few before each section — "What problem does this solve? How would I explain it to someone else?" — and answer them after.
4. Add one exercise per section
Do something with the material: summarize a chapter from memory, work a problem, apply an idea to something you care about. Active recall and application are what move a concept from recognized to known.
Let the plan be generated
Doing this by hand for every book is a lot of work — which is why most people skip it. ReadingSherpa's curated reading paths include a study plan for each stage: pace, key concepts, self-check questions, and exercises, grounded in the specific books. Browse paths or build your own list.