Cliffs Notes Paradox
Cliffs Notes was the bestseller section in the bookstore for a decade. Cliffs Notes were an easy way for high school students to find out more about the books that they had been assigned, read or didn’t.
I created a book based on the Cliffs Notes cliffs notes when Cliffs published their list of thirty of the most popular titles. Quicklit was not a very successful book, but at the time it seemed like an excellent idea.
Cliffs Notes, Quicklit and other similar products were goldmines of knowledge when used as intended. They helped to open the door to real understanding and got closer to the core of the literary work than a high school teacher.
What is the paradox? The paradox?
I’m not sure that the widespread availability of these summaries or guides has actually contributed to much understanding.
ChatGPT is here, along with its cousins. ChatPDF is a wonder that reads PDFs instantly, summarises them and allows us to ask questions. I have seen extraordinary results. Here’s an session on a 48-page summary from my new ebook.
Except…
Understanding is the first step to success.
The reader’s understanding is part of the magic. It is not highlighted, but seeps into the reader’s mind.
The internet acronym TLDR stands for “Too Long, Didn’t Read.” This is a result of having too many options and a laziness to seek convenience. This is a checklist mentality. After completing a check-list, we only get a bunch boxes checked and no real understanding.
What would you ask the smartest person on the planet if you were riding a train for a long time? How long did it take you to get back on your phone and scroll?
No matter how many summaries we create, it will still take effort. Understanding will not increase by adding more summaries.
