[Space_Cube]

The best way I personally have found to consciously ensure I am intaking the information I am reading, and not just skimming it as you said varies between nonfiction, and fiction.

Fiction: For fiction the best way I found is to either at the end of each chapter, or pages (before you turn the page) is to stop for a bit and think back as to what happened. This allows me to retain what I am reading. I also find this is very interesting method to help your logic skills. I tend to find as I do this I will be either thinking of what is going on and trying to think ahead, or I would try to imagine what I would do instead. Do this practice has allowed me to vividly remember a book I read years ago.

Nonfiction: For nonfiction I use two techniques that go hand in hand. The first is the same as for fiction, the only difference is that I will stop a bit more often. The second skill is to try to explain what I just read to myself, as if explaining to someone else. This is a way for me to test if I really took in the information I just read, if I find that I can't I will go back and read until I can.

Summary: I believe that if you make an effort to do this, one; you will find the books WAY more interesting, and two; you will find you brain actually mulling over what you are reading and focusing on it instead of just quickly reading and moving on.