Closed Stacks: Read Better, Remember More

About Closed Stacks: Read Better, Remember More

Most readers can decode words but still miss the meaning. Closed Stacks teaches you to read in a way that builds comprehension, not just completion. You learn why your notes don't help you remember, how to handle difficult prose without rereading the same paragraph five times, and what actually changes in your brain when you read fiction versus nonfiction. A few episodes in, you start seeing arguments you used to skim past and remembering books long after you close them. Follow the show and leave a five-star rating if it sharpens how you read.The internet trained you to skim, and now even good books feel harder to hold in your head. Closed Stacks starts with that problem and works backward: why you believe things the author never said, why audiobooks feel different from paper, whether Emily Wilson rewrote The Odyssey or just translated it clearly. Each episode takes one reading problem and shows you the mechanics underneath.

Publisher

Closed Stacks

Category

arts · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Why You Don't Understand What You Read

   This video is about some of the most common misconceptions about reading comprehension and why this may cause difficulty for readers.Uploaded 20-03-26Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   The Internet Changed How You Read

   This video compares the structure of digital text to traditional print and discusses how issues with comprehension may arise if one becomes the dominant way of approaching a text.Uploaded 28-02-26#booktube #reading #biliteracy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Why You Don't Remember What You Read

   This video is about hyper reading and deep reading and why deep tends to lead to better memory. Uploaded 03-02-26The Maryanne Wolf quote about deep reading:Wolf M., and Barzillai, M. (2009). The importance of deep reading. Educational Leadership, 66(6), 32-37.#deepreading #booktube #reading Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4. 

   12 Oct 2026

   How to Actually Enjoy Reading Again

   This video is for anyone who wants to build a strong reading habit. Whether you're starting from scratch or you just want to rekindle an old habit, this video is your guide.Uploaded 25-04-26#booktube #readinghabit #reading Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Fiction is a Waste of Time?

   Many people believe that fiction is a waste of time, but this is not too surprising. Society is too preoccupied with developing skills improving their career to appreciate the benefits that fiction might bring. Stories are often dismissed because they don't translate into measurable skills or career advancement. In this video, I draw on the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath to reflect on art, loss, and meaning. Fiction may not help you find a job or result in a career advancement, but it might still save your life.Uploaded 21-02-26#booktube #readfiction #fictionlovers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6. 

   10 Oct 2026

   How to Read and Understand Difficult Books

   Not all books are difficult for the same reason. This video is a simple guide to reading difficult books. In this video, I explain why some books seem difficult to read and share a practical process for understanding them more clearly and confidently. Uploaded 16-04-26#reading #deepreading #books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Why Paper Books Feel Different

   This video is about why I prefer reading paper books over e-readers, such as an Amazon Kindle or Rakuten Kobo. Uploaded 08-11-25#paperbooks #ereader #booktube Some of the research supporting paper-based reading. Ackerman, R., and Lauterman, T. (2012). Taking reading comprehension exams on screen or on paper? A metacognitive analysis of learning texts under time pressure. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(5), 1816–1828. Altamura, L., Vargas, C., and Salmerón, L. (2023). Do new forms of reading pay off? A meta-analysis on the relationship between leisure digital reading habits and text comprehension. Review of Educational Research. Clinton, V. (2019). Reading from paper compared to screens: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Research in Reading, 42(2), 288–325. Delgado, P., Vargas, C., Ackerman, R., and Salmerón, L. (2018). Don’t throw away your printed books: A meta-analysis on the effects of reading media on reading comprehension. Educational Research Review, 25, 23–38.Kong, Y., Seo, Y.-S., and Zhai, L. (2018). Comparison of reading performance on screen and on paper: A meta-analysis. Computers and Education, 123, 187–203. Mangen, A., Olivier, G., and Velay, J-L. (2019). Comparing comprehension of a long text read in print book and on Kindle. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 38.Moys, J-L., Loveland, P., and Dyson, M. (2018). eInk versus paper: Exploring the effects of medium and typographic quality on recall and reading speed. Visible Language, 52(3), 74–95. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Welcome To My Little Corner of BookTube

   Welcome to my new YouTube/BookTube channel, Closed Stacks. My plan (so far) is to make book reviews and commentary on (primarily) works of fiction. I'm sure the channel will evolve over time. Hope you'll stay tuned to see where it goes. Thanks for stopping by.Uploaded 01-11-25#booktube #books #newbooktuber Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Why Audiobooks Feel Different From Reading

   Audiobooks and print books reach the mind through different pathways (auditory vs. visual). However, the higher-level comprehension systems they activate overlap far more than most people realize. This video breaks down what actually changes between listening and reading: the mechanics, the cognitive load, the role of spacial memory, the impact of narrators, and why complex texts behave differently across formats. If you've ever wondered how audiobooks influence the way you understand, remember, or connect with a book, this is a deep dive into the psychology behind both forms.Uploaded 07-12-25#audiobooks #reading #booktube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10. 

    9 Oct 2026

    How To Be A Better Reader

    This video is about three specific habits that will help you grow as a reader.Uploaded 29-11-25#readbooks #readingmotivation #booktube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11. 

    9 Oct 2026

    One Habit to Instantly Improve Reading Comprehension

    This video is about schema activation and ways it can both help and distort reading comprehension.Uploaded 10-01-26References and for further reading:Alvermann, D. E., and Hague, S. A. (1989). Comprehension of counterintuitive science text. Journal of Educational Research, 82(4), 197–202. Bransford, J. D., Johnson, M. K. (1972). “Contextual prerequisites for understanding: Some investigations of comprehension and recall.” Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11(6), 717–726.Dunlosky, J., et al. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1):4-58. Hattan, C. (2024). Prior knowledge activation and reading comprehension: A review. American Educational Research Journal. Kendeou, P., and van den Broek, P. (2005). The effects of readers’ misconceptions on comprehension of scientific text. Journal of Educational Psychology, 97(2), 235–245.Kendeou, P., and van den Broek, P. (2007). The effects of prior knowledge and text structure on comprehension. Memory and Cognition.Oded, B., and Stavans, A. (1994). The effect of “false” schema activation on the construction of meaning. System. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12. 

    9 Oct 2026

    Why You Believe Things The Author Never Said

    In this video, I talk about how sentences can make us believe things that are never directly stated. I talk about presupposition, implicature, and how true statements can intentionally (or unintentionally) leave a false impression.Uploaded 29-08-26#linguistics #reading #comprehension Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13. 

    9 Oct 2026

    The Secret To Reading More Books

    This video is about how to read more books without sacrificing quality, such as overall reading comprehension, engagement, resonance, and artistic appreciation.Uploaded 15-11-25#readmorebooks #readingmotivation #booktube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14. 

    8 Oct 2026

    The Reading Advice that Ruins Great Books

    Not all reading advice works for every book. In this video, I explain how to adjust your approach to a book based on the type of book you're reading.Uploaded 27-06-26#howtoreadabook #books #booktube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15. 

    8 Oct 2026

    Why Your Notes Aren't Helping You Learn

    In this video, I look at how note-taking affects memory, understanding, and the way we process information. The real value of notes may not be storing information but the mental processing we do when we take them.Uploaded 19-07-26Further reading:Mueller, P., Oppenheimer, D.M. (2014) The pen is mightier than the keyboard: advantages of longhand over laptop note taking. Morehead, K., Dunlosky, J., and Rawson, K. A. (2019). How much mightier is the pen than the keyboard for note-taking? A replication and extension of Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014). Educational Psychology Review, 31, 753–780.Voyer, D., Ronis, S. T., and Byers, N. (2022). The effect of notetaking method on academic performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Contemporary Educational Psychology.Sparrow, B., Liu, J., and Wegner, D. M. (2011). Google effects on memory: Cognitive consequences of having information at our fingertips. Science, 333(6043), 776–778.Fiorella, L., and Mayer, R. E. (2015). Learning as a Generative Activity: Eight Learning Strategies That Promote Understanding. Cambridge University Press.Chi, M. T. H., de Leeuw, N., Chiu, M. H., and LaVancher, C. (1994). Eliciting self-explanations improves understanding. Cognitive Science, 18(3), 439–477. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16. 

    8 Oct 2026

    Did Emily Wilson Rewrite The Odyssey?

    In this video, I look at what scholars have said about Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey and evaluate some of the criticism both for and against her book.Uploaded 31-05-26#theodyssey #emilywilson #homer Gabrielson, M. (2018). Review of Homer, Emily Wilson, trans., The Odyssey. New England Classical Journal, 45(2).Hardwick, A. (2025). Iliad translations in the undergraduate classroom. Journal of Classics Teaching, 26(52), 151–157. MacDonald, C. (2021). Review of Homer’s daughters: Women’s responses to Homer in the twentieth century and beyond, edited by Fiona Cox and Elena Theodorakopoulos. Bryn Mawr Classical Review.Pache, C. (2018). Review of Homer. The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson. Bryn Mawr Classical Review.Roberts, D. H. (2020). Emily Wilson, trans., Homer: The Odyssey. The Spenser Review, 50(1).Stockdale, E. (2019, December 30). Emily Wilson’s The Odyssey reviewed by Elizabeth Stockdale. Australasian Women in Ancient World Studies. Whitaker, R. (2020). Homer’s Odyssey three ways: Recent translations by Verity, Wilson, and Green. Acta Classica, 63, 241–254. Wilson, E. (2019). Epilogue: Translating Homer as a woman. In F. Cox and E. Theodorakopoulos (Eds.), Homer’s daughters: Women’s responses to Homer in the twentieth century and beyond (pp. 279–298). Oxford University Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17. 

    8 Oct 2026

    Why Reading Changes the Way You Think

    In this video, I talk about how fiction trains different ways to thinking and perspective, abstraction, and self-reflection, through books like The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.Uploaded 09-05-26#books #reading #literature Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18. 

    8 Oct 2026

    The Searcher- A Masterclass in Slow Burn (Tana French)

    This is a book review of The Searcher, by Tana French. Uploaded 01-11-25#booktube #tanafrench #thesearcher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19. 

    8 Oct 2026

    Why You Can't Explain What You Read

    Why is it so difficult to explain something that seems perfectly clear in your own head? This video explores the curse of knowledge and how expertise, difficult writing, and complicated language can make intelligent ideas harder to communicate.Uploaded 10-08-26#Howtoreadabook #sokalhoax #curseofknowledgeFurther readingAdler, M. J., and Van Doren, C. (1972). How to read a book (Rev. and updated ed.). Simon and Schuster.Camerer, C., Loewenstein, G., and Weber, M. (1989). The curse of knowledge in economic settings: An experimental analysis. Journal of Political Economy, 97(5), 1232–1254.Heath, C., and Heath, D. (2007). Made to stick: Why some ideas survive and others die. Random House.Hotchner, A. E. (1966). Papa Hemingway: A personal memoir. Random House.LaBerge, D., and Samuels, S. J. (1974). Toward a theory of automatic information processing in reading. Cognitive Psychology, 6(2), 293–323.Newton, E. L. (1990). The rocky road from actions to intentions [Doctoral dissertation, Stanford University].Oppenheimer, D. M. (2006). Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity: Problems with using long words needlessly. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 20(2), 139–156.Pinker, S. (2014). The sense of style: The thinking person’s guide to writing in the 21st century. Viking.Rawls, J. (1999). A theory of justice (Rev. ed.). Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.Sokal, A. D. (1996b). Transgressing the boundaries: Toward a transformative hermeneutics of quantum gravity. Social Text, 46/47, 217–252.Tullis, J. G., and Feder, B. (2023). The “curse of knowledge” when predicting others’ knowledge. Memory and Cognition, 51(5), 1214–1234. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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