I Need to Study Better
You need to study better — which could mean several different things. Retaining information you read. Preparing for exams. Building knowledge on a topic over time. The right tool depends on which of those you're solving for.
Anki — spaced repetition done properly
Anki is a flashcard app built on spaced repetition: it shows you cards just before you're about to forget them, using an algorithm that schedules each card individually based on how well you know it. The research behind spaced repetition is solid — it's one of the most evidence-backed study methods we have. Anki is free on desktop and Android, and paid on iOS (around £22, one-time). It's also genuinely ugly and takes some setup to use well. None of that changes the fact that it works better than most alternatives for anything requiring memorisation — languages, medical facts, history dates, vocabulary.
The main time investment is creating or finding good decks. The Anki community maintains shared decks for many subjects; searching the Anki shared decks database before creating your own is worth doing.
Obsidian — for building knowledge over time
If you're studying a subject in depth — not cramming for an exam but genuinely trying to understand something — Obsidian's linked notes approach is worth learning. The idea: every concept gets a note, notes link to related concepts, and over time you build a knowledge base where ideas connect and reinforce each other. The process of writing notes forces you to process what you've read rather than just highlighting it. Highlighting gives you the illusion of understanding. Writing notes, even short ones, requires actual comprehension.
It requires setup and won't suit everyone. But for serious self-directed learning, it's the best tool we've found. Full review: Obsidian for Note-Taking.
Readwise Reader — for reading with retention
Most people read an article or chapter, feel like they understood it, and retain almost nothing a week later. Readwise Reader's workflow — read, highlight, review highlights using spaced repetition — significantly improves retention compared to passive reading. The review feature in the main Readwise app sends you a daily email or notification with highlights from things you've read, surfacing them repeatedly until they stick. For serious readers, the combination of Reader (for capturing) and Readwise (for reviewing) is the most systematic approach to reading retention we've tested. See the full review: Readwise Reader Review.
Claude — for explaining and testing understanding
One underused study technique: after reading something, explain it back to an AI and ask it to identify gaps or correct misunderstandings. "I just read about the French Revolution. Here's my understanding of the causes — what am I missing or getting wrong?" This forces you to articulate what you know, which is significantly more effective for retention than rereading. Claude handles this kind of Socratic conversation well. Ask it to quiz you, to steelman arguments against your current understanding, or to explain a concept from a different angle. It's patient in ways a human tutor isn't.