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How can I get myself to read theory? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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First post even though I've had an account for months. So basically I have ADHD and am autistic, on top of that I've always struggled with self discipline and motivation. All of this has been made worse by a traumatic event causing me severe depression that I can't seem to get out of. I genuinely want to read theory to become a better Marxist but I can barely manage a few pages at a time before giving up. Any ideas?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I have ADHD too. Audiobooks are a terrible way for me to digest any information. I get used to the narrator and tune them out with ease without even realising it, then bam, no information being absorbed. I spend so much time rewinding that I might as well do it the hard way and get some books.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I believe I may have some kind of ADHD or level of it. Definitely a bit autistic as well.

Have difficulty staying on track when reading (though it's getting better the more I consistently read) but definitely have waaay more trouble with audio playing in the background (like you said it just tunes out). Reading has brought me more success, as well as videos that I actually dedicate my attention to.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm so fucking guilty of this too. I've been in a huge reading kick lately but also "tune out" the text sometimes and realize I've read whole paragraph without paying attention. What I've found is actually helping is to read something first, then hut the audio book after to help clear things up and to get a better understanding.

I will say with how some of the older stuff is written, it's helpful to hear someone else read it. Especially with how Engels, for example can write multi-page paragraphs.

I've done the read/audio combo for both State and Revolution, and Reform or Revolution and, though I'm not a mater of the texts, it's really helped me get a more rounded understanding.