ONE BOOK FORMULA AND NOTES (OR PDF) COLLECTING SYNDROME: TWO TRAITS OF EVERY CSS ASSPIRANT
One of the most baffling things about CSS is studying relevant books, notes, and material.
I had to seek guidance multiple times during the preparation, and every time I would get a different answer. Everyone told me the other book, a different set of notes, and a different strategy to cover my subjects.
Some people handed over a long list of books to me and suggested to read more about them. I tried that. But at the end of the day, I was only a human being with a limited capacity and limited memory and retention.
Then some of the people suggested me to collect notes of various academies and individual tutors. I tried that, as well. But I found out another efficient method instead of collecting notes like some “notes-hungry extremist.”
Therefore, I will try to address two major issues today in this post.
𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 (𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗲-𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮)
𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲
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Let’s get started with the first one.
𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭
At the outset, this might seem frivolous. Some of you might think that I am a little showy that I have only read one book per subject.
Whatever you may think, it is left to your imagination. However, the fact is that I had always stuck to this principle during my preparation.
I only read one book per subject. And I would strongly recommend you to do that.
Some people have the habit of reading multiple books on a given subject.
Let’s say it is Pakistan Affairs. People have different suggestions. Someone will tell you to read Trek to Pakistan, others will ask you to pick a heavy book like Ikram Rabbani’s Pakistan Affairs.
So what a candidate often does is she starts reading both the books. If someone told her the third book, she would add that into her to-do list as well.
In my opinion, this approach is wrong for two reasons.
A. It wastes a lot of precious time that you could otherwise give to other subjects.
B. It creates confusion in mind, and most often, the aspirants leave both the books halfway, leaving a dent in their confidence level.
So, my suggestion would be to consult both the books before starting the subject, see the contents, skim through both a little and see which one is right for you.
For me, heavy books like Ikram Rabbani’s Pakistan Affairs is a burden. It takes a lot of time and is very detailed. These details make me cringe because I get stuck in those details. I prefer the book with a little information but an excellent analysis.
I would suggest a book on it later in the next post.
But for now, understand that reading one book per subject is more than enough.
If you think that some topics are not covered in the book, only then should you take up another book or alternative resource. But if the book is sufficient, never go near anything else unless you have read it all.
𝟐. 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 (or 𝐏𝐃𝐅) 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞
Another major issue with CSS aspirants is collecting notes. I have seen many students who are on a notes collection spree. They stockpile notes from everywhere and anywhere.
If they come to know that some teacher, aspirant or a friend has made notes on Islamiyat, they will try to get their hands on it. I call this NCS: “Notes Collecting Syndrome.”
Oh bhai, don’t do that.
Be honest, how many times have you “actually” read the notes? I can bet that a majority of you have never read the things you have been hoarding up.
Similarly, these days PDF collection is on the rise. On every Facebook page, WhatsApp group, or website, you will see hundreds and sometimes thousands of free PDFs.
I remember, once a friend gave me a USB, which, he claimed, was going to change my life. When I plugged it in, I found hundreds of PDFs in it. It was mind-blowing. Not the fact that it was going to change my life, but that he had wasted so much time collecting that stuff.
Pardon my language, but most of the “stuff” is either rubbish or irrelevant. Only a few PDFs during your preparation would be of use.
Therefore, shake yourself out of this Notes Collection Syndrome.
“Then what should we do?,” ask the aspirants.
My answer is always simple and straightforward: Make your own notes.
I will cover how to prepare notes soon.
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So the bottom line is that to save your time and energy, invest them in one book. That’s One-Book Formula.
And avoid collecting notes that always end up being cleaned form your phone once you go out of the storage.
Make your own notes. Keep editing, revising, and adding info to your notes.
If you do like some books or notes, always read them. Do not give yourself a false feeling of “possessing” them only.
