Today's newsletter breaks down a three-step method for reading research papers faster and better. You'll learn what to read, what to skip, and when to stop.

In today’s edition:

• Paper Unfold— How to Read a Paper?

• Build Together— Here’s How I Can Help You

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[Paper Unfold]

How to read AI papers 10x faster?

Reading research papers is a skill nobody teaches you.

Most of us waste hours trying to understand a single paper, getting lost in the details, and ending up frustrated.

If you are an AI engineer, PM, or technical leader, you probably read dozens of papers every month.

Here's a systematic approach that will save you hundreds of hours.

S. Keshav from the University of Waterloo created a simple three-pass method that researchers have used for over 15 years.

You can access the research paper here.

Let’s go.

The Three-Pass Method

Think of reading a paper like zooming into a map.

You start with the satellite view, then street view, then finally walk through the neighborhood.

Each pass has a specific goal.

[First Pass] 5-10 Minute Scan

This pass answers one question: Should I spend more time on this paper?

What to do:

• read the title, abstract, and introduction carefully

• read all section headings but skip the content

• read the conclusions

• glance at the references and note which ones you recognize

The Five Cs Framework

After this first pass, you should answer these five questions:

1. Category

   1. what type of paper is this?

   2. is it presenting new measurements?

   3. analyzing an existing system?

   4. describing a prototype?

2. Context

   1. how does this relate to other work?

   2. what existing research does it build on?

3. Correctness

   1. do the assumptions make sense?

   2. are there obvious red flags?

4. Contributions

   1. what are the main contributions?

   2. what is actually new here?

5. Clarity

   1. is the writing clear?

   2. can you follow the logic?

Stop after the first pass if the paper does not interest you, if you lack the background to understand it, or if the authors make questionable assumptions.

This pass is perfect for papers outside your core area that might become relevant later.

[Second Pass] One-Hour Deep Dive

Now you read with care, but you still ignore the heavy details like mathematical proofs.

What to do:

• study the figures, diagrams, and illustrations carefully

• check if graphs have proper labels and error bars

• note which referenced papers you should read next

• make notes in the margins or jot down key points

What you should achieve:

After this pass, you should be able to explain the paper's main argument and supporting evidence to a colleague.

You understand the content, but not every technical detail.

When you might struggle:

Sometimes even after the second pass, a paper remains unclear.

This happens when:

• topic is completely new to you with unfamiliar terms

• authors use techniques you have not learned

• paper is poorly written with weak arguments

• you are tired (yes, timing matters)

Your three options:

1. set the paper aside (you might not need it for your work)

2. come back later after reading background material

3. push through to the third pass

[Third Pass] 4-5 Hour Reconstruction

This pass is for papers you need to fully understand.

Maybe you are reviewing it, implementing the approach, or building on the research.

Try to recreate the work yourself using the same assumptions as the authors.

This helps you spot both the innovations and the hidden problems.

What to do:

• question every assumption in every statement

• think about how you would present each idea differently

• note ideas for future work

• identify gaps in citations or methodology

What you gain:

By the end, you should reconstruct the entire paper from memory.

You will know its strong points and weak points.

You will see implicit assumptions, missing references, and potential issues with their experiments or analysis.

For experienced readers, this takes about an hour.

For beginners, expect four to five hours.

This is normal.

Final Thoughts

Most people read papers incorrectly.

They start at the beginning and try to understand everything linearly.

They get stuck on details in the introduction and never reach the important contributions.

The three-pass method treats paper reading like the skill it is.

You build understanding in layers.

You make conscious decisions about how deep to go.

Start using this method today.

Your next research paper will take less time, and you will understand it better.

I am adding a new research paper every 3 days in the 75 Hard AI Engineering Challenge(75-day FREE guide for AI).

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