How to read academic papers without drowning in them

Reading a paper like a novel is the slowest possible way to do it. Researchers read in passes, not lines.

Start with the abstract, then the conclusion — you'll know in two minutes whether the paper is relevant. If it is, read the introduction and the figures next; they carry most of the argument. Only then dip into the methods and results for the detail you need.

Take one-line notes on each paper as you go: the claim, the evidence, and how it relates to your own argument. A tidy note now saves an hour of re-reading later.