How to Read a Book: The Ultimate Guide by Mortimer Adler

There are four levels of reading that build upon each other and increase in difficulty and required effort.

1. Elementary reading - Represents the basic act of reading words and understanding sentences.
2. Inspectional reading - A superficial reading done for getting an overview of the book.
3. Analytical reading - A thorough reading done for the sake of understanding the message of the book.
4. Syntopical reading - Full reading of multiple books on the same subject done for understanding a broader subject. It involves grasping and comparing the arguments of all authors.

This kind of reading gives you an overview of the book and should be done within a limited time (15-30min depending on the length of the book). It consists of two stages:

1. Systematic skimming - Skim the book with the goal of understanding what it is about. Do this by reading the preface, table of contents, index, inside jackets, and a couple of paragraphs from the main chapters.
2. Superficial reading - Race through the book without stopping to ponder things and ignore everything you don't understand. This helps you get the big picture and decide if it's worth a thorough reading. It also enables you to read it well the second time.

Requires a complete reading of the book with the purpose of understanding its message. It consists of three stages:

1. Determing what the book is about - Briefly describe what the whole book is about, enumerate its major parts and define the problems the author is tackling.
2. Interpreting its content - Find and understand the author's key arguments and determine which problems he has solved.
3. Criticizing the book- Ask yourself two questions: Is the book true or not, in whole or part? If true, then what is its significance in your own life or in general?