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How to Read a Book Summary
About How to Read a Book Book
With half a million copies in print, How to Read a Book is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader, completely rewritten and updated with new material.
A CNN Book of the Week: “Explains not just why we should read books, but how we should read them. It's masterfully done.” –Farheed Zakaria
Originally published in 1940, this book is a rare phenomenon, a living classic that introduces and elucidates the various levels of reading and how to achieve them—from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading. Readers will learn when and how to “judge a book by its cover,” and also how to X-ray it, read critically, and extract the author’s message from the text.
Also included is instruction in the different techniques that work best for reading particular genres, such as practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy and social science works.
Finally, the authors offer a recommended reading list and supply reading tests you can use measure your own progress in reading skills, comprehension, and speed.
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Hi Deepstash. I want to see how this app works, so here are the levels of reading I learned about in Mortimer Adler’s book, ‘How to Read a Book’.
Types of Reading
The way we read a book, article, or paper changes depending on our goals and our skills. It’s useful to think about how we are reading in order to make sure we spend our time and energy in the most effective way. In How to Read a Book, the philosopher Mortimer Adler gives us 4 types of reading to consider.
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Elementary Reading
The most basic level of reading is called elementary reading. As you might guess, this is the sort of reading that we learn in elementary school. Although we learn the basics of reading in elementary school, this is the most fundamental sort of reading and sometimes we have to add to our skill in it throughout life. This stage of reading involves recognizing letters, understanding grammar, and knowing the meanings of words.
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Inspectional Reading
The next stage of reading is called inspectional reading. At this point, we are reading through a book in order to see what it is and judge whether or not we should spend more time with it. There are two types of inspectional reading:
- Systematic skimming
- Superficial reading
During systematic skimming, we check the parts of the book such as the table of contents or the index to see what material the book covers. This gives us a superficial understanding of what the author is trying to accomplish.
During superficial reading, we might read straight through the book without critical assessment.
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Reading is an essential skill that can profoundly enrich our lives, and "How to Read a Book" by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren provides timeless insights into mastering this skill. One key insight from the book is the importance of understanding why you’re reading, which can significantly influence how deeply you engage with the content. This book guides you to becoming an active and analytical reader, helping you extract maximum value from your reading experiences.
Understand Why You’re Reading
Understanding the purpose of your reading is fundamental to gaining the most from any book. Knowing why you’re reading allows you to tailor your approach, ensuring you can engage deeply with the content.
- Clarify your objectives before starting a book to focus your attention.
- Different books require different reading strategies based on your goals.
- Reflect on how the content aligns with your personal or professional life.
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go." – Dr. Seuss
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Reading is Crucial Even in the Modern Era
Despite the digital age's emphasis on quick information, reading remains a crucial skill. By identifying your reading goals, you can navigate books more effectively and enrich your understanding.
- Determine your desired outcomes from reading a book.
- Your reading purpose influences depth of exploration.
- Reading enriches both personal growth and professional expertise.
"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader." – Margaret Fuller
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Being an Active Reader Requires You to Stay Awake
Active reading means engaging with the material, not just passively absorbing it. Writing in your book with a pencil helps keep you alert and is a valuable reference for later.
- Annotating helps you stay engaged and retain information.
- Writing down thoughts fosters a deeper understanding of the material.
- Active engagement turns reading into an interactive process.
"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go." – Dr. Seuss
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Content block list UPDATED PROD 2
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True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.
MORTIMER J ALDER
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"When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing."
PASCAL
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You Dont Know How To Really Read
Reading is not just about recognising letters and getting sound out of the words. It's more than that
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