How To Read a Book

In my last post I described how I mark the books I am reading.  I think my habits formed years ago when I read How To Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, but I think it’s time to re-read that classic.

How To Read a Book, subtitled “The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading,” is a must for any serious reader or student.  It describes the four levels of reading: elementary, inspectional, analytical, and syntopical; teaches how to make a book your own, classify books, determine an author’s message, criticize a book fairly, and agree or disagree with an author; and explains how to approach different kinds of books: practical, imaginative literature, stories, plays, and poems, history, science and mathematics, philosophy, and social science.  It explores how reading good books facilitates the growth of the mind.  Includes a recommended reading list, as well as exercises and tests at the four levels of reading.

If you want to get more out of every book you read, I highly recommend this book.

Mary Jo

1 thought on “How To Read a Book”

  1. Hi… just wondering, don’t you find that these analytical approaches take away some of the wonderful mystery and enjoyment? Or does approaching certain books in certain ways add to your enjoyment of the book? I guess I just like to fall into them and let them work their magic on me!

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