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How to Read a Book
This book does everything its title promises and more. It will change the way I read forever.Two quibbles, however:1. Being someone who has a real job, sometimes I'm too tired to read well. I wish the book gave some advice on how to read when you're tired. Should you even bother? Or should you just forget about reading and go to sleep or watch television? What's worse: risking the sophomoric, or lapsing into the comfortable weekend reader who can't read syntopically because she doesn't have the time? The authors ignore people like me, except for a passing reference to the fact that being tired can make you a lazy reader, and "that's not our fault."2. The authors devote an entire chapter to a wonderful reference called a "Syntopicon," which has all the major classic works divided by subject and page number so that you look up a subject and then see what each work has to say about it. That sounds great, but darned if I can find where a Syntopicon is, or how to get one. Were they being facetious, or is that really what it's called? It's like getting a cookbook and all the recipes in it have this weird substance that no grocery store in your area sells or has even heard of.
How to Read a Book
I hate to say this, but I think maybe I found this book too late. I majored in English as an undergrad, and had learned most of these strategies the hard way. I really was excited about this book and wanted to get into it, but I found myself employing the book's strategies while reading the book. I skimmed, I skipped sections that struck me as repetitive, and critically analyzed the book as I went along.
How to Read a Book
The book necessitates concentration. It also demands multiple readings in order for the reader to get past the dense language. It can be a better book. The book needs illustrations. The book could benefit from illustrations of the following concepts: a term, good and bad propositions, good and bad premises, good and bad conclusions, good and bad arguments, and examples of inductive and deductive reasoning. Without these concepts, the reader has to go to extra-textual sources to understand the concepts. Of course, some would argue that these concepts are elementary. Maybe so. But this book could have used an index to clarify and expand on those concepts.
How to Read a Book
This book has definitely helped me improve my reading skills. But I believe that the older edition should be studied after one is finished studying this edition. I suggest to look for the older 1940 edition or the revised 1966 edition which should be the same as the 1940 version. They are physically hard to find and might be expensive, but a little googling around should help you find a great pdf of the 1966 version (which I have).Why do I also suggest the older version?Well, I believe the older version makes the order of active reading more CLEAR. Many might read the Van Doren version and believe that the inspectional reading is something that should be done entirely separate from the analytical reading. Basically, some people (like me at first) assume that you must read two times. On the other hand, the older edition tells you that there are three distinct readings: structural, interpretative, and critical. These three readings correspond to the three stages of analytical reading and also to the first three questions one must ask during an active reading (the fourth question is asked after the first three are answered). The older edition basically tells you to jump straight to an analytical reading. Of course, the methods of inspectional reading should be applied to the first two analytical stages just how the methods of elementary reading must be applied to an inspectional reading. But like I said, look up the older edition and draw up your own conclusions. In the end, it's basically up to the reader on figuring out how he/she is comfortable in reading any text.
How to Read a Book
The first book of my first doctoral class was about reading itself. And I'm glad it was. Thanks to Van Doren & Adler, I'll read more specifically & thoroughly. Some portions of the book may not apply to you, but you will grow from the book as a whole. Reading is a skill. Learn to use it well.
How to Read a Book
Every students in America who wants to be a good student should read this book. It will help them take their education to the next level. They can use these principles to become more autodidactic.