How to Read a Book (A Touchstone book)

Upon looking at the title, "How to Read a Book", the educated reader might think this book is not for them. They would be dead wrong.

This book teaches the reader "how to be a demanding reader". Through an ingenious system, it shows how to quickly find the core arguments of a book, *before reading it*, thereby getting the most from the text.

This book is invaluable for students doing research, as its system teaches how to find common questions (threads) across books. It reveals methods of finding the core questions of a subject matter. Using this method will help one become a better writer as well.

I give it 5/5 stars. Highly recommended reference tool for students, teachers, and the general public. The cover of the book is correct, it is "The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading".

I read this book in HS, many years ago, having discovered it on my own. It was very helpful. It made me realize that it was OK to re-read texts,and that I wasn't mentally slow, if I didn't get all the meaning on my first reading. It gave me an overview of reading, and was much superior to what I was getting in HS English classes, which focused only on grammar.

I recommend this book to people, in particular, who want to improve their reading comprehension, and writing skills. Let Dr. Adler be your tutor. He was the editor of the Encyclopedia Brittanica, and the editor of the Great Books, pub by the U. of Chicago. He wrote during a time when education itself was valued, not just education to pass tests or get a good job. This book could help you build a solid foundation in reading comprehension.

I read so much. SO MUCH. I needed this book in High School. It is very thought provoking. Realizing that I'm just a learner who just loves absorbing thoughts and ideas. But to realize I haven't absorbed them in a methodical process. This book presents that. LOVE IT. Anyone, and I mean anyone who loves to read, should read this first.

Since my college days, reading has been my life-long passion. It will continue to be that way. Currently, I am also a prolific & voracious reader. Amazon, followed by Alibris & Abebooks, plus Kinokuniya Bookweb, are currently my active sources of books.

Towards the end of 1991, as part of my journey through mid-life transition, I actually established a small retail store to deal exclusively in learning, thinking & creativity books & other resources, in conjunction with the formation of my own strategy consulting business. Since then (& till mid-2004 when I decided to withdraw from all retail operations), the store gave me abundant access to a lot of great books & other useful resources. At the same time, it fueled & bankrolled my relentless reading pursuits.

One of the first few books I have read & eventually sold in my own store was `How to Read a Book' by Mortimer Adler.

It was also the first book that set the ball rolling in my continuing search for better understanding of the reading faster/better comprehension equation. This book introduced me to the four specific levels of reading & reading comprehension, each requiring a specific set of reading strategies:

- elementary reading;
- inspectional reading;
- analytical reading;
- syntopical reading;

In addition, for more effective performance in the academic environment, there are subject-specific reading strategies to follow. All these reading strategies are systematically covered by the authors.

The most productive personal learning experiences I got out of this wonderful book are the syntopical reading techniques, which allow me to digest several books in the same genre simultaneously. I absolutely love syntopical reading!

Hence, I have no hesitation at all in considering Mortimer Adler's book, despite the fact that it was originally published in the 1940s, the best & unparalleled in the genre. I strongly recommend this book to anyone, who wants to read faster & comprehend better, to get hold of & read this book in the first instance.

During the ensuing years, I came across a few other books which have influenced & helped in expanding my personal repertoire of high-performance reading skills & techniques:

- Super Reading Secrets, by Howard Berg;
- Breakthrough Rapid Reading, by Peter Kump;
- PhotoReading, by Paul Scheele;

I will review each of them separately & share with readers what I have learned specifically.

it may sound pompous, but if you haven't spent a good 15+ hours with this book, you do not know how to fully digest, think, learn, and read. I am currently working on the book. it is enlightening. the title was a horrible marketing scheme, but maybe the author was not so worried about this. if you read for more than an average of 10 minutes a day, if you read any books at all, this is the book to read. I'm sorry, but your own damn college professors need to read this. In fact, I have found no other even closely imitable work. It is head and shoulders above. If you question your profs. There is good reason to. It is a tragedy that this book is not taught in freshman year in college, or highschool... in fact, all of highschool lit. should just teach this work alone. One cannot accurately read without it. I know i sound over the top, and, it is just a matter of opinion that you won't be able to read like a champ w/o this, however, i stand by this firmly. If you wonder why you can't think truly creatively, if you wonder how others spend a lifetime reading, then this is worth skimming. If you are truly motivated to read this book, don't be taken a back by its demands. It is exhaustive. It will take a lot of time to consume and understand. However, that process will add to all your reading latter to it.

The only problems with the book are with it's structure and lack of prefacing its inclination towards reading expository works. It doesn't address the difference of books early enough in my own opinion. For one may be a literature reader before reading and take his rules towards expository works towards lit. and be confused in the end.

If you read it, apply his own damn rules of reading to his own book, otherwise you will short change yourself. i will say again, it is exhausting, but your mind will grow.

It will change your mind on intelligence being mostly nature, for, nuture definatly has a factor.

I'd give it 4.5 if i could, because it is not a 'perfect' book for reasons mentioned above. however, it deserves five just as well.