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The cover of How to Read a Book

How to Read a Book

Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren

How can you read books so that you gain real understanding, not just more facts?

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At a glance

Author
Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren

Why read it

  • You will question the notion that more facts bring more understanding, since too many facts can get in the way
  • You will learn a method of analytical reading, a level of reading that applies to anything you want to read
  • You will get a plan to read well rather than widely, starting with the books that interest you most

Who it is for

  • Student who finishes books but retains little
  • Professional who must read dense reports and books
  • Lifelong learner choosing which great books to start with

Contents

  1. Part One - The dimensions of reading
  2. 5 - How to be a demanding reader
  3. 1 - The activity and art of reading
  4. 2 - The levels of reading
  5. 3 - First level: elementary reading
  6. 4 - Second level: inspectional reading
  7. Part Two - Third level: Analytical reading
  8. 6 - Pigeonholing a book
  9. 7 - X-raying a book
  10. 8 - Coming to terms with an author
  11. 9 - Determining an author's message
  12. 10 - Criticizing a book fairly
  13. 11 - Agreeing or disagreeing with an author
  14. 12 - Aids to reading
  15. Part Three - Different kinds of reading matter
  16. 13 - How to read practical books
  17. 14 - How to read imaginative literature
  18. 15 - Suggestions for reading stories, plays, and poems
  19. 16 - How to read history
  20. 17 - How to read science and mathematics
  21. 18 - How to read philosophy
  22. 19 - How to read social science
  23. Part Four - The ultimate goals of reading
  24. 20 - Fourth level: Syntopical reading
  25. 21 - Reading and the growth of the mind
  26. Appendix A - Recommended reading list
  27. Appendix B - Exercises and tests

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