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.
Author(s): Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren
Publisher: Touchstone
Year: 1972
Language: English
Pages: 202
HOW TO READ A BOOK
Table of Contents
Preface
PART I . THE ACTIVITY OF READING
PART II . THE RULES
PART III . THE REST OF THE READER'S LIFE
APPENDIX:
Preface
THE ACTIVITY OF READING
To the Average Reader
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
The Reading of "Reading"
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
Reading is Learning
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 6 -
Teachers, Dead or Alive
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 6 -
The Defeat of the Schools
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 6 -
- 7 -
- 8 -
On Self-help
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
PART II .
THE RULES
From Many Rules to One Habit
-1-
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 –
- 5 –
- 6 -
Catching on From the Title
-1-
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
Seeing the Skeleton
-1-
- 2 –
- 3 –
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 6 -
- 7 -
Coming to Terms
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 6 -
What's the Proposition and Why
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 6 -
- 7 -
The Etiquette of Talking Back
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
The Things the Reader Can Say
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
And Still More Rules
- 1 -
I. The Analysis of a Book's Structure
II. The Interpretation of a Book's Contents
III. The Criticism of a Book as a Communication of Knowledge
A. General Maxims
B. Specific Criteria tor Points of Criticism
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 6 -
- 7 -
- 8 -
PART III .
THE REST OF THE READER'S LIFE
The Other half
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
The Great Books
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
- 5 -
- 6 -
- 7 -
- 8 -
Free Minds and Free Men
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 3 -
- 4 -
GREAT BOOKS OF THE WESTERN WORLD
Imaginative Literature
HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
NATURAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY
GATEWAY TO THE GREAT BOOKS
IMAGINATIVE LITERATURE
CRITICAL ESSAYS
MAN AND SOCIETY
NATURAL SCIENCE
MATHEMATICS
PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS
INDEX
