How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren

 

Four Basic Questions the Active Reader Asks

  1. What is the book about as a whole?
  2. What is being said in detail, and how?
  3. Is the book true, in whole or part?
  4. What of it?

Rules of Analytical Reading

Stage One: Finding what the book is about

  1. Know what kind of book you are reading, preferably before you begin. (Pigeonhole it)
  2. State the Unity of the whole book in a single sentence or a short paragraph.(X-Ray it)
  3. Outline by breaking apart the major parts and arranging them into a logical sequence
  4. Define the problem the author is trying to solve

Stage Two: Interpreting the Book’s Contents

  1. Come to terms with the author by interpreting his key words
  2. Deal with the author’s most important sentences
  3. Know the author’s arguments by finding and constructing sequences of sentences
  4. Determine which of his problems the author has solved

Stage Three: Criticizing (Answering the questions "Is it true?" and "What of it?")

  1. Do not begin criticism until you have completed your outline and your interpretation
  2. Do not disagree disputatiously or contentiously
  3. Demonstrate that you recognize the difference between knowledge and mere personal opinion
  4. Show wherein the author is uninformed
  5. Show wherein the author is misinformed
  6. Show wherein the author is illogical
  7. Show wherein the author’s analysis or account is incomplete

Aids to Reading

  1. Relevant Experience - to test for understanding of a point, attempt to give a concrete example
  2. Other Books - many books must be read in the context of the works they are based on (ie. Federalist Papers)
  3. Commentaries and Abstracts
  4. Reference Books
  5. Dictionary
  6. Encyclopedia

 

Click on the Amazon.com logo to buy this book
Back to Leadership Bibliography Back to Book Summaries
Back to "Team Anderson" Home Page

 

1