How to Read a Book

Status: Read

Adler, M., Van Doren, C. (1940). How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading.

This is a practical book that outlines the rules and underlying principles for effective reading, or in the authors' words, reading for understanding. The proposed rules primarily applies to expository texts, and were derived from four fundamental questions:

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 in part?
4. What of it?

The four levels of reading

Adler and Van Doren proposes four levels to the skill of reading. Levels are cumulative, where a given level builds upon the skills developed in preceding levels. Level one starts with elementary reading, the skills of basic literacy.

Level II: Inspectional reading

The aim of inspectional reading is to determine, within a short period of time, the relevance of a text and whether it warrants higher levels of reading. There are two types of insepectional reading: systematic skimming and superficial reading. The experienced reader learns to perform both simultaneously.

See How to apply inspectional reading.

Level III: Analytical reading

Analytical reading is active and effortful reading towards the goal of understanding. This level is composed of three stages, each containing rules within. A skilled reader can accomplish all stages in parallel:

1. Structure: This stage aims to provide the reader with an understanding of the book's structure, and answer question one: What is the book about as a whole?
2. Interpretive: This stage aims to answer question two: What is being said in detail and how?
3. Critical: This stage aims to answer questions three and four: Is the book true, in whole or in part? What of it? After understanding the author's terms, propositions, and arguments in prior stages, this stage asks readers to apply their own judgement.

See How to apply analytical reading.

Level IV: Syntopical reading

Syntopical reading is perhaps the most effective way to gain answers to specific questions or an understanding of a topic, by reading multiple books on the same subject. A complete understanding of any one book or author is secondary to finding answers to the reader's questions.

The authors proposes seven rules divided into two stages:

1. Preparatory: Survey the field to create a bibliography
2. Syntopic reading of the bibliography

See How to apply syntopical reading.

Advice on reading for understanding

• Few books are worth rereading; some books are worth reading; most books should only be skimmed
• When reading for understanding, read with a purpose in mind. Change speeds, chapters accordingly.
• Change reading speed based on the level of your understanding of the text
• Read well, not widely

Advice on note-making

Three types of note-making that correspond to the latter three levels of reading:

1. Structural — Taken after inspectional reading. Answers the questions: what kind of book is it? What is it about as a whole? What is the order in which the author develops the arguments?
2. Conceptual — These are notes regarding the truth and significance of the text.
3. Dialectical — Notes taken during syntopical reading. These notes define the shape of the discussion.

Advice on reading different kinds of books

Practical books