How to apply inspectional reading
Inspectional reading is the second of four levels of reading proposed by Adler and Van Doren in How to Read a Book. The goal of inspectional reading is to ascertain, in a limited time (less than an hour), the relevance of a book and whether it deserves a more thorough and effortful reading.
There are two types of insepectional reading: systematic skimming and superficial reading. The experienced reader learns to perform both simultaneously.
Systematic skimming
Adler and Van Doren suggests the following Algorithm of thought for systematic skimming:
- Read the title page and preface: Look for the author's aim, scope, and angle.
- Study the table of contents to obtain a general sense of the book's structure
- Check the index for the range of topics covered. Refer to passages of your best guesses of crucial terms. These may reveal the most important passages of the book.
- Read the dust jacket and publisher's blurb: It is not uncommon for the author to summarize the book's main points here.
- Look at the chapters that appear to be most pivotal to the argument: Look for summary statements in the opening and closing passages.
- Skim the book: reading a paragraph here or there, and sometimes several pages in succession, but never more than that. Look for signs of the main contention. Above all, read the last few pages of the main part of the book. This is where many authors sum up what they believe is new or important.
After systematic skiming, you should now be able to:
- Understand the basic crux and scope of the book
- Determine its relevance for your interests
- Categorize the book for future reference
Superficial reading
When tackling difficult books, Adler and Van Doren suggests an initial once-over without stopping, even when you encounter terms or concepts you do not understand.
Superficial reading helps readers understand the overall context or "shape" of the discussion even if the details escape comprehension. You'll have a much better chance of understanding the book in subsequent readings (see How to apply analytical reading), if you do decide it worthwhile to do so.