π How To Read A Book
This page was last updated 2Β months, 1Β week ago
Title:
How To Read a Book
Author(s):
Charles Van Doren & Mortimer J. Adler
Initial thoughts & reason for reading:
I want to get more understanding and start being more conscious of the books I'm reading so I can gain further understanding and insight rather than feeling as though I have read and forgotten everything it was trying to teach.
Final thoughts once read:
I couldn't get through this, it was so boring.
I expected it to be sharp and get to the point and instead the first half was essentially a history on reading and how most people don't get past the 'elementary' form of reading.
It's no wonder with rubbish like this, I'm sure the lessons in here are very good, but I'm not reading through so many pages to get to it.
I appreciate this is likely a nod to the lack of attention that has risen, but with so many other books and so many pressures on time, I don't want to be reading a book that is trying to teach me something for any longer than I have to.
Sadly, this was just too long.
Rating:
Unfinished.
π¨ Highlights & π My Notes:
π There is a difference between reading for understanding (enlightened) and reading for information (informed), the book considers understanding to be the higher level when reading.
π Reading for entertainment isn't considered because anyone can do that no matter what.
π¨ To be informed is to know simply that something is the case. To be enlightened is to know, in addition, what it is all about: why it is the case, what its connections are with other facts, in what respects it is the same, in what respects it is different, and so forth - page 11
π To be informed is the same as remembering something while enlightened is being able to explain it.
π¨ For example, many people assume that though a poet must use his imagination in writing a poem, they do not have to use their imagination in reading it - page 14
π Interesting example and I can relate as when I've actively tried to place myself in a poem and use my imagination, I've understood (and enjoyed) the poem a lot more.
π¨ The reason is that listening is learning from a teacher who is present - a living teacher - while reading is learning from one who is absent - page 14
π This isn't quite true anymore given we can now watch lectures back at any time with recordings etc.