Effective Reading

• How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren. The authors explain in detail how to read analytically and syntopically. Although there are different legitimate types and speeds of reading, don't be misled by the claims made by some advocates of speed reading - there is no silver bullet. It takes time to read with comprehension. Learn how to read effectively from two expert readers.

• Remember Everything You Read: The Evelyn Wood Speed Reading and Learning Program by Stanley D. Frank. The basic thesis of the Evelyn Wood technique is to read a book (or whatever else) in multiple passes. Initially, you read extremely rapidly (one second per page) with little comprehension, and build up to reading nearly word-for-word with very high comprehension. The pleasantly surprising result is that you spend less total time reading with much higher comprehension. (You will find the "multiple pass" reading technique, stated in slightly different form, in Adler and Van Doren's book as well.)

Methodology from How To Read a Book

1. What is the book about as a whole?
2. What is being said in detail?
3. Is the book true, in whole or in part?
4. What is its significance?

Rules for applying the four basic questions to analytical reading:

1. What is the book about as a whole?

   Structural Rules

   • Rule 1: Classify the book according to its kind and subject matter.
   • Rule 2: State what the whole book is about with the utmost brevity.
   • Rule 3: Enumerate its major parts in their order and relation, and outline these parts as you have outlined the whole.
   • Rule 4: Define the problem(s) the author is trying to solve.

2. What is being said in detail?

   Interpretive Rules

   • Rule 5: Find the important words and through them come to terms with the author.
   • Rule 6: Mark the most important sentences in a book and discover the propositions they contain.
   • Rule 7: Locate or construct the basic arguments in the book by finding them in the connection of sentences.
   • Rule 8: Find out what the author's solutions are.

3. Is the book true, in whole or in part? What is its significance?

   Criticism

   • Rule 9: You must be able to say, with reasonable certainty, "I understand," before you can say one of the following things: "I agree," or "I disagree," or "I suspend judgment (I am unconvinced one way or the other)."
   • Rule 10: When you disagree, do so reasonably, and not disputatiously or contentiously.
   • Rule 11: Respect the difference between knowledge and mere personal opinion by giving reasons for any critical judgment you make.
   • Rule 12: Show wherein the author is uninformed.
   • Rule 13: Show wherein the author is misinformed.
   • Rule 14: Show wherein the author is illogical.
   • Rule 15: Show wherein the author's analysis or account is incomplete.