This article gives an overview of Mortimer J. Adler’s classic book How to read a book: The classic guide to intelligent reading. His book provides strategies for being more engaged with what you read to ensure you get the most out of the content. The title of this article sounds silly. I mean, you know how to read, right? You can pick up a book and read all the words and learn stuff, gain some information, or simply be entertained. But are you getting the most out of your reading?

In 1940, Mortimer J. Adler wrote a book titled How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading. It is well worth reading. Don’t let the name fool you. “How to read a book” could just as easily be called, “How to learn and think critically while reading.” His guidance can help you learn more from reading than you thought possible. There are no shortcuts here. This is not a book on speed reading, or doing anything faster. It is about being intentional and selective with your reading. Adler divides reading into 4 levels:

Level 1 – Elementary reading This is the technical skill of reading. You can pronounce words, understand grammar, expand your vocabulary, interpret the message conveyed by text. While this is the first level of reading, don’t be fooled into thinking it is simple. Mastering vocabulary and interpretation should be a lifelong endeavor. For example, try reading a page out of Christopher Hitchens’ book Letters to a Young Contrarian. His rhetoric will require some effort to interpret and understand.

Level 2 – Inspectional reading Another word for this level of reading might by skimming or pre-reading. Adler notes “Whereas the question that is asked at the first level is ‘what does this sentence say?’ the question typically asked at this level is ‘what is this book about?’” The purpose of level 2 reading also includes identifying the type of book you are reading. Is it a novel, a history, or a scientific treatise? Is it one type of book disguised as another? Classifying a book helps you better interpret was is being read. For example, some expository books and philosophical works masquerade as scientific treatises. Many theoretical books pretend to be practical books. Inspecting and skimming the book before you invest in the whole thing gives you an idea of what you are getting yourself into. It is getting the most out of a book with limited time. To really determine what kind of book you are reading, and to get the most out of it, you must engage with the 3rd level of reading.

Level 3 – Analytical Reading Analytical reading is for understanding. While inspectional reading is getting the most out of a book in a limited timeframe, analytical reading is getting the most out of a book with unlimited time. It requires you to categorize a book, ask many questions of it, chew on the content, and digest it. The depth and care at which you read for understanding is different than when you read for information or for entertainment. You are having a conversation with the author in which you do all the listening. Adler spends most of his time on this level of reading (about half of the book).

He covers topics like:

• How (and why) to pigeonhole a book
• Determining the author’s message
• Criticizing books fairly
• Agreeing or disagreeing with the author

Each section adds perspective and value to the reader. It provides insight into effective engagement with a book to get the most out of your reading. One of my favorite passages has to do with determining an author’s message: Another sign of a bad or loosely constructed book is the omission of steps in an argument. Sometimes they can be omitted without damage or inconvenience… but sometimes their omission is misleading, and may even be intended to mislead. This trick is common in books that want to convince you of certain arguments. Whole sets of countering data are left out to give you the perception that the author’s message is the only true message. Often, these poor arguments start with, “You have been lied to…” Spend most of your time in analytical reading. Listen to the author. Question everything. Make notes on the pages (gasp!). Highlight. Challenge!

Level 4 – Syntopical reading This final level can be considered reading for mastery. The reader collects books on a topic from a variety of sources, angles, viewpoints, etc., and analytically reads all of them. This develops mastery over the content and arguments. Reading syntopically may enable you to come to conclusions that do not exist in any of the books you read. Final Points This book is a fantastic read. If you are a person who loves learning through books, the insights and guidance provided in How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading can help you be a more effective reader. This book changed the way I read books, and I am forever grateful.

Happy reading

Clark