In The Word

I’m currently reading “How to Read a Book” By Mortimer J. Alder and so far it’s awesome. I started it with the goal of improving my Bible reading skills, which I’m confident it will, but consequently I think it will impact all of the reading I do. I’m going to try and blog the main ideas as I go so that it may be of use to someone. So here it is:

1. Reading for information vs. Reading for understanding
1. Reading for Information - you understand everything the author is saying and are gaining information from it. E.g. a newspaper
2. Reading for Understanding - you are learning from the text itself. E.g. the Bible
2. The Four Types of Reading
1. Elementary - Focuses on word and sentence structure, the type of reading you learn in elementary school
2. Inspectional - Skimming, Accesssing the main point of the book, getting an overview of the storyline.
1. Skimming
1. Look at the title page or preface
2. Study the Table of Contents
3. Review the index and look at the topics covered
4. Read the publisher’s blurb
5. Look at the pivotal chapters, seek the summary statements of each
6. turn the pages, read a bit and skip a bit, trying to focus in on the important sections
2. Superficial Reading
1. Read the work without seeking to understand everything. When you encounter something you don’t understand just keep reading and focus on getting the main idea of the work. Remember that you will pick up more on the next reading if you are doing one.
3. Anylitical - Thurough reading, the most comprehensive reading you can do given unlimited time.
4. Synoptic - Reading multiple works in comparison

Next Time:  How to Be a Demanding Reader & How to Make a Book your own.