How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 49 ratings

Price: 19.68

Last update: 01-03-2025


About this item

A CNN Book of the Week: “Explains not just why we should read books, but how we should read them. It’​s masterfully done.” (Farheed Zakaria)

Originally published in 1940, this book is a rare phenomenon, a living classic that introduces and elucidates the various levels of reading and how to achieve them - from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading. Audiences will learn when and how to “judge a book by its cover,” and also how to X-ray it, read critically, and extract the author’s message from the text.

Also included is instruction in the different techniques that work best for reading particular genres, such as practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy, and social science works.


Top reviews from the United States

Mimi
5.0 out of 5 stars A gem!
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
The book came in great conditions and the shipping was fast well! I can’t wait to enjoy this reading!
Gail Zlotky
5.0 out of 5 stars Great necessary book for us hard core readers. Amazing and impressive.
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2023
It was exactly what I expected. Loving it
M. Minter
5.0 out of 5 stars A book I wish I’d wanted to read 15 years ago
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2022
This seems a must read resource for those who want to read well and to understand what that means. Here’s to reading better with the years I have remaining.
J. Hardesty
1.0 out of 5 stars Kindle Version is Bad
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2021
I'm not sure if this book is some sort of translation, but I ended up buying the 1972 paperback version and parts of it are different. I bought the paperback version because some passages were worded so strangely that I couldn't grasp the concept. Also, the punctuation is wrong in a number of places. I never made it beyond the 2nd chapter. Unfortunately, I waited too long to start reading it so no possibility of a refund. Very disappointing.
Living Life
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book.
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2022
Started reading the book.. Good so far
Dirk Nomad
4.0 out of 5 stars Stimulating
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2008
I found this book stimulating and it created within me a renewed desire for serious reading and a greater respect for my own fundamental desire to engage in reading over the years. I was struck by Adler's almost simple faith in the power of human reason. There is one section where he flatly states a rather radical concept, to my way of thinking, and that is that if two men are in discussion and begin with differing positions they MUST ALWAYS COME TO AGREEMENT if they clarify all errors of fact and reasoning that have caused them to disagree.

It was also almost moving to me to read some of his statements in light of the year he wrote the book - 1940 or 1941- a time when the future of the Anglo-American/Western tradition of free inquiry based on reason was being seriously challenged by the repressive forces of Fascism, Communism, Hitlerism, and the Japanese Bushido warrior cult. And it wasn't entirely clear at that point which side was going to win out.

I liked his notion of gradually expanding the community of men and women who have read the Great Books with understanding, and are conversant with their content and concepts.

Although Adler did not make the following point, it did occur to me that although people of culture and learning will go to art exhibits to view the works of the old masters, or will attend the symphony or opera, you will rarely encounter someone saying "and this past weekend I also read volume two of Spinoza's great treatise." Why don't we hear that? Because as Adler points out most of us view reading the Great Books as too difficult. Whereas I suspect he'd agree with me that great art and great music you can more passively appreciate without the intensity of intellectual engagement that serious reading entails.

I am torn as to whether or not I should devote a portion of my future reading time to the Great Books that he lists. I was exposed to some of them during my college years, and others of them I may read just because I want to (such as Homer). But there are so many books and periodicals that I want to read that I have to be very selective due to my time constraints.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Functions properly
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2020
I used this product to read.
Thomas Morgan
3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2011
The book arrived in a timely manner and was undamaged in shipment. It was an older book and I guess the condition was more subjective than I thought. All in all, I am not disappointed because I have the book I wanted.

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