I just started reading “How To Read A Book”. I’m learning I need to slow down more and think more critically about the words that I’m reading. I tend to rush because I don’t have a lot of time to read. I would like to improve in this area. So far I’m loving the book and I also love hearing your thoughts on it! Thanks, Matthew.
Tami - so glad you are enjoying this book. I had a terrible habit of reading too fast and not really retaining what I read. I thought I needed to read "all the books" until I realized that a slower, deeper form of reading would allow me to retain the books with me for a long time.
I’m always fascinated by how diverse the world of readers is: i can only read one or two books a year because every sentence and sometimes every word sends me into a parallel universe for minutes or hours. In occasions, a single paragraph gives me food for thought for entire weeks.
On the other hand, i devour audio books per month. Indeed technology has an impact.
I have enjoyed this book, and I even gifted it to my nephew this Christmas. He’s strayed into the unknown and I’m hoping to get him back into college and back on a good path. Education, to me, was key at that age.
Susie - thanks for reading and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed the book enough to gift it to someone else. I agree with you that education is important, even if it is simply self-education. I had no idea what to do with my life at a young age. The military set me on a good path and I was able to pursue an education through my military benefits. But reading has always provided me with an education and I hope it does the same for your nephew.
I was the same way! I went to college and made lots of friends, but I was not sure where I was going or what I wanted to do. I joined the Navy and really enjoyed it! I have always been a life-long learner through reading. I related so much to your story! I’m glad you shared it.
Congratulations!! My best friend from the Navy is almost there! I hurt my foot, fell off the Captains gig into the hangar bay. Med Seped. Everything is as it should be though! I guess you should start planning your next 30 years lol
Thank you for writing this. I feel increasingly, fewer and fewer of us (myself very much included) are reading deeply. My attention, with my phone near by, has grown to be more scattered and I'm aware that it's time to push back..that real effort is required not to reach for the easier, surface level newsy stuff. Have you listened to this? I'm still thinking about it.
Hi Addie, no I haven't listed to that podcast but will take the time to do so this weekend.
For certain it takes some intentional effort and focus to detach ourselves from the phone. I basically turned my smartphone into a brick so that it isn't a distraction. No social media, no notifications, nothing but text, phone, and gps. I don't even use the Substack app. This is what has worked for me.
Terry - Glad the article was valuable. I really enjoyed the book and have been getting even more out of it by writing about it. Enjoyed the article you wrote. There are many similarities in yours and Adler's styles. All the best!
Thanks for introducing this book to me, Matthew. I'm going to get hold of a copy. I particularly like the ideas in this passage: 'The active reader must have “keenness of observation, readily available memory, range of imagination, and, of course, an intellect trained in analysis and reflection.”' My intellectual ability for analysis and reflection has grown over the years and I'm grateful for it; I think it comes with maturity and cannot be forced.
Yasmin - you are very welcome and I agree with you, some aspects definitely come with maturity and time. Innate intelligence can often be found in the very young but wisdom usually requires some experience.
Julia - thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Glad that it resonated. Each month I will discuss a couple chapters until we make it through the book. All the best!
This is a great book and I'm learning so much! I also slowed down my reading of this because there's just so much to digest. You've made a great recap, Matthew. I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
I used to envy people who can read a book a week and feel kinda embarrassed that I'm a relatively slow reader. For context, it took me 2.5 months to finish Pride and Prejudice the first time I read it. But over the years, I've come to appreciate the reading slowly, truly savoring the author's words and conversing with the text on every page. I especially liked this quote, "Your success in reading is determined by the extent to which you receive everything the writer intended to communicate". It reminds me that it's not how many books you read in a year that matters but rather what you get out of them. Great article, Matthew. :)
For several years running I read 100+ books a year. I guess I thought it was a contest or something! I hardly remember some of those books, probably because they were mostly forgettable. I am a fast reader so being intentional about slowing down is important for me. I find that note taking is probably what helps me the most. I read a paragraph or two and take some notes, maybe re-read a bit. Different books call for different styles of reading too. Glad you enjoyed the article.
I'm a slow reader and I like to savor both the art of the language (with my writer eyes) and the lessons I learn or ideas that spark in my head after reading a passage.
This piece might be one of the strongest arguments against compulsive reading and all those crazy annual reading challenges some people make, where they aim to read 100+ books a year...
Thanks for sharing your article. I enjoyed reading it. I agree with you in regards to the silliness of setting some arbitrary numerical goal. I have realized the folly of my ways and am making amends! What I would say though is that there are definitely times when different reading speeds are utilized for different types of material. Also, different people have naturally different reading speeds. But reading fast just for the sake of consuming as many books as possible defeats the purpose as you eloquently point out in your article.
Yes, I was criticizing more the approach of reading high volumes out of vanity and to show off on social media. The intention is where it's at, reading fast or slow.
I just started reading “How To Read A Book”. I’m learning I need to slow down more and think more critically about the words that I’m reading. I tend to rush because I don’t have a lot of time to read. I would like to improve in this area. So far I’m loving the book and I also love hearing your thoughts on it! Thanks, Matthew.
Tami - so glad you are enjoying this book. I had a terrible habit of reading too fast and not really retaining what I read. I thought I needed to read "all the books" until I realized that a slower, deeper form of reading would allow me to retain the books with me for a long time.
I’m always fascinated by how diverse the world of readers is: i can only read one or two books a year because every sentence and sometimes every word sends me into a parallel universe for minutes or hours. In occasions, a single paragraph gives me food for thought for entire weeks.
On the other hand, i devour audio books per month. Indeed technology has an impact.
I have enjoyed this book, and I even gifted it to my nephew this Christmas. He’s strayed into the unknown and I’m hoping to get him back into college and back on a good path. Education, to me, was key at that age.
Susie - thanks for reading and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed the book enough to gift it to someone else. I agree with you that education is important, even if it is simply self-education. I had no idea what to do with my life at a young age. The military set me on a good path and I was able to pursue an education through my military benefits. But reading has always provided me with an education and I hope it does the same for your nephew.
I was the same way! I went to college and made lots of friends, but I was not sure where I was going or what I wanted to do. I joined the Navy and really enjoyed it! I have always been a life-long learner through reading. I related so much to your story! I’m glad you shared it.
I became a teacher after the military, and now planning my next 30 years. I am pursuing a BSN so that I can do travel nursing when my kids graduate. 😊
I retire this summer after 24 years in the Navy. Not sure what I am going to do yet. Maybe just read and write!
Congratulations!! My best friend from the Navy is almost there! I hurt my foot, fell off the Captains gig into the hangar bay. Med Seped. Everything is as it should be though! I guess you should start planning your next 30 years lol
Thank you for writing this. I feel increasingly, fewer and fewer of us (myself very much included) are reading deeply. My attention, with my phone near by, has grown to be more scattered and I'm aware that it's time to push back..that real effort is required not to reach for the easier, surface level newsy stuff. Have you listened to this? I'm still thinking about it.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ezra-klein-show/id1548604447?i=1000587098985
Hi Addie, no I haven't listed to that podcast but will take the time to do so this weekend.
For certain it takes some intentional effort and focus to detach ourselves from the phone. I basically turned my smartphone into a brick so that it isn't a distraction. No social media, no notifications, nothing but text, phone, and gps. I don't even use the Substack app. This is what has worked for me.
Very good and very apposite. I read a lot of nonfiction books and I think a really important part of the process is to ask questions even before opening it. (Explained here if you're interested: https://open.substack.com/pub/terryfreedman/p/how-i-read-4-books-and-reviewed-them?r=18suih&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web). I've seen this book mentioned before so I think I need to acquire a copy. It sounds very good. Thanks for such an informative article
Terry - Glad the article was valuable. I really enjoyed the book and have been getting even more out of it by writing about it. Enjoyed the article you wrote. There are many similarities in yours and Adler's styles. All the best!
Did you pencil in lots of marginalia or dogear pages, etc?
I did lots of underlining and notes in the margins. Dog ear pages is a step too far in my opinion!
Thanks Matthew
Love this book and Mortimer Adler/ CvD. I believe someone wrote a tongue-in-cheek followup entitled “How to Read Two Books”.
Might have to check out that sequel!
How to Read TWO Books (Erasmus Addlepate) - The Scriptorium Daily
https://scriptoriumdaily.com/how-to-read-two-books-erasmus-addlepate/
Oh, how interesting, I am going to look for this book. I really enjoyed your summary and wrote up, thank you so much.
You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. Each month I will dive into a couple more chapters so stay tuned!
Thanks for introducing this book to me, Matthew. I'm going to get hold of a copy. I particularly like the ideas in this passage: 'The active reader must have “keenness of observation, readily available memory, range of imagination, and, of course, an intellect trained in analysis and reflection.”' My intellectual ability for analysis and reflection has grown over the years and I'm grateful for it; I think it comes with maturity and cannot be forced.
Yasmin - you are very welcome and I agree with you, some aspects definitely come with maturity and time. Innate intelligence can often be found in the very young but wisdom usually requires some experience.
Fantastic -- thank you for writing about this book. It is something I definitely want to read, and feel there is surely something I can learn
Julia - thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Glad that it resonated. Each month I will discuss a couple chapters until we make it through the book. All the best!
This is a great book and I'm learning so much! I also slowed down my reading of this because there's just so much to digest. You've made a great recap, Matthew. I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
Thanks Tiffany. Hope the new year treats you great.
I used to envy people who can read a book a week and feel kinda embarrassed that I'm a relatively slow reader. For context, it took me 2.5 months to finish Pride and Prejudice the first time I read it. But over the years, I've come to appreciate the reading slowly, truly savoring the author's words and conversing with the text on every page. I especially liked this quote, "Your success in reading is determined by the extent to which you receive everything the writer intended to communicate". It reminds me that it's not how many books you read in a year that matters but rather what you get out of them. Great article, Matthew. :)
For several years running I read 100+ books a year. I guess I thought it was a contest or something! I hardly remember some of those books, probably because they were mostly forgettable. I am a fast reader so being intentional about slowing down is important for me. I find that note taking is probably what helps me the most. I read a paragraph or two and take some notes, maybe re-read a bit. Different books call for different styles of reading too. Glad you enjoyed the article.
Ohhh I just saw this comment of yours, Matthew, right after posting mine below. I hope it won't offend you. 🙈
No worries at all! Glad to have your thoughts on the topic.
I'm a slow reader and I like to savor both the art of the language (with my writer eyes) and the lessons I learn or ideas that spark in my head after reading a passage.
This piece might be one of the strongest arguments against compulsive reading and all those crazy annual reading challenges some people make, where they aim to read 100+ books a year...
I have quite a strong opinion about this, and I wrote an essay about it here: https://monicanastase.substack.com/p/how-voracious-readers-miss-out-on
Thanks for sharing your article. I enjoyed reading it. I agree with you in regards to the silliness of setting some arbitrary numerical goal. I have realized the folly of my ways and am making amends! What I would say though is that there are definitely times when different reading speeds are utilized for different types of material. Also, different people have naturally different reading speeds. But reading fast just for the sake of consuming as many books as possible defeats the purpose as you eloquently point out in your article.
Yes, I was criticizing more the approach of reading high volumes out of vanity and to show off on social media. The intention is where it's at, reading fast or slow.
Charles Van Doren of quiz show fame? Regardless, a very positive review of a worthwhile book.
Hey David, yes it is the same guy! Thanks for reading.