Don, I have read the book by Thomas Foster and thought it was good as well. I haven't read the other one you mention but it is going on my list! Appreciate the recommendations.
That is sincerely appreciated. If I had any paywalled content, I would reciprocate, but at the moment, I am just getting my feet wet here! I am recommending you to my readers, though, because I think they would get a lot out of your writing. All the best!
This was really informative, Matthew! Does How to Read a Book distinguish between reading nonfiction vs fiction? I find that I tend to retain info better when I'm reading fiction as compared to nonfiction. I'm thinking of taking notes as I read nonfiction to see if that helps with retention.
Macy - yes, in a way. Adler differentiates between reading for entertainment and reading for understanding. Although it isn't all-inclusive, these can loosely be translated as fiction and nonfiction. He says that the methods he is teaching apply primarily to books we read for understanding (i.e., nonfiction). However, they can be applied to any type of reading. We can gain knowledge from a lot of fiction while also being entertained. His ideas are interesting and help me dig deeper into a text, but I wouldn't necessarily use them every time I sit down with a book.
I love reading about how we think and learn. It’s exciting to experience the theories going on in my head. Reading the theory helps me understand why I think or do certain things and gives me the language I need to keep thinking about it. I loved reading the analysis of the stages of reading thanks for sharing this.
Val - Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, it is sincerely appreciated. I agree that the process of how we think and learn is fascinating. In my experience, when I am intentional about understanding the methodology then I see marked improvement in results.
This was really interesting to read, Matthew, thanks. (And thank you for linking my own post.) I've often thought about the different ways I approach reading dependent upon the task/type of book. Even with my reading for leisure I find myself now increasing the depth at which read, compared to a more relaxed and gobbling-up of the page; for work, reading academic articles etc, it is much more in the synoptical level.
Loved the quotes in here, the one from Francis Bacon and also this:
"The second stage is magical, where symbols on a page suddenly contain meaning the student can interpret"
Appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment Nathan. This book has been an really interesting read. There is a lot of minutiae that I think is a bit dated but I am trying to capture the big picture which I believe has wide applicability. In the last couple years I have definitely seen my own methodology change as I dig deeper into fictional works as well as non-fiction. If I am being honest I would probably assess myself somewhere in the third reading level, getting close to that fourth. I am not sure I have yet mastered the skills in the fourth but I am working on it.
Great work, Matthew!
A book I really enjoyed on reading is How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster.
But my absolute favorite book on the overall subject of story is The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human by Jonathan Gottchall.
I know neither of these exactly address the subject you are discussing; they just came up in my mind while reading your essay :-)
Don, I have read the book by Thomas Foster and thought it was good as well. I haven't read the other one you mention but it is going on my list! Appreciate the recommendations.
I think you'll like it. I've read it twice!
Wow. Thank you. From someone like yourself who writes so elegantly, I am inspired that you connect with my words. Thank you again for the mention.
Will, you have a real talent and I enjoy your work. I was introduced to your publication by Barrie (Feasts and Fables). Keep up the great work.
Thank you for your support. I’ve adjusted your subscription as a gesture to thank you for your encouragement.
That is sincerely appreciated. If I had any paywalled content, I would reciprocate, but at the moment, I am just getting my feet wet here! I am recommending you to my readers, though, because I think they would get a lot out of your writing. All the best!
This was really informative, Matthew! Does How to Read a Book distinguish between reading nonfiction vs fiction? I find that I tend to retain info better when I'm reading fiction as compared to nonfiction. I'm thinking of taking notes as I read nonfiction to see if that helps with retention.
Macy - yes, in a way. Adler differentiates between reading for entertainment and reading for understanding. Although it isn't all-inclusive, these can loosely be translated as fiction and nonfiction. He says that the methods he is teaching apply primarily to books we read for understanding (i.e., nonfiction). However, they can be applied to any type of reading. We can gain knowledge from a lot of fiction while also being entertained. His ideas are interesting and help me dig deeper into a text, but I wouldn't necessarily use them every time I sit down with a book.
Adler is missed.
I love reading about how we think and learn. It’s exciting to experience the theories going on in my head. Reading the theory helps me understand why I think or do certain things and gives me the language I need to keep thinking about it. I loved reading the analysis of the stages of reading thanks for sharing this.
Val - Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, it is sincerely appreciated. I agree that the process of how we think and learn is fascinating. In my experience, when I am intentional about understanding the methodology then I see marked improvement in results.
I ordered Adlers book on reading and found out more about him.
This was really interesting to read, Matthew, thanks. (And thank you for linking my own post.) I've often thought about the different ways I approach reading dependent upon the task/type of book. Even with my reading for leisure I find myself now increasing the depth at which read, compared to a more relaxed and gobbling-up of the page; for work, reading academic articles etc, it is much more in the synoptical level.
Loved the quotes in here, the one from Francis Bacon and also this:
"The second stage is magical, where symbols on a page suddenly contain meaning the student can interpret"
Appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment Nathan. This book has been an really interesting read. There is a lot of minutiae that I think is a bit dated but I am trying to capture the big picture which I believe has wide applicability. In the last couple years I have definitely seen my own methodology change as I dig deeper into fictional works as well as non-fiction. If I am being honest I would probably assess myself somewhere in the third reading level, getting close to that fourth. I am not sure I have yet mastered the skills in the fourth but I am working on it.