How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

By: Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren

Narrated by: Edward Holland

With half a million copies in print, How to Read a Book is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader, completely rewritten and updated with new material.

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. Readers 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.

Finally, the authors offer a recommended reading list and supply reading tests you can use measure your own progress in reading skills, comprehension, and speed.

I learned a LOT.

This book sharpened my ability to read. Moving forward after reading this book, everything will be different when it comes to learning and reading. Very clear and concise.

Not just how to read but why

Mortimer Adler takes your hand and guides you through not only knowing how to read different types of books but also why you should read them. Tremendously Edifying work.

This a great practical book

I like the ideas that is ok n the book they are very practical.
Suggest this book to anyone that is interested in improving there reading habits.

the format of this book is golden

I wish I read this in high school before I touched any readings I was forced into during that time

It's title says it all...

...and quite honestly as you read/listen to the book you will understand why the accuracy of a book's title is the first step in ensuring you know how to analytically read a book.