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HRHow to Read a BookMortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren

ReadingPractical1940

How to Read a Book

Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren

A guide to the four levels of reading — elementary, inspectional, analytical, and syntopical — and how to read actively for understanding rather than mere information.

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Purpose

Understanding

Mode

Analytical Reading

Classification

Practical

Chapters

4/8

Key insights

Reading is an active conversation between the reader and the author.

Coming to terms means agreeing on the meaning of key words before judging.

You cannot fairly criticize a book until you understand it.

Adler's four questions

The questions every analytical reader should answer.

What is the book about as a whole?

What is being said in detail, and how?

Is the book true, in whole or in part?

What of it?