Reading for the sake of deep understanding. To grasp a book and work at it until it becomes your own. The process of analytical reading require that you ask questions that you will answer for yourself as you come to better understand the text:
- What is the book about as a whole?
- What is said in detail, and how?
- Is the book true, in whole or in part?
- What is the significance of what is being said?
Rules for Analytical Reading
- Know what kind of book it is before reading. See Practical vs. Theoretical Books
- State the unity of the book on one or a few sentences.
- Define its parts and how they form the unity. See The Power of Outlining a Book
- Define the problem(s) the author is trying to solve.
- Coming to Termswith the author.
- Grasp the author’s leading Propositions.
- Know the author’s Arguments.
- Identify an Author’s Solutions.
- Criticizing a Book Fairly and The Importance of Suspending Judgement
- Avoiding Contentiousness
- Respect the difference between knowledge and opinion.
How to read a book by Mortimer Jerome Adler, Charles Van Doren