How to Read A Book

Jan 1, 0001 · 13 min read  ·
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Purpose

This book I heard about in reading more about Zettelkasten. I'm generally curious about old books that continue to be relevant, so I figured it was worth the effort to check it out.

Expectations

Results

Works Cited

Notes

Preface

  • The content dictates the style of reading
  • 135 Worked at Institute for Philosophical Research
  • 143 Authur L. H. Rubin

Part 1 The Dimensions of Reading

1 The Activity and Art of Reading

  • 156 We don't have to know everything about something to understand it
  • 164 Too easy not to be critical of message
  • 180 Reader as catcher not as recorder, only the ball is passive
  • 189 catcher and pitcher cooperate
  • 231 reading for info vs understanding
  • 265 informed vs enlightened
  • 273 Montaigne > "an abecedarian ignorance that precedes knowledge, and a doctoral ignorance that comes after it."
    • Sophomores (Greek): well read but poorly understand

2 The Levels of Reading

  • 346 Elementary: Word meaning
  • 354 Inspectional: Gist but not systematically
  • 371 Analytical: Best understanding given unlimited time
  • 387 Syntopical: Synthesis of books - wholistic of many authors

3 The First Level of Reading: Elementary Reading

  • 443 Reading Readiness: physical, intellectual, language & personal
  • 451 ah-ha moment when those develop enough
  • 468 education focused on rudimentary and not higher level skills

4 The Second Level of Reading: Inspectional Reading

  • Inspectional Reading 1
  • 546 Skim or pre-read:
    1. Look at Title & preface
    2. Study ToC for structure
    3. Check Index for topics covered
    4. Read the Publishers Blurb
    5. Look at the chapters pivotal to the argument
    6. Turn the pages & get gist
  • 595 Very active read- as a detective- focus on finding pivotal clues
  • Inspectional Reading 2
  • Superficial Reading - "In tackling a difficult book for the first time, read it through without ever stopping to look up or ponder the things you don't understand."
  • 645 Many books are hardly worth even skimming
  • 653 Read at different speeds
  • 670 Break habit of subvocalization
  • 694 Speed reading comprehension
  • 710 Systemic skimming as preporation for analytical reading

5 How to be A Demanding Reader

  • 739 4 Basic questions
  • 747 1. What is the book about as whole?
  • --- 2. What is being said in detail, and how?
  • --- 3. Is the book true, in whole or part?
  • --- 4. What of it?
  • 773 how to make a book your own
  • 780 Write in book
  • 789 Underlining, vertical line at margin to note passage, star, numbers points of argument, page number back refs
  • 806 3 Kinds of Note making
  • 814 Structural - Inspectional
  • --- Conceptual - Analytical
  • --- Dialectical - Syntopical
  • 831 Forming the habit of reading
  • --- Knowing rules not sufficient
  • 847 From many rules to one habit

Part 2 The Third Level of Reading: Analytical Reading

6 Pigeon Holing a Book

  • 894 Rule 1: The importance of classifying books
  • 920 Learn from title of a book
  • 982 Practical vs Theoretical books
  • 1041 Should & ought vs is
  • 1049 Kinds of theoretical books classically - history, science & philosophy
  • 1092 Science is experimental and philosophy is armchair thinking on a continuum
  • 1100 Science and Philosophy read differently

7 X-Raying a Book

  • 1130 Rule 2: State the unity of the whole book in a single sentence. What is the motive?
  • 1147 Rule 3: Set forth the major parts of the book, and show how parts make the whole.
  • 1165 Of plots and plans- stating the unity of a book
  • 1249 Mastering the multiplicity: the art of outlining a book
  • ---- The 2nd rule - unity the 3rd rule complexity
  • 1275 Don't read everything to the Nth level - look for patterns
  • ---- Books are flawed
  • 1283 Outlines can be expanded longer than the original
  • 1324 Outline structure may not align with book structure - consider it helpful
  • 1350 The reciprocal arts of reading and writing
  • 1359 Books are more than outlines
  • 1367 Most books are badly made and don't follow their own rules
  • 1375 Discovering the author's intentions
  • ---- Rule 4: Fine out what the author's problems were
  • 1385 All books start with questions - did the book contain the answers
  • 1410 The first stage of analytical reading
  • 1414 Summary of Rules 1-4 -> structure of book
  • 1422 First stage of analytical reading, or rules for finding what a book is about (first 4 rules)

8 Coming To Terms With An Author

  • 1436 Words vs terms
  • 1444 Resolved ambiguity
  • 1460 Rule 5: Find the important words and through them come to terms with the author
  • 1495 Finding the key words
  • 1529 Look for words that give trouble or specific meaning
  • ---- Technical words & special vocabularies
  • 1554 Technical words are usually important and lead to other important words
  • 1580 Finding the meanings
  • 1620 In a perfect book, all meanings would fit like a puzzle

9 Determining An Author's Message

  • 1721 Sentences (gramatical units) v. propositions (logical units)
  • 1729 Propositions are the answers to questions
  • 1770 Rules for second stage analytical reading
    1. Rule 5: find the important words and come to terms
    2. Rule 6: Mark the most important sentences in a book and discover their propositions
    3. Rule 7: Locate or construct the basic arguments in the book by finding them in their connection sentences
  • 1780 Finding the key sentences
  • 1788 For author, the most important express judgements that support whole argument
  • 1813 Look for sequences
  • 1829 Your interest in the authors ideas
  • ---- Finding the propositions make sure you understand them by:
  • 1846 State in your own words
  • 1854 Translation...
  • 1871 Find an example of the proposition elsewhere (irl, another book)
  • 1879 Reverse the proposition
  • 1895 Finding the arguments-paragraphs are too arbitrary
  • 1903 Rule 7 discussed
  • 1953 Assumptions
  • 1988 Finding the solutions
  • 1996 Rule 8: FIne out what the author's solutions are
  • ---- Now is when we start arguing with the author
  • 2004 Summary of rules 5-8: Basic understanding of book

10 Criticicizing A Book Fairly

  • 2021 The reader has the last word
  • 2038 The activity of reading does not stop with what a book says
  • 2062 the role of rhetoric
  • 2079 The importance of suspending judgement
  • 2095 Rule 9: You must be able to say with reasonable certainty, "I understand" before you can agree, disagree, or indifferent (insufficient)
  • 2104 Don't feed the trolls- ask them to state your position
  • 2121 I don't understand is reasonable
  • 2139 The importance of avoiding contentiousness
  • ---- Rule 10: When you disagree, do so reasonably and not disputatiously or contentiously
  • 2148 Nothin gained in being antagonistic
  • 2164 ON the resolution of disagreements
  • 2172 The more learned have the right to be critical of errors made by those who lack relevant knowledge
  • 2180 He should always keep before him the possibility that he misunderstands or that he is ignorant on some point.
  • 2205 Rule 11: Respect the difference between knowledge and mere personal opinion by giving reasons for any critical judgement you make
  • 2213 Knowedge are assertions that can be defended, opinion are unsupported assertions

11 Agreeing Or Disagreeing With An Author

  • 2231 It's possible to understand & completely agree with author - no further analysis
  • 2256 Prejudice and judgement
  • 2264 First acknowledge emotions, second state your assumptions, third attempt impartiality
  • 2281 Four criticisms: Be specific
    1. You are uninformed
    2. You are misinformed
    3. You are illogical
    4. Your analysis is incomplete
  • 2290 Judging the author's soundness
  • 2339 Judging the author's completeness
  • 2380 The 3rd Stage of Analytical reading

12 Aids to Reading

  • 2461 Extrinsic aids the role of relevant experience
  • 2478 universal vs common vs special
  • 2503 Other books as extrinsic aids to reading
  • 2511 Not only are many great books related, but they were written in a certain order that should not be ignored
  • 2528 How to use commentaries and abstracts
  • ---- Use sparingly they could be wrong or limited in scope
  • 2536 Never read a commentary before you read the book
  • 2553 How to use reference books
  • 2561 To use well:
    1. Vague idea of what you want
    2. Know where to find what you want to know
    3. Know how the ref is organized
    4. Know what you are looking for is knowable
  • 2586 How to use a dictionary
  • 2595 First dictionary was by Romans to read Homer
  • 2619 Don't swallow the dictionary
  • 2643 How to use an encyclopedia
  • 2651 idiot savant
  • 2651 Greek term, but greeks didn't have such a book- Roman invention
  • 2659 7 liberal arts
    • Trivium
      • Grammar
      • Rhetoric
      • Logic
    • Quadrivium
      • Arithmetic
      • Geometry
      • Astronomy
      • Music
  • 2675 Table of Contents: Topical reference & Index: Alphabetical reference

Part 3 Approaches To Different Kinds of Reading Matter

13 How To Read Practical Books

  • 2758 the two kinds of practical books
  • ---- "The most important thing to remember about any practical book is that it can never solve the practical problems with which it is concerned."
  • 2783 Some are a presentation of rules, Others with the principles that generate rules
  • 2792 In a rule book, look for the rules - writer must justify rules
  • 2800 Distinction of principles that generate rules vs theoretical
  • 2817 In judging a practical book, everything turns on the ends or goals
  • ---- The role of persuasion
  • 2826 2 questions to ask:
    • What are the author's objectives?
    • What means for achieving them is s/he proposing?
  • 2826 The pratical author is a propagandist
  • 2834 What reaches the heart w/o going through the mind will put the mind out of business
  • 2843 Practical books need the author where theoretical books don't
  • 2851 What does agreement entail in the case of a practical book?

14 How To Read Imaginative Literature

  • 2907 Hard to express why a novel is good
  • 2924 How not to read imaginative literature - novels try to convey experience
  • 2933 Don't try to resist the effect that a work has on you
  • 2950 Don't look for terms, propositions and arguments
  • 2958 Expository works do not provide us with novel experiences
  • 2966 Don't criticize fiction by the standards of truth and consistency that properly apply to common knowledge
  • 2984 General rules for reading imaginative literature
  • ---- Structural rules
    1. Classify type of work
    2. Grasp the theme
    3. Build up parts
  • ---- Interpretive rules
    1. Elements/scenes build up
    2. Scenes build acts
    3. does the plot work?
  • ---- Critical rules
  • 3051 Don't criticize until you fully appreciate what the author has tried to make you experience

15 Suggestions For Reading Stories, Plays & Poems

  • 3096 EB White > A despot doesn't fear eloquent writers preaching freedom - He fears a drunken poet who may crak a joke that will take hold
  • 3105 fine art: latin - Finished/End art
  • 3113 How to read stories
  • ---- Read quickly w/ total immersion to get effect
  • 3172 A note about epics - only a few, worth the effort
  • 3189 How to read plays
  • 3197 Unlike novel - minimial description - have to imaging the acting
  • 3230 A note about tragedy - greek tragedy relied heavily on context
  • 3247 Greek tragedy a lack of time is critical
  • ---- Actors wore platforms to put them above the gallery/chorus
  • 3255 How to read lyric poetry
  • 3280 Recognize poems are complex and understanding a part is dependent on the meaning of the whole
  • 3288 Second time through a poem, read aloud

16 How To Read History

  • 3356 Essence of history is narration
  • 3364 The elusiveness of historical facts
  • 3397 Theories of history
  • 3406 Historians can't know everything - they infer
  • 3414 Tolstoy > Causes of human action so complex, and deeply hidden in unconscious - impossible to know why anything ever happened
  • 3423 The universal in history
  • 3440 History may be true, but regardless can have an impact
  • 3448 History is the story of what led up to now
  • 3456 Questions to ask of a historical book
  • 3465 Need to know what author tackled
  • 3481 A good historian is storyteller & scientist
  • ---- Expect a historian to be informed
  • 3489 How to read a biography
  • 3506 Definitive Bios are best, Authorized are good but likely biased
  • 3531 Autobiographies are almost always biased, but may give nuance not in others
  • 3539 Much of anyone rights (novel, poetry) is autobiographical
  • 3557 Don't read autobiography for secrets, read plainly
  • ---- How to read about current events
  • 3615 Let the reader beward
  • 3615 A note on digests
  • 3623 Time & Newsweek summarize - invaluable service
  • 3632 They save us labor, but not trouble of reading (still suffer bias)
  • 3641 The character of the editor becomes more important the more summarized

17 How To Read Science and Mathematics

  • 3654 Science until late 19th century was written for lay audience
  • 3663 In many fields, general readers fall back on scientific popularizations
  • 3671 Understanding the scientific enterprise
  • 3678 Understand the problem trying to be solved
  • ---- Suggestions for reading classical scientific books
  • 3729 Facing the problem of mathematics
  • 3788 Handling the mathematics in scientific books
  • 3822 A note on popular science

18 How To Read Philosophy

  • 3888 The questions Philosophers ask
  • 3946 Epistemology: Theory of knowledge
  • ---- Theoretical vs normative
  • ---- Modern pholosophy and the great tradition
  • 3955 Philosophy also now not written for lay readers
  • 3963 On philosophical method
  • 3978 thinking
  • 4011 On pholosophical styles
    1. Dialogue - Plato and Socrates
    2. Treatise or Essay - Aristotle and Kant - Structure Argument
    3. Meeting Objections - Thomas Aquinas - State wrong answer then alternative
    4. Systemization of philosophy - write in math or proof form
    5. Aphoristic - write in sayings - doesn't really hold up to scrunity
  • 4094 Hints for reading philosophy
  • 4171 On making up your own mind
  • 4186 A not on theology
  • 4203 How to read canonical books

19 How To Read Social Science

  • 4251 What is social science? what makes the line and what doesn't?
  • 4276 Scientific study of social constructs
  • 4284 The apparent ease of reading social science - relatable
  • 4300 Difficulties of reading social science - preconcieved notions
  • 4325 List of Assumptions
  • ---- Hard to define - eg What is mental health?
  • 4351 Reading Social Science literature
  • 4360 Particular problems vs particular author or book
  • 4368 Social science lends to syntopical reading

Part 4 The Ultimate Goals of Reading

20 The Fourth Level of Reading: Syntopical Reading

  • 4445 The Role of Inspection in Syntopical Reading
  • 4453 Inspection allows a quick scan of works cited for further reading
  • 4479 Reading syntopically and analytically are different
  • 4487 the five steps in syntopical reading
  • ---- 1. Find the relevant passages
  • 4496 It is your concerns to be served, not the book
  • 4505 Your goal isn't understanding the book, but to find utility
  • ---- 2. Bringing the authors to terms
  • 4514 Authors need to be standardized in terminology
  • ---- 3. Getting the questions clear
  • 4551 The first questions - the existence of character of the phenomenon or idea
  • ---- How it is known or how the idea manifests
  • ---- 4. Defining the issues
  • 4560 Usually, differences in answer must be ascribed to different conceptions of the question
  • ---- 5. Analyzing the discussion
  • 4587 Sometimes the answer is conflict
  • ---- Or simply a discussion of view w/o judgement
  • 4596 The need for objectivity
  • 4604 None of the opinions may be true
  • 4613 Syntopical analysis doesn't assert a view
  • 4621 S/he must constantly refer back to the actual text of his authors
  • 4636 An example of an exercise in syntopical reading: The idea of progress
    • Progress in time
    • Progress improve human condition
    1. Is progress necessary?
    2. Will progress continue eternally?
    3. Is progress external, internal or both?
    • Subcategories of progress - knowledge, tech, economics, political, moral, arts
  • 4679 The Syntopicon and how to use it
  • 4688 Paradox of not knowing where
  • 4705 Syntopicaon index of references by subject
  • 4739 On the principles that underlie syntopical reading
  • 4774 Summary of syntopical reading
    1. Surveying the field before
    2. Review sources found

21 Reading And The Growth of The Mind

  • 4837 Pleasue Vs information Vs improve Reading