How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading (A Touchstone book) (Paperback)

I first read this book 50 years ago and then took from it one basic idea that has guided my reading ever since...That one idea was that every good non-fiction book deserves 3 readings. The purpose of the first rapid read is to get an overview of the general thrust or central thesis of the book. The second reading involves digging in, an attempt to understand and analyze the author's central argument or thesis, and the third reading is for the purpose of argument, i.e., of reflecting on where we agree with the book and where we disagree, and why...50 years after that first reading, i still try to follow the advice (above), and find it as helpful and true today as it was back then.So, what in particular did I gain in from my current reading of this fine book, this gem? Three or four things, all of which are, at least to me, important.First, re the value of reading the intro or the preface in which the author often says specifically and explicitly...Read more