How to Read a Book
How to Read a Book was originally authored by Mortimer Adler. He co-authored a heavily revised edition with Charles Van Doren.
The book gives guidelines for critically reading the texts that comprise what the authors consider to be the Western canon, which they refer to as the "Great Books."
Tips are given for approaching various genres: poetry, history, science, fiction, etc.
The book was a commercial success upon its initial publication in 1940.
His basic advice on how to read a book
- Don't get discouraged, and don't stop, if you encounter a difficulty. Otherwise you may never return to the book.
Links
- reading list from How to Read a Book
- online version