How to Read a Book (A Touchstone Book) by Van Doren, Charles -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Preface Part One: The Dimensions of Reading

Chapter 1: The Activity and Art of Reading

Chapter 2: The Levels of Reading Chapter 3: The First Level of Reading: Elementary Reading

Stages of Learning to Read Stages and Levels Higher Levels of Reading and Higher Education Reading and the Democratic Ideal of Education

Chapter 4: The Second Level of Reading: Inspectional Reading

Inspectional Reading I: Systematic Skimming or Pre-reading Inspectional Reading II: Superficial Reading On Reading Speeds Fixations and Regressions The Problem of Comprehension Summary of Inspectional Reading

Chapter 5: How to Be a Demanding Reader

The Essence of Active Reading: The Four Basic Questions a Reader Asks How to Make a Book Your Own The Three Kinds of Note-making Forming the Habit of Reading From Many Rules to One Habit

Part Two: The Third Level of Reading: Analytical Reading

Chapter 6: Pigeonholing a Book

The Importance of Classifying Books What You Can Learn from the Title of a Book Practical vs. Theoretical Books Kinds of Theoretical Books

Chapter 7: X-raying a Book

Of Plots and Plans: Stating the Unity of a Book Mastering the Multiplicity: The Art of Outlining a Book The Reciprocal Arts of Reading and Writing Discovering the Author’s Intentions The First Stage of Analytical Reading

Chapter 8: Coming to Terms with an Author

Words vs. Terms Finding the Key Words Technical Words and Special Vocabularies Finding the Meanings

Chapter 9: Determining an Author’s Message

Sentences vs. Propositions Finding the Key Sentences Finding the Propositions Finding the Arguments Finding the Solutions The Second Stage of Analytical Reading

Chapter 10: Criticizing a Book Fairly

Teachability as a Virtue The Role of Rhetoric The Importance of Suspending Judgment The Importance of Avoiding Contentiousness On the Resolution of Disagreements

Chapter 11: Agreeing or Disagreeing with an Author

Prejudice and Judgment Judging the Author’s Soundness Judging the Author’s Completeness The Third Stage of Analytical Reading

Chapter 12: Aids to Reading

The Role of Relevant Experience Other Books as Extrinsic Aids to Reading How to Use Commentaries and Abstracts How to Use Reference Books How to Use a Dictionary How to Use an Encyclopedia

Part Three: Approaches to Different Kinds of Reading Matter

Chapter 13: How to Read Practical Books

The Two Kinds of Practical Books The Role of Persuasion What Does Agreement Entail in the Case of a Practical Book?

Chapter 14: How to Read Imaginative Literature

How Not to Read Imaginative Literature General Rules for Reading Imaginative Literature

Chapter 15: Suggestions for Reading Stories, Plays, and Poems

How to Read Stories A Note About Epics How to Read Plays A Note About Tragedy How to Read Lyric Poetry

Chapter 16: How to Read History

The Elusiveness of Historical Facts Theories of History The Universal in History Questions to Ask of a Historical Book How to Read Biography and Autobiography How to Read About Current Events A Note on Digests

Chapter 17: How to Read Science and Mathematics

Understanding the Scientific Enterprise Suggestions for Reading Classical Scientific Books Facing the Problem of Mathematics Handling the Mathematics in Scientific Books A Note on Popular Science

Chapter 18: How to Read Philosophy

The Questions Philosophers Ask Modern Philosophy and the Great Tradition On Philosophical Method On Philosophical Styles Hints for Reading Philosophy On Making Up Your Own Mind A Note on Theology How to Read “Canonical” Books

Chapter 19: Ho w to Read Social Science

What Is Social Science? The Apparent Ease of Reading Social Science Difficulties of Reading Social Science Reading Social Science Literature

Part Four: The Ultimate Goals of Reading

Chapter 20: The Fourth Level of Reading: Syntopical Reading

The Role of Inspection in Syntopical Reading The Five Steps in Syntopical Reading The Need for Objectivity An Example of an Exercise in Syntopical Reading: The Idea of Progress The Syntopicon and How to Use It On the Principles That Underlie Syntopical Reading Summary of Syntopical Reading

Chapter 21: Reading and the Growth of the Mind

What Good Books Can Do for Us The Pyramid of Books The Life and Growth of the Mind

Appendix A: A Recommended Reading List Appendix B: Exercises and Tests at the Four Levels of Reading Index Copyright