How to Read a Book - Mortimer J. Adler

"A piece of writing, however, is a complex object. It can be received more or less completely, all the way from very little of what the writer intended to the whole of it. The amount the reader "catches"

will usually depend on the amount of activity he puts into the process."

How to Read a Book - Mortimer J. Alder

This book was very well-written and relatively informative. Since the revised and updated version, which I read, was intended for an audience in the 1970s, I do feel that the style of writing was quite outdated and could have been improved once again. I could tell that the author's thoughts were clear and organized, however, I am sure I did not gain as much as I could've from this book due to the language and tone of this book.

In the beginning chapters of this book, Adler spends a considerable amount of time explaining his purpose of writing this book. He emphasizes that although most people are unable to read for understanding instead of solely pleasure, that he all human beings are capable.

Despite the few setbacks, How to Read a Book did offer some wise and insightful ways to read a book in order to gain the most out of the text. It discussed "active reading", analytical reading as well as syntopical reading. The various types of readings he discussed were all useful depending on what type of literature was being read.

My favorite chapters of this book were some of the final chapters where Mortimer Adler focused on specific types of literature and the best ways to approach them. He discussed genres such as Mathematic, Scientific, plays and philosophical works. It is here where I feel I gained the most knowledge from his book because of the specific genres and specialized methods he recommended for reading them.

In the end, Adler gives a list of suggested reads with a challenge to read books that intimidate us and seem over our head. I conclude with his words; 

"There is no limit to the amount of growth and development that the mind can sustain."