{"id":364,"date":"2006-05-21T15:39:11","date_gmt":"2006-05-21T22:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/osbornz.net\/amy\/?p=364"},"modified":"2006-05-21T15:39:11","modified_gmt":"2006-05-21T22:39:11","slug":"how-to-read-a-book-chap-4-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/osbornz.net\/amy\/?p=364","title":{"rendered":"How to Read a Book – Chap 4 Comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

“The Second level of Reading: Inspectional Reading”<\/p>\n

“…you can not read on the inspectional level unless you can read effectively on the elementary level.”<\/p>\n

There are two types of IR:<\/p>\n

INSPECTIONAL READING 1: Systematic Skimming or Pre-Reading
\nMain aim is to discover whether the book requires a more careful reading. Also, skimming can tell you lots of toher things about the book – even if you decide not to read it again.<\/p>\n

Acquire a habit of skimming:
\na) Look at the title page and preface – it will give you a good idea of the subject and help you categorize it with other boks you’ve read.
\nb) Study the table of contents – to gain a sense of the book’s structure — a road map on a trip.
\nc) Check the index (if applicable) – quick estimate of the range of topics and books and authors referred to.
\nd) Read publisher’s blurb (dust jacket) “It is not uncommon for author – in these blurbs – to try to summarize as accurately as they can the main points in their book.” If the blurb is fluff…mayb the book is too!
\n**”At this point you may already have enough info about the book to know that you want to read it more carefully, or that you do not want or need to read it at all.” If not,
\ne) Look at chapters that seem pivotal to it’s arguement.
\nf) Finally, flip through the book – reading a paragraph or two or even several pages in a sequence (but no more). Do not fail to read the last 2-3 pages (not the epilogue).<\/p>\n

NOTE: Due to some newish features at amazon.com and the like – we can do much of this online now. Features that I use EVERY time I try to figure out if I want to buy a book or not.<\/p>\n

This is very active reading. You are a detective looking for clues to the book’s general theme or idea.<\/p>\n

INSPECTIONAL READING 2: Superficial Reading
\nRule – In tackling a difficult book for the first time, read it through without ever stopping to look up or ponder the things you do not understand right away.
\n Pay attention to what you CAN understand. Go right on reading past things you don’t understan until you get to that which you do understand. Even if you only understand 50%-it will help you the next time you read it.<\/p>\n

p 37 – reading Shakespeare – exactly!! No fun!<\/p>\n

On Reading Speeds – Inspectional reading shoud happen quickly. P 40-41 how to speed read.<\/p>\n

SUMMARY: p 42 “You can not comprehend a book without reading it analytically; analytical reading…is undertaken primarily for the sake of comprehension (or understanding).”<\/p>\n

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