I have read some pretty dry books in all my years of college, seminary and beyond.\u00a0 I remember one from an Old Testament survey class where the first chapter was entitled “An Introduction To Introductions”.\u00a0 It took me a week to read one chapter because of the dryness, and moribund nature of the book.\u00a0 I struggled to read the book and it showed in my tests, at the end of the class when we had to fill out our evaluations of the class I mad sure to point out the text as completely useless.\u00a0 I feared “How To Read A Book” was going to be the same type of situation.\u00a0 In retrospect, if I had this book before I went to college or seminary, I feel I would have probably been able to read my Old Testament book much more effectively.<\/p>\n
In reading this book there were many things I knew but have not put into practice.\u00a0 Particularly the section on How to Make a Book Your Own.\u00a0 This section on marking a book has a great reason, “Marking a book is literally an expression of your differences or your agreements with the author.\u00a0 It is the highest respect you can pay him”.[1]<\/a>\u00a0 I have never thought of marking a book as a compliment, but in a way, you’re looking at what has been written, and seeing importance in it.\u00a0 In that way you are paying the author enormous respect.\u00a0 What they have written is important to you and what you are studying.\u00a0 Obviously there are different levels of importance.\u00a0 Is it important for a test?\u00a0 Is it important for a job, or like scripture is it important for life?\u00a0 I had a friend once tell me “If your Bible is not covered in markings then none of it matters to you.”[2]<\/a>\u00a0 I never really understood his passion about that.\u00a0 If you look in my Bible, you will find no markings.\u00a0 I have a hard time putting any marks or bended pages, or even breaking the spine on any of my books.\u00a0 I have a deep appreciation for the written word and it bothers me to see a book marked.\u00a0 On that note, Jason Paul Clark’s discussion on the relative unimportance of a book, I will be honest, made my insides cringe.\u00a0 Not to say I don’t understand and realize the need for the discussion, I understand it would be impossible for me to read everything in every book we will be asked to read, but it was hard to hear.<\/p>\n The chapter on Inspectional reading was extremely helpful.\u00a0 If I am going to come to grips with reading at a different level than I am used to, this section was the place to start.\u00a0 Reading the preface, stated the table of contents, going over the index, reading the publisher’s blurb, looking at pivotal chapters, then reading several paragraphs or pages in sequence[3]<\/a>, these exercises give a start, if not a generous overview of the reading.\u00a0 They can help you to decide what are the most important parts of the book, and can help in gaining a clue as to what is going to be worth reading.\u00a0 They go on to delve into superficial reading or reading straight through without stopping to think about what is read.\u00a0 The entire chapter was dedicated to taking a step in understanding what you will read.<\/p>\n While all of the above is good, what was helpful to see was the outline of analytical reading.\u00a0 While reading through the different stages something kept pricking my head.\u00a0 It was not until I came to the chapter on Agreeing or Disagreeing With an Author that it hit me.\u00a0 Not only was this a great outline on how to interact with al book, but it was a great way to interact with someone you may have a disagreement with, not only from a surface level point of view but also from an in depth theological difference.\u00a0 While in South Africa I was confronted with things that deep in my core beliefs I disagreed with in every way.\u00a0 It does not matter what they were, but they where there.\u00a0 In reading this chapter I found myself looking at a way I can have a discourse with someone, whether I agree with them or not, and have a civil discussion where I really listened to what they had to say.\u00a0 This was an epiphany for me.\u00a0 I have always been a “bull in a china shop” in my dealings with people.\u00a0 I am not sure where it came from but it is who I have always been.\u00a0 In looking at the stages of analytical reading I found my voice but in a much more humble and softer tone.\u00a0 If I learn to define the problem trying to be solved I am better for it, if I grasp the propositions of those I disagree with I see where they come from.\u00a0 If I can learn that not all problems are solved by my way of thinking, or theirs, maybe we can come together in a middle ground.\u00a0 If I learn not to criticize before I have interpreted what they have said or until I completely understand their point of view, we have civil discourse.\u00a0 I have to learn not to be contentious.\u00a0 I have to be able to recognize the difference between knowledge and opinion, and if I cannot show where the other is wrong, or misinformed or illogical then I have to consider their argument as a valid argument.\u00a0 If I am however able to listen, discern and show where there is misinformation, then I have a right to present my point of view.\u00a0 As in a book, I cannot hammer a book as boring, dry, or monotonous unless I can show why that is the case[4]<\/a><\/p>\n This book scared me when I picked it up.\u00a0 I did not think it would be worth my time or effort to read.\u00a0 I am glad I was wrong.\u00a0 I am glad to have read this book and gained some insight not only to reading but in how I deal with others God puts in my life that I may disagree with.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a>\u00a0Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, \u201cHow To Read A Book\u201d, 49<\/p>\n [2]<\/a>\u00a0Direct quote from Don S. Staton<\/p>\n [3]<\/a>\u00a0Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, \u201cHow To Read A Book\u201d, 32-35.<\/p>\n