![\"Road](\"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Road-Runner-300x225.jpg\")
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I thought\u00a0it was interesting that the first book of the required reading was a book dealing with “speed<\/em><\/strong>” and comprehension. Understandably the book was “How to Read a Book<\/em><\/strong>” by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, but I thought that was a given. \u00a0Yet as I delved into the pages, at not quite snails pace, something was hoping to glean every tidbit that would be helpful as we began this DMin journey.<\/p>\n Adler deals with a necessary tension that is needed between the author and the reader.\u00a0 He likens it the game of baseball and the various positions on the field.\u00a0 \u201cCatching the ball is just as much an activity as pitching or hitting it.\u00a0 The pitcher or batter is the sender in the sense that his activity initiates the motion of the ball.\u00a0 The catcher or fielder is the receiver in the sense that his activity terminates it.\u00a0 Both are active, though the activities are different.\u201d[1]<\/a>\u00a0 Proper reading is active and not passive.<\/p>\n I had taken a speed reading class many years ago.\u00a0\u00a0 The emphasis was on the eye movement and scanning.\u00a0\u00a0 Adler does not disagree but takes it another couple steps up.\u00a0 A large amount of emphasis is placed on locating the important words, or words that seem to make a difference.\u00a0 His next major step is to dissect both the book and the author.<\/p>\n Dissecting the book is the task of classifying the book to what particular kind and subject matter that will be dealt with.\u00a0 By scanning the cover notes, contents page, introduction and conclusion one should find and discover a brief content overview. \u00a0As Adler alluded said that most people do not even pay attention to these portions of the books they read.<\/p>\n Dissecting the author is a bit different.\u00a0 Adler refers to coming to terms with the author.\u00a0 Is the author competent and are they offering a solution that is discoverable within the book?\u00a0 Adler promotes getting to \u201cknow\u201d the author while reading and enter into a mental bantering and conversation that is taking place with the author as you read.<\/p>\n Reading is more than the regurgitations of word for word from the author.\u00a0 It is gaining the insight in a way that \u201cyour\u201d words become paramount over the author.\u00a0 Reading a book for all that its worth is active, challenging, thought provoking, and even life changing.\u00a0 Adler speaking of the success of the great writers in history was because they had mastered the books they read, \u201cthey became peers with their authors\u201d.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n Sometimes the compulsion of anal retentive or OCD kicks in and I may want to read every single word.\u00a0\u00a0 But after jumping into this book there seems to be a deeper conviction to explore both what is on the page and the who that put it there.\u00a0 This leads to two terms that Adler uses throughout the book, inspectional reading and analytical reading.<\/p>\n After all is said and done the book challenged me to read with a different twist.\u00a0 Speed becomes evident when coupled with the right tools of the trade.\u00a0 Now where will Roadrunner be looking next?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n