CONTENTS
Preface
PART ONE THE DIMENSIONS OF READING
1. The Activity and Art of Reading
Active Reading The Goals of Reading: Reading for Information and Reading for Understanding Reading as Learning: The Difference Between Learning by Instruction and Learning by Discovery Present and Absent Teachers
2. The Levels of Reading
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
4. The Second Level of Reading: Inspectional Reading
Inspectional Reading I Systematic Skimming or Prereading Inspectional Reading II: Superficial Reading On Reading Speeds Fixations and Regressions The Problem of Comprehension Summary of Inspectional Reading
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
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
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
8. Coming to Terms with an Author
Words vs. Terms Finding the Key Words Technical Words and Special Vocabularies Finding the Meanings
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
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
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
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
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?
14. How to Read Imaginative Literature
How Not to Read Imaginative Literature General Rules for Reading Imaginative Literature
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
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
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
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
19. How 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
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
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