"How to read a book" - Notes on asking questions

As I told you earlier, I've only borrowed "How to read a book" so I can't really mark pages, underline quotes and make stars where I see them fit. So I decided to keep notes on things I find interesting while reading different books.

Since I really can't go back now and make notes on all first 50 pages, I'll just put 4 questions that needs to be asked and answered for anyone to become successful active reader.

• What us the book about as a whole?
• What us being said in detail, and how?
• Is the book true, in whole or part?
• What of it?

I know this might sound silly, but I never before thought of the last two questions as being part of active reading process. It was 3 weeks ago when I was skimming one of the books my coworker was reading that I was frustrated by how not true was what the writer was saying. Never before have I thought of it as means of my mental judgment in being and active reader. 

And of course, the last question. What happens next? Is there anything I should do based on what I have read. Is there a call to action? Do I feel I'm being changed or challenged by the book or it's author? I still need to put more thought into this, but I found it very interesting. 

And finally one quote from p. 48

"Good books are over your head, they would not be good for you if they were not. And books that are over your head weary you unless you can reach up to them and pull yourself up to their level. It is not the stretching that tires you, but the frustration of stretching unsuccessfully because you lack the skill to stretch effectively."

Take care. Read well.

Daniel

Do you read more books at once?

Not sure if you are like me, but I almost never read one book at a time. Not sure why to be honest. I guess I find myself bored if the book is advancing too slow for my taste, or is being repeated from chapter to chapter, and I guess I just can't go without reading something in the mean time. At the moment I've got at least 3 books open, the biggest one being How to read a book by M. Adler. Still have to go an make some notes so that I don't forget what I like about it.

How to read a book

Indeed this is my first hello. Thought of starting this blog as a part of my journey thru reading different books, and hopefully making some notes as I go thru them.

I reckon, first one should be "How to read a book" by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren. Completely revised and updated edition. I borrowed this one from a friend of mine, but I hope to get a copy for myself one day as well.

Only got to about page 40 today, so I still have a lot to go thru and start making notes as well. Have to figure out how to go about tagging and categorizing these posts. But that will have to wait a bit.
See ya soon I guess.

D