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Matt Carvalho asked this question about How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading:
Is reading this really worth it? I've started but it's so boring and don't bring much to the table. Will this book really change something on my reading life? It seems it's only stuff I know covered up by beautiful words and tiresome repetitions.
Jignesh Darji Yes, this book is worth it. Yes, this book will change a lot on your reading.

This book was written in a very different time where authors like to tal…moreYes, this book is worth it. Yes, this book will change a lot on your reading.

This book was written in a very different time where authors like to talk too much and convey too little. Author has filled it with sound advice wrapped in a lot of criticism of the education system and approach to education and reading. To really learn from the book, you'll need to see past the rhetoric.

How to go about reading this book if you find it too boring, and/or repetitive:
- Look at the outline - understand the structure of the book and draw the big picture.
- Read a summary of the levels of reading the author mentions (Elementary, Inspectional, Analytical, and Syntopical) and the steps to achieve each level. The book is about these 4 levels and how to achieve them. That's all. If you know this, you can skip all the rhetoric and finish the book really quickly while still taking-in all that the author wanted to convey.

I hope this will be of some help. (less)
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How to Read a Book
by Mortimer J. Adler
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