How to Read a Book cover art

How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

$8.99/mo after trial ends. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
Compare plans

How to Read a Book

By: Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren
Narrated by: David Tredinnick
Try for $0.00

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $24.06

Buy Now for $24.06

Season's Savings | $0.99/mo for 3 months

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo. after 3 months - terms apply.
With more than half a million copies in print worldwide and now in this stunning hardback edition, How to Read a Book is the classic and definitive guide to reading comprehension for students of literature, scholars across disciplines, and anyone who just loves to read.

Originally written in 1940 and first published by Simon & Schuster in 1972, How to Read a Book introduces and elucidates the various levels of reading and how to achieve them in order to gain the most understanding and insight from any book. From elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading and beyond, readers will learn when and how to ‘judge a book by its cover,’ perceive structure no matter the prose, read critically, and extract an author’s message from any text.

Also included are specific reading techniques that work best for particular genres, whether they be practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy or social science works. A recommended reading list and multiple reading comprehension tests are incorporated as well in order to measure progress in reading skills, speed, and understanding.

As poignant and applicable today as it was on first publication, this beautiful, special hardcover edition is the perfect way for new readers to pick up How to Read a Book and for dedicated fans to rediscover this rare phenomenon, the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension.
Literary History & Criticism Philosophy Words, Language & Grammar Mathematics
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic Reviews

‘It shows concretely how the serious work of proper reading may be accomplished and how much it may yield in the way of instruction and delight.’
‘These four hundred pages are packed full of high matters which no one solicitous of the future of American culture can afford to overlook.’ (Jacques Barzun, historian)
‘“There is the book; and here is your mind.” Adler and Van Doren’s suggestions on how to connect the two will make you nostalgic for a slower, more earnest, less trivial time.’ (Anne Fadiman, essayist)
All stars
Most relevant
I like books but sometimes they confused to no end. This book on the other hand really help me understand them. So I'm really glade I read it.

How to read books and prevent confusion.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.