Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
– Francis Bacon
Reading a book seems like a simple task. You open up a book/turn on your kindle, then read. Done. And yet: it is not that simple. At least Mortimer Adler didn’t think so when he wrote a 426 page book on the subject.
I also don’t think it’s as simple as opening and reading. All sorts of books exist, and each sort of book should be read in a different sort of way. In fact, I once read an article on precisely this at Art and Interior. There are at least three categories of books: Books to Taste, Books to Be Swallowed, and Books to Be Chewed and Digested. Let’s take a look at each. [Read more…] about How to Read A Book