How to Read A Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren

This is one of my most treasured non-fictions. I started reading this a few months ago, and then put it back on the shelf right at the waiting area for when I am a bit more relieved from the hecticness of the semester.

I don't feel fit to comment on this book, but it definitely had taught me a lot. There are actually practical ways of making reading effective, ways which we can certainly understand but always forget to do. The book enlightens us on the things to do before we read, as we begin reading, throughout the read, and after reading. Yes, giving a tribute to the books that we read is part and parcel of the reading process, I found that out through this book.

There are times when I felt scolded reading the lines, and some other times when I feel as if I'm given a hug, a pat on the shoulder, "Yep, you did that right," "Yes, that's the way we do it," because the book communicates these information in a way as if we're talking to a teacher, who teaches us how to read. At least that was how I feel.

Among my favourite newly learned lessons from this book are;

1. Read consciously, inquisitively, and humbly. 

If we intend to learn from the books we read, these 3 are the essential keys to eventually learn from them. Because the rules laid out in this book all revolve around these three characteristics of a reader. And the author explained this very well, that we are eventually persuaded to transform ourselves into just that kind of a reader.

2. That one of the ways to honour a book is by reviewing it in the end. 

Do we always agree with what it says, or should the book have said this instead of that? Criticisms and judgments are fair ways of thanking the author for their book, but one must always be reminded that this is only fair after we've actually given the book a read, only after we've given the book the chance to prove it's worth, only when we have attempted our best to understand it. And it amazed me how true this is, and how relevant this rule is, not only in reading books, but also in many aspects of our daily lives.