How to read a book (for real)

Distilling Books - Number 18

Welcome to Mental Garden. The following letter is part of our “Distilling Books” collection, in which we extract the most revealing ideas from literature. For the complete library, click here.

🏷️ Categories: Learning, Literature.

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Reading is easy. Reading well, not so much.

Most people flip pages. Few squeeze meaning out of every line. This letter is for those who want every reading to count. For those who suspect that reading can be more than entertainment: it can be a transformative practice.

We’re going to analyze Adler and van Doren’s method, in their book How to Read a Book.

If you apply what you’ll read here, your way of reading (and thinking) will change forever.

The book distinguishes 4 levels of reading, each more advanced than the previous one:

• Elementary Reading (for entertainment).

• Inspectional Reading (for information).

• Analytical Reading (for understanding).

• Syntopical Reading (for mastery).

In elementary school you learned to read for entertainment. In high school and college, to gather information. That’s where most people stop, but the real value of many readings is only achieved if you master the last two levels. This doesn’t mean reading everything in the same way.

Your effort should reflect the complexity of the text.

A romance novel, a legal contract, a Wikipedia article, and a philosophical essay are not the same. If you don’t master the 4 levels, you’ll lose a huge potential.

Let’s begin…

1. Elementary Reading (for entertainment)

This is the elementary school level. If you’re reading this, you already know how to do it. We’ll skip it.

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2. Inspectional Reading (for information)

99% of people start a book on the first page. Mistake.

Adler proposes starting with inspectional reading. Why? Because not every book deserves your time and effort. Inspectional reading is a quick general overview. The goal is simple: evaluate whether the book is worth it or not.

Here’s a list of things to pay attention to:

• Examine the table of contents: What arguments or content does it cover?

• Read the introduction and the conclusion. What is the author trying to prove?

• Skim chapters: Is it dense enough? Repetitive? New to you?

• Ask yourself now: Does this book deserve my time and energy?

Reading without inspection is like investing in a company without checking its numbers. You need to filter. Value your time—it’s a limited resource.

If the book is worth it, move on to the next level.

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3. Analytical Reading (for understanding)

Remember: Many books deserve to be tried, very few deserve to be devoured.

Analytical reading is the process of chewing and digesting a book of high value. It’s the most active and rigorous reading you can do, with the goal of deeply understanding its content.

Follow these 3 steps at the end of each chapter:

• Terms: Make a list of all the new terms you didn’t know that the author mentions. Study them to understand them before continuing.

• Arguments: What does the author claim? How does he reach those conclusions? Is there logic? What evidence is used? Is the evidence weak, outdated, or misinformed? Is it just opinion?

• Resolution: Does the author achieve what they set out to do? What remains unresolved?

For this level, the authors don’t mention any specific procedure, so I recommend using Step 2 of the Root Method. That way you’ll learn and remember effortlessly everything you come across as you read.

Analytical reading turns the reader into a thinker—but you can go one step further…

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4. Syntopical Reading (for mastery)

Here’s where the reader becomes a researcher.

This is the most challenging reading, but also the most powerful. You’re not trying to understand a single book, you’re trying to understand an entire subject through multiple authors and disciplines. Here you’re no longer just grasping other people’s ideas—you’re building your own vision.

Most people never reach this stage because of intellectual laziness. Don’t be like most people.

How to do syntopical reading?

• Formulate your question: “How do you write a science fiction novel?” or “How does memory work at the brain level?” The question must be specific. Notice how both examples narrow the scope: “science fiction,” “at the brain level.”

• Select sources: Use inspectional reading to choose books, articles, and diverse sources—even contradictory ones. That friction is part of the process.

• Extract relevant passages: Through inspectional reading, pull out passages from each source that answer your question.

• Translate terms: Each author has their own language. Establish equivalent terms so you can compare across sources.

• Look for agreement: What do all texts have in common?

• Look for disagreement: Where does each author differ?

• Make your synthesis: Connect dots, find patterns, build your own vision.

Syntopical reading is the domain of the independent thinker. It’s not enough to read more. You need to read better. And above all, read with questions on the table.

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5. Adler and van Doren’s Note-Taking System

Reading without taking notes is like training without recording your progress. There’s no tracking. No improvement, because you don’t see your mistakes. You need control over the information.

Here’s the system the authors propose for taking notes while reading:

1. Underline: Use it to highlight key phrases.

2. Vertical line in the margin: Use it to highlight long paragraphs or passages.

3. Asterisk on a word: Mark terms you didn’t know.

4. Numbers in the margin: Help track the logical sequence of the argument.

5. Marginal notes: Add questions, reflections, or objections.

6. Personal index: Write one on the inside cover or first page, listing the 5 elements above so you can quickly jump to the exact page. This saves tons of time in future rereads.

The key isn’t just reading and moving on forever, but building an external memory you can revisit, connect, and use later.

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Reading Slowly Is an Act of Resistance

In today’s age of constant distraction and information overload, reading slowly and deeply is an act of resistance. Few books deserve this effort—the authors themselves stress this—but the ones that do can change your life.

Make every reading a conversation with the author, not just content consumption. Make every page an opportunity to think.

Next time you read a book, ask yourself: Am I willing to let this book change me?

✍️ Your turn: What was the last book that truly challenged you intellectually? What do you do while reading books? How do you make the most of them?

💭 Quote of the day: “You should seek out the few books that may have great value for you. They are the books that will teach you the most. They are the books you will want to return to again and again. They are the books that will help you grow.” — Adler & van Doren, How to Read a Book.

See you next time! 👋

References 📚

1. Adler, M. J. & van Doren, C. (1972). How to Read a Book: The Art of Getting a Liberal Education.