How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading (46 page)

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Authors: Charles van Doren

BOOK: How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
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Judging the Author's Completeness
The Third Stage of Analytical Reading
12. AIDS TO READING
The Role of Relevant Experience
Other Books as Extrinsic Aids to Reading
How to Use Commentaries and Abstracts
How to Use Reference Books
How to Use a Dictionary
How to Use an Encyclopedia

PART THREE: Approaches to Different Kinds of Reading Matter

13. HOW TO READ PRACTICAL BOOKS
The Two Kinds of Practical Books
The Role of Persuasion
What Does Agreement Entail in the Case of a Practical Book?
14. HOW TO READ IMAGINATIVE LITERATURE
How Not to Read Imaginative Literature
General Rules for Reading Imaginative Literature
15. SUGGESTIONS FOR READING STORIES, PLAYS, AND POEMS
How to Read Stories
A Note About Epics
How to Read Plays
A Note About Tragedy
How to Read Lyric Poetry
16. HOW TO READ HISTORY
The Elusiveness of Historical Facts
Theories of History
The Universal in History
Questions to Ask of a Historical Book
How to Read Biography and Autobiography
How to Read About Current Events
A Note on Digests
17. HOW TO READ SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Understanding the Scientific Enterprise
Facing the Problem of Mathematics
Handling the Mathematics in Scientific Books
A Note on Popular Science
18. HOW TO READ PHILOSOPHY
The Questions Philosophers Ask
On Philosophical Method
On Philosophical Styles
Hints for Reading Philosophy
On Making Up Your Own Mind
A Note on Theology
How to Read "Canonical" Books
19. HOW TO READ SOCIAL SCIENCE
What Is Social Science?
The Apparent Ease of Reading Social Science
Difficulties of Reading Social Science
Reading Social Science Literature

PART FOUR: The Ultimate Goals of Reading

20.THE FOURTH LEVEL OF READING : SYNTOPICAL READING
The Role of Inspection in Syntopical Reading
The Five Steps in Syntopical Reading
The Need for Objectivity
An Example of an Exercise in Syntopical Reading : The Idea of Progress
The Syntopicon and How to Use It
On the Principles That Underlie Syntopical Reading
Summary of Syntopical Reading
21. READING AND THE GROWTH OF THE MIND
What Good Books Can Do for Us
The Pyramid of Books
The Life and Growth of the Mind

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