“Reading well, which means reading actively, is thus not only a good in itself, nor is it merely a means to advancement in our work or career. It also serves to keep our minds alive and growing. (P. 336)” LearningEnlightenmentReading For LifeReading For UndertandingReading Actively Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“No matter how quickly he reads, he will not be better off if, as is too often true, he does not know what he is looking for and does not know when he has found it.” ReadingKnowledge Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“A historical fact, though we may have a feeling of trust and solidity about the word, is one of the most elusive things in the world. [How to Read a Book (1972), P. 231]” Historical FactsElusiveness Of The RealElusiveness Of Historical Facts Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“Imaginative writings can lead to action, but they do not have to. They belong to the realm of fine art. A work of fine art is "fine" not because it is "refined," but because it is an end (finis, Latin, means end) in itself. It does not move toward some result beyond itself. It is, as Emerson said of beauty, its own excuse for being.” Fine Art Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“One reason why fiction is a human necessity is that it satisfies many unconscious as well as conscious needs. It would be important if it only touched the conscious mind, as expository writing does. But fiction is important, too, because it also touches the unconscious. [How to Read a Book (1972), P. 215]” Reading FictionHuman NecessityUnconscious Needs Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“[...two main divisions of philosophy.] The questions in the first group, the questions about being and becoming, have to do with what is or happens in the world. Such questions belong to the division of philosophy that is called theoretical or speculative. The questions in the second group, the questions concerning good and evil, or right and wrong, have to do with what ought to be done or sought, and they belong to the division of philosophy that is sometimes called practical, and is more accurately called normative. [How to Read a Book (1972), P. 268]” Practical PhilosophySpeculative PhilosophyReading PhilosophyNormative PhilosophyTheoretical Philosophy Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“History is the story of what led up to now. It is the present that interests us—that and the future. The future will be partly determined by the present. Thus, you can learn something about the future, too, from a historian, even from one who like Thucydides lived more than two thousand years ago. Let us sum up these two suggestions for reading history. The first is: if you can, read more than one history of an event or period that interests you. The second is: read a history not only to learn what really happened at a particular time and place in the past, but also to learn the way men act in all times and places, especially now. [How to Read a Book (1972), P. 236]” Reading HistoryLessons From HistoryThucydides Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“We have already remarked that the great scientific books are in many ways easier to read than non-scientific ones, because of the care with which scientific authors help you to come to terms, identify the key propositions, and state the main arguments. These helps are absent from poetical works, and so in the long run they are quite likely to be the hardest, the most demanding, books that you can read. Homer, for example, is in many ways harder to read than Newton, despite the fact that you may get more out of Homer the first time through. The reason is that Homer deals with subjects that are harder to write well about. (P. 331)” PoetryNewtonHomerHow To ReadScientific Books Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“We have already quoted Basil Willey on the difficulty—and the importance—of discovering the hidden and unstated assumptions of an author, to say nothing of our own. This goes for any book. It applies to works in philosophy with particular force. [How to Read a Book (1972), P. 280]” Reading PhilosophyHidden AssumptionsUnstated Assumptions Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren
“Read the poem through again—but read it out loud. We have suggested this before, in the case of poetic dramas like Shakespeare's. There it was helpful; here it is essential. You will find, as you read the poem out loud, that the very act of speaking the words forces you to understand them better. You cannot glide over a misunderstood phrase or line quite so easily if you are speaking it. Your ear is offended by a misplaced emphasis that your eyes might miss. And the rhythm of the poem, and its rhymes, if it has them, will help you to understand by making you place the emphasis where it belongs. [How to Read a Book (1972), P. 224]” Reading PoetryReading PoemsRead It Aloud Author:Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren