In 2020, Seattle was ranked number 1(again) in a list of America's most literate cities. We know how to read. We like to read. You may think that if you know how to read, then you know how to read a book. Evidently not.
In Plymouth Library, we have a handy book titled How to read a book that will tell you just how to get the job done. The book was written by Mortimer Adler and was originally published in 1940.
Adler wrote that there are four levels of reading. First is Elementary Reading (knowing how to read). Second is Inspectional Reading or skimming (reading the preface and the blurb on the dust jacket, looking at the table of contents or the index, then dipping into the book enough to see if the book deserves your time. Third is Analytical Reading, a thorough reading. Finally, we come to Syntopical Reading, also known as comparative reading. Syntopical Reading involves reading many books on the same subject and comparing and contrasting ideas.
The goal is not to achieve an overall understanding of any particular book, but rather to understand the subject. It sounds like a lot of work, but imagine if students were taught this method in school.
As a city, and even as a country, we are still more literate than not, but what about our logical thinking skills? How are we doing, as a country, at separating fact from fake? Realizing that actions have consequences? Digging deeply into a subject? Knowing that every subject of substance is worthy of more than a tweet? Do we get an A+? A D-? There has been talk for years on the dumbing down of America. We're not quite there yet, but here are some books to read and ponder:
How to read a book/ Adler, Mortimer Jerome, 028 ADL
How to read the Bible / Cox, Harvey, 220.61 COX
Truth : how the many sides to every story shape our reality / MacDonald, Hector, 121 MAC