The Well Educated Mind-Part 4

Chapter 4-- Starting to Read: Final Preparations

• Choose a book list from part two of this book.
• Try to understand each book's basic structure and argument, then evaluate the book's assertion, and then form an opinion about the book's ideas.
• The secret to reading a difficult book is to just keep reading.
• Get the big picture, the broad sweep, the beginning, middle, and end.
• Underline, jot notes in the margins, and turn the corners of your pages down.
• Do read the title page, the copy on the back cover, and the table of contents.
• Do not read the preface unless it is written by the author or translator or you are completely befuddled at the end of chapter one.
• Don't take extensive notes on the first reading.  Instead stop at the end of each chapter to summarize in a sentence or two at the most.
• Use the journal to note questions or disagreements or agreements
• Questions should be visually different from summaries i.e. different colors/margins.
• Note page numbers
• When the first reading is done, go back and assemble your summaries into a sort of outline.
• Give the book a title and subtitle similar to the one on pg. 44.