Dakota Beacon

Serious reading is not for everyone and it certainly is not for the undisciplined person. The more serious the reading challenge, the more discipline required. In the age of distractions where TV, smart phones and the internet compete for attention, reading discipline becomes the first casualty

Why read at all? Reading is a solitary (not lonely) act allowing a person to interact with thoughts and ideas of other minds.

For the most part, people read for recreation. As such, books become great companions. Even so, some people read to gather information on a particular topic. However, this type of reading involves a bit more skill than the common recreational riffler.

Acquiring sound, general knowledge and a knowledge of ultimate things comprises the realm of serious reading. It is a fortunate generation that produces one or two great minds. Our chance of meeting one of these great minds is nil. Nevertheless, it is possible to be taught by the greatest minds that ever lived by reading their books.

Every serious reader’s library should contain a copy of “How to Read a Book” by the late Mortimer J. Adler (1902-2001), educator, philosopher and author from the University of Chicago. His book remains a classic on the fine art of reading.

Adler is more concerned with serious reading than reading for entertainment. Reading, as he defines it, is “the process whereby a mind...elevates itself by the power of its own operations. The mind passes from understanding less to understanding more. Skilled operations that cause this to happen constitute the art of reading.”

Dr. Adler identifies four levels of reading. In elementary reading a person passes from non-literacy to beginning literacy. The second level is inspectional reading. At this level, a given amount of material is covered in a set amount of time. The objective is to examine a book concisely. The third level, analytical reading, involves the best and most complete reading possible in an unlimited amount of time. This level of reading obtains a deeper understanding. Finally, the highest level of reading is the most complex and systematic type of reading. Few people attain this level. Dr. Adler refers to this as syntopical reading. A reader reads many books and places them in relation to one another and to a subject around which they revolve.

Adler is not the only writer to encourage serious reading. Yale University professor Harold Bloom reached the same conclusion and pursues this theme in his book “How to Read and Why.” This volume should be of interest to the casual reader and bibliophile, alike.

Want to expand your enthusiasm for reading and your reading repertoire? Do so by dipping into a few of the following volumes for encouragement.

“How To Read Slowly: A Christian Guide to Reading with the Mind” by James W. Sire makes the case for reading with reflection to enhance enjoyment and gain a return on time invested. His book contains practical chapters on how to read fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

“The Practice of Reading” by Denis Donoghue offers something more esoteric. His elegant book discusses the importance of reading texts closely and imaginatively in order to derive a satisfying interpretation. In doing so, he demonstrates what serious reading entails.

“Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs To Know” by E. D. Hirsch, Jr. demonstrates that good teaching is not possible unless teachers can count on students sharing a body of fact and tradition. This is a book about building a foundation of common knowledge through reading that further enables students to understand what they read.

Fr. James V. Schall, S. J., wrote an odd book about books and reading when he penned “Another Sort of Learning.” He proceeds on the basis that many students and adults alike have never learned to raise, much less answer, the great questions, the ultimate questions, of life. To learn is a verb, and its object is truth.

Another odd but useful book is “A History of Reading” by Alberto Manguel. This is a light but informative work exploring the answer to the question: who shall be the master, the writer or the reader? If book collecting is “the gentle madness,” then Manguel would contend that reading those books is the most civilized of passions.

It is one thing to read. It is quite another to read well. Take time, or make time, to hone reading skills and discipline. Whether reading seriously or for pleasure there is no better time than the luxurious days of summer to revive the art of reading and to lose one’s self in a book.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).