Idea 59: Reading in depth
A good book is the lifeblood of a master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up for a life beyond life.
John Milton, English poet
Some articles, reports or books merit both careful reading and reflective thinking. They are literally food for thought.
Ask yourself
- Am I clear about my purpose in reading any piece of writing with this depth of interest and attention?
- Have I some definite questions in mind that I am seeking to answer?
- Are they the right questions?
- Do I continually ask myself questions as I read to stay focused on the subject?
- Do I read to glean the main ideas? Can I identify the main idea in each chapter, and the contributing ideas in each section and each paragraph?
- Do I critically test the evidence, explanations, examples and other detail offered as grounds for the writer’s case?
- Do I have suitable methods of making notes or recording what I learn or can use?
- Do I match or compare the writer’s experience with my own? If so, does my experience lend weight to the writer’s conclusions?
- Is any of it worth reading again (now or later on)?
- Should I discuss the material with anyone? (Who? Why? When? How? What?)
‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.’