Dog Star Man
02-01-21, 12:26 PM
Didn't see such a thing on here, (odd, maybe I'm not searching correctly, and if I didn't feel free to close and direct this topic to the proper thread, but...) ... what books are you currently reading? Could be anything. Fiction, Non-Fiction... a comic or manga... or even an illustrated work that seems to entirely "defy" definition like the Codex: Seraphinianus... either way:
What are you reading?
How are you liking it thus far?
And, (if you've read it), what's your assessment?
I'll go first...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91Z6ApocmwL.jpg
I'm currently in the process of reading Mortimer J. Adler's How to Read a Book. Rather informative and insightful, (even in it's first publication in the 1930's). It discusses the various "types" of reading, the levels and stages, and makes a case that many are "cast" within the first level of reading—the elementary level—and that the higher levels haven't been much discussed as, with most people familiar to our American Education system—for which this book was primarily written—much of our "reading" instruction "stops" at around the sixth through ninth grades. Any further instruction in the matter being very remedial. This includes the promises of "speed reading," which again the author describes as a necessary skill, but a "remedial" one at best as the aim of "speed reading" should not be to "read every material as fast as possible," but rather aim for "varying" speeds in your readings. Reading "light/understood" material "quicker" than say reading "more dense and difficult." Adler, (knowing about him as I have a few of his philosophical works, especially involving his work in the philosophy of logic), continues to be a philosopher of the writ word with this book. And his descriptions in this expository work of the levels of reading—and their stages and "How to's" therein—are very informative, insightful, well-explained, and perhaps upon application, although I have not finished the work enough to try, would be very useful to future readings. Which, (admittedly), is why I decided to read this book in the first place.
Something I discovered along my own educational pursuits, (admittedly to informal and within the confines of being a personal-autodidact, as, at least within the American Education system—I found it sorely lacking for any intellectual or curious mind), that the going of approach from the "How's" and "Why's/Histories" of something... and then building a knowledge from such bone structure, was highly rewarding, and then the "fleshings on" from there. Example is like trying to understand English "Kitchen Sink Realism" without knowing much about the nation, the culture, and the times and histories in when it came about... and then the next problem you have seems to be how to "read" said films structurally and formatically speaking after you have ascertained more-or-less of the content they describe therein.
All this to be said, it was this curiosity—and with some background knowledge and knowing-enough-to-know I'm ill-equipped as a reader—that I pursued this work. Hopefully it provides, (as promised), more than just a "remedial" publication, but an expansion of a much needed skill.
Still reading this book and taking much time with it. I may decide to go over it again a few times, with further "goings over" submitting this work to life application.
All This Said...
What are you reading?
What are you reading?
How are you liking it thus far?
And, (if you've read it), what's your assessment?
I'll go first...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91Z6ApocmwL.jpg
I'm currently in the process of reading Mortimer J. Adler's How to Read a Book. Rather informative and insightful, (even in it's first publication in the 1930's). It discusses the various "types" of reading, the levels and stages, and makes a case that many are "cast" within the first level of reading—the elementary level—and that the higher levels haven't been much discussed as, with most people familiar to our American Education system—for which this book was primarily written—much of our "reading" instruction "stops" at around the sixth through ninth grades. Any further instruction in the matter being very remedial. This includes the promises of "speed reading," which again the author describes as a necessary skill, but a "remedial" one at best as the aim of "speed reading" should not be to "read every material as fast as possible," but rather aim for "varying" speeds in your readings. Reading "light/understood" material "quicker" than say reading "more dense and difficult." Adler, (knowing about him as I have a few of his philosophical works, especially involving his work in the philosophy of logic), continues to be a philosopher of the writ word with this book. And his descriptions in this expository work of the levels of reading—and their stages and "How to's" therein—are very informative, insightful, well-explained, and perhaps upon application, although I have not finished the work enough to try, would be very useful to future readings. Which, (admittedly), is why I decided to read this book in the first place.
Something I discovered along my own educational pursuits, (admittedly to informal and within the confines of being a personal-autodidact, as, at least within the American Education system—I found it sorely lacking for any intellectual or curious mind), that the going of approach from the "How's" and "Why's/Histories" of something... and then building a knowledge from such bone structure, was highly rewarding, and then the "fleshings on" from there. Example is like trying to understand English "Kitchen Sink Realism" without knowing much about the nation, the culture, and the times and histories in when it came about... and then the next problem you have seems to be how to "read" said films structurally and formatically speaking after you have ascertained more-or-less of the content they describe therein.
All this to be said, it was this curiosity—and with some background knowledge and knowing-enough-to-know I'm ill-equipped as a reader—that I pursued this work. Hopefully it provides, (as promised), more than just a "remedial" publication, but an expansion of a much needed skill.
Still reading this book and taking much time with it. I may decide to go over it again a few times, with further "goings over" submitting this work to life application.
All This Said...
What are you reading?