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A review by asipofcozy
How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Charles Van Doren, Mortimer J. Adler
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
So that book was a thing. When going into this book, I really thought it would give me more insight into better ways of analyzing literature (especially non-fiction and classics). And while in some cases I did receive a few new ideas, many of the tips and examples given were things I was already taught in university or in my literary classes in secondary. However, this book has far more issues than just the fact that the information is outdated (given this book was revised twice and republished in 2014 - why the info was not updated is beyond me).
My issues with How to Read a Book
IGNORANCE
1. While I have to keep in mind this book was written in the 40's and revised in the 70's - the blatant elitism and white views are prominent. Adler makes a blatant statement that American's have ALWAYS - since "national existence" as he puts it - supported education ALL it's citizens...well that is a blatant lie and we know it's not true. So he must only be refer to the white citizens and not those of color.
2. Adler includes only Western literature and states that he didn't include any Eastern literature because there was no tradition/ great book to read...where is the evidence in this. In 2022 we have a number of Eastern classics that are working their way into university curriculum. Also, how blind and ignorant must you be to just ignore potential other scholars that may have helped in this category. You make all these rules on reading but won't educate yourself on other literature outside of Western culture?
ASSUMPTIONS
1. Adler makes the statement that most readers are still at a elementary reading level and have never reached an analytical reading state. Yet, he assumes that all these readers have read Homer's Illiad or Joyce's Ulysses. Of course if you read them in school and didn't understand them...you are not a good reader.
2. Adler also states that those that can't read well - his definition of reading well - weren't educated properly and it's a personal matter that they can't read "correctly". So this information is A) outdated in 2022 and B) assumes it was a personal choice to not learn how to read good books. We have enough evidence to show that higher classed citizens (especially then) had easier access to literature than those of a lower class.
3. Adler ignores a complete demographic. This book truly targets those in a higher class or those that have access to better education then others.
RELEVANCE
1. As of 2022 this book is not relevant for multiple reasons:
- many of the points given, while may help university students, is not easily applicable to ALL literature as Adler continuously tries to prove.
- there are outdated statistics / information given that lead to an inaccurate representation of literacy rates today.
- the few chapters dedicated to "fiction" or "imaginary literature" are really not relevant today and don't assist in any new insights to reading this genre.
2. Many education statements / access to literature is outdated as we have seen the struggle of affording education in 2022 and the decline in literacy is largely due to access to education both secondary and university.
3. For a book that was revised in the 70's it kept the morals and past-prejudice thinking within it's structure.
I am not saying you shouldn't attempt to read this book. I believe there are some tips that may help University students learn how to read analytically. However, I do believe some of the statements made, the tips given, and the big list of "good" books to read need to be taken with a grain of salt and looked at as outdated.
My issues with How to Read a Book
IGNORANCE
1. While I have to keep in mind this book was written in the 40's and revised in the 70's - the blatant elitism and white views are prominent. Adler makes a blatant statement that American's have ALWAYS - since "national existence" as he puts it - supported education ALL it's citizens...well that is a blatant lie and we know it's not true. So he must only be refer to the white citizens and not those of color.
2. Adler includes only Western literature and states that he didn't include any Eastern literature because there was no tradition/ great book to read...where is the evidence in this. In 2022 we have a number of Eastern classics that are working their way into university curriculum. Also, how blind and ignorant must you be to just ignore potential other scholars that may have helped in this category. You make all these rules on reading but won't educate yourself on other literature outside of Western culture?
ASSUMPTIONS
1. Adler makes the statement that most readers are still at a elementary reading level and have never reached an analytical reading state. Yet, he assumes that all these readers have read Homer's Illiad or Joyce's Ulysses. Of course if you read them in school and didn't understand them...you are not a good reader.
2. Adler also states that those that can't read well - his definition of reading well - weren't educated properly and it's a personal matter that they can't read "correctly". So this information is A) outdated in 2022 and B) assumes it was a personal choice to not learn how to read good books. We have enough evidence to show that higher classed citizens (especially then) had easier access to literature than those of a lower class.
3. Adler ignores a complete demographic. This book truly targets those in a higher class or those that have access to better education then others.
RELEVANCE
1. As of 2022 this book is not relevant for multiple reasons:
- many of the points given, while may help university students, is not easily applicable to ALL literature as Adler continuously tries to prove.
- there are outdated statistics / information given that lead to an inaccurate representation of literacy rates today.
- the few chapters dedicated to "fiction" or "imaginary literature" are really not relevant today and don't assist in any new insights to reading this genre.
2. Many education statements / access to literature is outdated as we have seen the struggle of affording education in 2022 and the decline in literacy is largely due to access to education both secondary and university.
3. For a book that was revised in the 70's it kept the morals and past-prejudice thinking within it's structure.
I am not saying you shouldn't attempt to read this book. I believe there are some tips that may help University students learn how to read analytically. However, I do believe some of the statements made, the tips given, and the big list of "good" books to read need to be taken with a grain of salt and looked at as outdated.