Analytical Reading

A form of reading discussed in 📕 How to Read a Book.

Analytical reading is chewing on a books content until you can fully digest it’s contents and they become a part of you. Through this you become a peer with the author. This is mastery of a single book. Syntopical Reading is mastery of a subject.

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” – Francis Bacon

Steps for Analytical Reading

1. Understanding What the Book is About
   1. Classify the book by its type and subject.
   2. Summarize the entire book briefly.
   3. Break down the main sections and outline them.
   4. Identify the problems the author aims to solve.
2. Interpreting the Book’s Contents
   1. Understand the author’s key terms.
   2. Identify the main ideas from important sentences.
   3. Follow and understand the author’s arguments.
   4. Determine which problems the author has solved and which remain unsolved.
3. Critiquing the Book as Knowledge
   • General Guidelines
     • Don’t criticize until you fully understand the book.
     • Criticize fairly, not just to argue.
     • Base your critique on solid reasoning, not just opinion.
   • Specific Criticism Points
     • Point out where the author lacks information.
     • Highlight where the author is incorrect.
     • Identify any logical flaws.
     • Note if the analysis is incomplete.

The Demanding Reader’s 4 Questions

1. What is the book about as a whole?
2. What is being said in detail? How?
3. Is the book true, in whole or in part?
4. Why does this matter? What next?

See: The Demanding Reader