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The Intelligent Reader’s Guide To Reading: How To Read A Book The Right Way For Stronger Comprehension And Better Recall
Why do I need to read or remember anything? Everything I could possibly want to know is on the Internet.A great book or idea is only as good as the person who remembers it. How many times have you been excited to share something you read, only to have the concepts slip away from you like an elusive morning mist?
Being thrilled to learn something new is natural. Unfortunately, so is forgetting. The scientifically plotted rate at which you’re expected to do this is called the Forgetting Curve.
German psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus, came up with the concept in the 19th century to describe the increasing rate at which we lose information once we don’t make the effort to retain it.
More recently, neuroscientists, Jaap Murre and Joeri Dros, were able to replicate Ebbinghaus findings, confirming that the steepest drop occurs within 24 hours of us reading or learning something new.
You may tell yourself you don’t have a good memory, therefore it’s hopeless. You’ll forget no matter what you do. However, remembering what you read goes beyond your memory.
There are core skills you need that will support, even augment your memory. The correct way to read is one. The ability to critically assess and understand what you read is another.
This book will teach you all of this and more. Here are some of the things you will
Why reading books is a must-have component in the digital age (and how to make it a lifelong habit that will change your life forever)How to shift from passive to active reading, and how to avoid the traps that keep most people stuck in the formerThe four game-changing techniques that will take your reading skills to the next level and help you read smarter, not harderThe real way to remember more (do this to absorb knowledge like a sponge)Why one size does not fit all when reading different subjects and how to alter your approach to become an expert in any fieldThis one trick that helps you explain and apply your newfound knowledge to real-world situations, not just remember what you’ve readThe surprising connection between your vocabulary and your understanding (this is key to unlock your full potential as a self-learner!)How to ask a book questions (and get the answers you want)… and much, much more.
Become a more discerning, better-informed reader.
This book gets to the heart of the matter, telling you within the first few pages how to begin retaining more of what you read. It supplements this with follow-up exercises to cement what you learn.
If you want to be the person that everyone goes to when they want to understand difficult topics and complex ideas, click “Add to Cart” right now!
Being thrilled to learn something new is natural. Unfortunately, so is forgetting. The scientifically plotted rate at which you’re expected to do this is called the Forgetting Curve.
German psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus, came up with the concept in the 19th century to describe the increasing rate at which we lose information once we don’t make the effort to retain it.
More recently, neuroscientists, Jaap Murre and Joeri Dros, were able to replicate Ebbinghaus findings, confirming that the steepest drop occurs within 24 hours of us reading or learning something new.
You may tell yourself you don’t have a good memory, therefore it’s hopeless. You’ll forget no matter what you do. However, remembering what you read goes beyond your memory.
There are core skills you need that will support, even augment your memory. The correct way to read is one. The ability to critically assess and understand what you read is another.
This book will teach you all of this and more. Here are some of the things you will
Why reading books is a must-have component in the digital age (and how to make it a lifelong habit that will change your life forever)How to shift from passive to active reading, and how to avoid the traps that keep most people stuck in the formerThe four game-changing techniques that will take your reading skills to the next level and help you read smarter, not harderThe real way to remember more (do this to absorb knowledge like a sponge)Why one size does not fit all when reading different subjects and how to alter your approach to become an expert in any fieldThis one trick that helps you explain and apply your newfound knowledge to real-world situations, not just remember what you’ve readThe surprising connection between your vocabulary and your understanding (this is key to unlock your full potential as a self-learner!)How to ask a book questions (and get the answers you want)… and much, much more.
Become a more discerning, better-informed reader.
This book gets to the heart of the matter, telling you within the first few pages how to begin retaining more of what you read. It supplements this with follow-up exercises to cement what you learn.
If you want to be the person that everyone goes to when they want to understand difficult topics and complex ideas, click “Add to Cart” right now!
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2023
484 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 26, 2023
Best set of Strategies
This is by far the best set of tools and strategies that I’ve read on improving reading. This is what I wished had been taught in Junior High. I’ve learned them by trial and error and see how they all fit together.
This is by far the best set of tools and strategies that I’ve read on improving reading. This is what I wished had been taught in Junior High. I’ve learned them by trial and error and see how they all fit together.
July 9, 2023
Good strategies but boring
March 27, 2023
Learn about different ways to read.
I have been reading for numerous years never imagined there was different ways to read, very interesting concepts that were brought out about not one but three different styles of reading. This book will help all to gain more out of their reading.
I have been reading for numerous years never imagined there was different ways to read, very interesting concepts that were brought out about not one but three different styles of reading. This book will help all to gain more out of their reading.
August 13, 2023
This book is a good resource for the modern day person who wants to improve their reading skills. I still prefer Dr. Mortimer Adler's "How to Read a Book", but this book beautifully encompasses all the golden nuggets of other "How to Read a Book" books.
November 30, 2023
Useful guide on reading with a clear focus on improved retention, which sets it apart from other reading manuals mainly geared towards speed reading. For other excellent reading guides see (and (speed)read):
Speed Read Anything: How to Read a Book a Day With Better Retention Than Ever
Speed Reading: A Little-Known Time-Saving Superpower
Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human Invention
Into the Woods: A Five Act Journey Into Story
Speed Read Anything: How to Read a Book a Day With Better Retention Than Ever
Speed Reading: A Little-Known Time-Saving Superpower
Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human Invention
Into the Woods: A Five Act Journey Into Story
October 28, 2025
The Intelligent Reader’s Guide to Reading does provide some helpful tips on approaching books with greater depth and structure, but for me, it felt very familiar. If you’ve read How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, much of the content here comes across as a near duplicate. The methods of inspectional reading, analytical reading, and deeper engagement with a text are valuable, but they are already well covered in the earlier classics.
For someone new to the subject who has never encountered Adler and Van Doren’s work, this guide could serve as a straightforward entry point. For experienced readers or those already familiar with How to Read a Book, it may not add much that feels fresh or original. Helpful overall, but not especially distinctive.
Solid Overview, Too Similar to Earlier Classics
For someone new to the subject who has never encountered Adler and Van Doren’s work, this guide could serve as a straightforward entry point. For experienced readers or those already familiar with How to Read a Book, it may not add much that feels fresh or original. Helpful overall, but not especially distinctive.
Solid Overview, Too Similar to Earlier Classics
April 1, 2025
*2.9
書本身的主題是現代人很需要深思的：在一個隨時隨地都可以從網路上找答案的時代，閱讀有什麼用嗎？要如何閱讀才能把所讀的內容吸收進去？
重點：
- 閱讀有不同的層次，1) 基礎閱讀、2) 檢視閱讀、3) 分析閱讀、4) 主題閱讀。要知道什麼場合用哪種。
- 2) 檢視閱讀：第一，先系統化的檢視書名、作者資格、寫作背景、寫書動機、目錄、出版時間等。第二，粗淺的閱讀前序跟你有興趣的章節或重點。
- 3) 分析閱讀：分析書的架構（可看看目錄是怎麼把這麼多的資訊整理的）、讀完/懂後評判書的內容。
- 要學習成為一個主動的讀者，跟作者或其他讀者對話、討論，不要把看到的東西全盤接受，要與自己的生活做連結。
- 若想記得自己讀了什麼內容，需要輸出，比如跟朋友討論、寫書評，總之就是把書內化為你自己的。
很可惜的，翻譯翻的有點僵硬，比如說："... it must be that ..." 翻成了「必須」，但應該「必然」比較適合。雖然我不會要求原文的意思要完美的翻譯，但有時候實在讓我難懂原作者在講什麼。有些部分原作者截了其他書、報導、或作文，當成例子，但翻譯成中文後並沒有辦法達到原作者的目的，譯者也沒有多加用括號說明或補充。所以如果讀者語言能力好，我會建議讀原文的。
原作者的寫書架構我覺得有時候也分了太多步驟，可以再統整跟簡化一點。
書本身的主題是現代人很需要深思的：在一個隨時隨地都可以從網路上找答案的時代，閱讀有什麼用嗎？要如何閱讀才能把所讀的內容吸收進去？
重點：
- 閱讀有不同的層次，1) 基礎閱讀、2) 檢視閱讀、3) 分析閱讀、4) 主題閱讀。要知道什麼場合用哪種。
- 2) 檢視閱讀：第一，先系統化的檢視書名、作者資格、寫作背景、寫書動機、目錄、出版時間等。第二，粗淺的閱讀前序跟你有興趣的章節或重點。
- 3) 分析閱讀：分析書的架構（可看看目錄是怎麼把這麼多的資訊整理的）、讀完/懂後評判書的內容。
- 要學習成為一個主動的讀者，跟作者或其他讀者對話、討論，不要把看到的東西全盤接受，要與自己的生活做連結。
- 若想記得自己讀了什麼內容，需要輸出，比如跟朋友討論、寫書評，總之就是把書內化為你自己的。
很可惜的，翻譯翻的有點僵硬，比如說："... it must be that ..." 翻成了「必須」，但應該「必然」比較適合。雖然我不會要求原文的意思要完美的翻譯，但有時候實在讓我難懂原作者在講什麼。有些部分原作者截了其他書、報導、或作文，當成例子，但翻譯成中文後並沒有辦法達到原作者的目的，譯者也沒有多加用括號說明或補充。所以如果讀者語言能力好，我會建議讀原文的。
原作者的寫書架構我覺得有時候也分了太多步驟，可以再統整跟簡化一點。
August 14, 2023
A Bit Overwritten - Bogged Down in Details But Helpful
I wanted to read on the leaves of a law student or Med student but apply the skills to engineering and software programming. It was a chore to get through the many stories to get to what was useful. There were moments where the reading interfered with my normal studies. The book was useful but seems overwritten with filler that made reading it longer than it should. It’s better than “How to Read A Book” by Adler
I wanted to read on the leaves of a law student or Med student but apply the skills to engineering and software programming. It was a chore to get through the many stories to get to what was useful. There were moments where the reading interfered with my normal studies. The book was useful but seems overwritten with filler that made reading it longer than it should. It’s better than “How to Read A Book” by Adler
November 14, 2023
Guidelines for Readers
Once, I was a reader who reads many books cover to cover for sake of reading. My reading improved with help of many guides but this is the one given me a precise guidelines. Thanks
Once, I was a reader who reads many books cover to cover for sake of reading. My reading improved with help of many guides but this is the one given me a precise guidelines. Thanks
March 10, 2025
This is my first strategic book on how to effectively read and learn from a book. Although some practical steps may be familiar to you or already applied for effective reading, it is structured clearly and is easy to follow, allowing you to apply the techniques effectively.
April 6, 2023
This book was an excellent teacher of strategies to get more out of the reading of books.
I recommend it.
I recommend it.
September 8, 2023
Much meh, mind meandered.
November 25, 2023
my review
The books analyzes various categories of reading. It recommends the different methods for reading each category depending on the readers needs and desires.
The books analyzes various categories of reading. It recommends the different methods for reading each category depending on the readers needs and desires.
October 29, 2024
No much gaining
This book do not get me any where, and didn't had a specific goal that I can pick up. That information wad all over the place making it hard to make sense of it.
This book do not get me any where, and didn't had a specific goal that I can pick up. That information wad all over the place making it hard to make sense of it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews