Books How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading Authors: Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren

How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren is a timeless guide that transforms the way readers engage with written material. First published in 1940 and revised in 1972, this classic manual remains one of the most influential works on reading comprehension and intellectual development.

The book introduces a four-level framework for reading:

Elementary Reading – mastering basic literacy and understanding

Inspectional Reading – skimming and superficial analysis for quick insight

Analytical Reading – deep, structured engagement with complex texts

Syntopical Reading – comparing and synthesizing ideas across multiple works

Adler and Van Doren emphasize the importance of active reading—asking questions, identifying arguments, and evaluating evidence. They provide practical techniques for approaching different genres, including philosophy, science, history, and literature, making the book invaluable for students, educators, and lifelong learners.

The cover features a stack of books and a quote from Anne Fadiman praising the book’s earnest and thoughtful approach to reading. This visual reinforces the book’s mission: to help readers slow down, think critically, and extract meaning from every page.

For Kenyan readers committed to academic excellence, intellectual growth, or literary appreciation, How to Read a Book is a foundational resource. It’s ideal for use in study skills programs, teacher training, and personal development libraries.