Living and Reading 561.3
One of the most insightful and useful books I’ve ever read is a small volume by Harold Kushner called Living a Life That Matters.
Today, I want to suggest ways of getting the most out of books, at least nonfiction books, which is about all I read.
Reading shouldn’t be a passive experience. If you allow yourself to be absorbed in the interaction of the author’s thoughts and your reactions, it’s like a great conversation. I know lots of people think it’s a sin to mark up a book; I think it’s a waste to leave it untouched.
I reread complex, clever, and profound passages several times. I underline them, make notes in the margin, fold back pages, do whatever I can to highlight the parts I find useful or inspirational so I can find them again.
When a passage stimulates thoughts, I immediately write them in the margins or on the blank pages in the front or back of the book. A really good book has me thinking as much as reading, and I never read a book in one sitting. When I restart the book, I revisit my notes like they were old friends.
Both during and after a book, I try to communicate what I’ve learned or the new ideas generated in conversations, letters, and even these commentaries. New insights are a great gift, and we should share them. I liked Kushner’s book so much, I bought 30 copies and gave them as gifts.
While writing this piece, I realized the way I approach books is also a decent way to approach life. Live it fully and completely at the time, and live it by remembering and sharing it.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Comments
Preach it! Brilliant! Everything you need to know has been written in a book somewhere. Books are incredible gifts. Thanks for reminding us how to read a good book!
Posted by: John Pearson | April 8, 2008 4:27 PM
Dear Michael,
Yes, Rabbi Kushner's book, one of several fine ones he has given us, is a beautiful example of how to live a full and meaningful--and joyful--life even in the face of life's inevitable pain and despair. He could not have written such a moving book, given the world such a gift, but for his own life's pain--he lost a young adult son to a horrible disease. His example and his book remind us that life is not about escaping from sadness and pain, which we all experience. Rather, life is about living with the joy of the only life we have in both its moments of happiness and its moments of pain. They alway come together and define each other, just as light and darkness define each other. One without the other is nonsense. So it is with the pain and joy of life. Your commentaries this week all share this recognition. Reading them is a moment of happiness for me. Thank you.
Posted by: Daniel J. Hoffheimer | April 11, 2008 5:32 AM
My college education emphasized intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth to insure life balance. Those who feel they are living lives that are out-of-balance can look to this simple concept to see why.
Reading and learning from books is a great way to grow intellectually. Books are a productive way to learn new concepts, see the world through another's eyes, and expand one's horizons. Books are a gift and reading is an opportunity.
I have taken your suggestion of an "active experience when reading" a step further and now write reviews on Amazon.Com. This is an excellent way to become fully immersed in a book as the writing of a review requires more than just reading.
I have created several book lists that are noted on Amazon with my profile. These may be of interest to your subscribers: Leadership; Soulfood; and Introspection for the Executive. These can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/byauthor/A3CZWVO53MLZI9/ref=cm_aya_bb_lists
Posted by: Thomas M. Loarie | April 11, 2008 12:23 PM
The advice you give was also provided by Mortimer Adler in "How to Read a Book". Adler was a 20th century philosopher, one of the developers of the "Great Books of the Western World" and editor-in-chief of Encyclopedia Brittanica for many years. You're in good company with this excellent advice!
Posted by: Michael Schell | April 11, 2008 2:11 PM
Thank you, Michael, for the reassurance that the way I read is also shared by others. I, too, like to savor the thoughts and insights of nonfiction books & write notes in the margins - if I own them. Nonfiction is about all I read too. I've taken up getting index card spiral type notebooks to take notes of my library books so I can remember the good parts!
Posted by: Teresa Banghart | May 4, 2008 3:24 PM