The main difference between note-taking for a live event and for reading is the control you have over the situation. Part 2 of this series on taking notes offers two useful tips for reviewing meetings. Those pointers, looking and listening for key words and phrases and asking for clarification, apply to an extent when it comes to reading, but you can do more as you have greater control over the content delivery as a reader.
I would suggest as a first step reading Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren's How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, which I review in this blog. In this highly educational book, the authors detail four levels of reading:
Next, you should check reviews of the book to classify its type (e.g., biography, business, philosophy, politics) and summarize it in fewer than 50 words, including the issues it addresses. Then search the book for key words as you would when taking notes at a meeting or conference. Of course, a lot goes into these steps, but with practice you'll be able to cover them quickly.
Let's assume you have been assigned to review a book for your manager or team. (Yes, there are visionary, proactive managers who still engage in this practice.) I doubt you would do so to contribute to your manager's leisure reading list. A business purpose must accompany the assignment. Are you reading Stephen A. Schwarzman's What It Takes (also reviewed in this blog) to extract business principles that may be useful back at the office? Then you would do well to look at Schwarzman's 25 Rules for Work and Life at the conclusion of the book and search the index for where the author discusses the specific rule that captures your interest. On the other hand, if you were searching Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress to determine whether his historical perspective synchronizes with your company's mindset, you might be looking for supporting content that may bolster your organizational public relations strategy. Finally, are you reading Rebecca D. Costa's The Watchman's Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction to view how worldwide trends may affect your firm's global ambitions? If yes, then search for the big questions Costa answers throughout the book.
And still there's more. How to Read a Book will fill in the blanks.
Part 1: Preparing to Take Notes
Part 2: Listening with a Purpose
I would suggest as a first step reading Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren's How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, which I review in this blog. In this highly educational book, the authors detail four levels of reading:
- The elementary level focuses on word, sentence, and paragraph recognition and vocabulary development.
- The inspectional level looks at learning the content and basis of the book.
- The analytical level covers interpreting and critiquing the reader's viewpoint.
- The synoptical level involves capturing the relevance of the book.
Next, you should check reviews of the book to classify its type (e.g., biography, business, philosophy, politics) and summarize it in fewer than 50 words, including the issues it addresses. Then search the book for key words as you would when taking notes at a meeting or conference. Of course, a lot goes into these steps, but with practice you'll be able to cover them quickly.
Let's assume you have been assigned to review a book for your manager or team. (Yes, there are visionary, proactive managers who still engage in this practice.) I doubt you would do so to contribute to your manager's leisure reading list. A business purpose must accompany the assignment. Are you reading Stephen A. Schwarzman's What It Takes (also reviewed in this blog) to extract business principles that may be useful back at the office? Then you would do well to look at Schwarzman's 25 Rules for Work and Life at the conclusion of the book and search the index for where the author discusses the specific rule that captures your interest. On the other hand, if you were searching Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress to determine whether his historical perspective synchronizes with your company's mindset, you might be looking for supporting content that may bolster your organizational public relations strategy. Finally, are you reading Rebecca D. Costa's The Watchman's Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction to view how worldwide trends may affect your firm's global ambitions? If yes, then search for the big questions Costa answers throughout the book.
And still there's more. How to Read a Book will fill in the blanks.
***
Read previous installments in this series:Part 1: Preparing to Take Notes
Part 2: Listening with a Purpose
