每本书的封面之下都有一套自己的骨架，作为一个分析阅读的读者，责任就是要找出这个骨架。一本书出现在面前时，肌肉包着骨头，衣服包裹着肌肉，可说是盛装而来。读者用不着揭开它的外衣或是撕去它的肌肉来得到在柔软表皮下的那套骨架，但是一定要用一双X光般的透视眼来看这本书，因为那是了解一本书、掌握其骨架的基础。 《如何阅读一本书》初版于1940年，1972年大幅增订改写为新版。不懂阅读的人，初探阅读的人，读这本书可以少走冤枉路。对阅读有所体会的人，读这本书可以有更深的印证和领悟。

《阅读的乐趣》是一个大众传媒的时代，伴随电子出版物的兴起，许多人特别是青少年越来越热衷于快餐式阅读，这种以追求快速、简单甚至愉悦为目的的阅读方式所带来的弊病也是显而易见的：许多人为了追求纯粹“悦读”而弃华章名著于不顾，在迅疾的流变中只愿选择图文并茂，抑或只有图片、视频的电子读物以单纯满足视觉的享受。长此以往，痴迷于此的这一群体的文字表达能力必将退化，乃至逐渐丧失独立思考的能力，变成没有思想的“空心人”。欣慰的是，仍然有众多的读者在线上线下体验着阅读的真正乐趣。但是，在外界干扰和诱惑愈演愈烈的情形下，我们怎样才能培养并保持深度注意力，在这吵闹的环境中安心读书呢？

How to Read a Book, originally published in 1940, has become a rare phenomenon, a living classic. It is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader. And now it has been completely rewritten and updated. You are told about the various levels of reading and how to achieve them — from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading, you learn how to pigeonhole a book, X-ray it, extract the author's message, criticize. You are taught the different reading techniques for reading practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy and social science. Finally, the authors offer a recommended reading list and supply reading tests whereby you can measure your own progress in reading skills, comprehension and speed. There are over 190,000 copies in print of this classic guide to getting the most from your reading.