怎样躲避不值得付出那么多时间的书？一种无中生有的阅读可能；有十四种外语的可能；如何阅读小说、诗、历史、哲学？为什么要阅读漫画与影像？少阅读一点的理由……这么有趣的事情，再晚开始也不迟！ 诸葛亮、陶渊明、朱熹、苏东坡，是怎么读书的？做笔记的方法；主题阅读没那么深奥；Fashion与经典的分界；一个普通读者越界的时候，需要知道的50件事情…… 这是一本及时的讨论阅读的书，它让我们面对阅读的危机，又揭示了走出危机的新的可能性，并且提出了许多具有操作性的“如何阅读”的建议，不同的读者都可以从中得到启示。

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.