How To Read (and Write) a Book

Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren’s classic How to Read a Book gives useful guidance. It explains how to evaluate whether a book is worth reading. It also gives you tips for getting the most out of the books that you read. Their advice on reading also suggests some tips for better writing. Pick an important topic and say something important about it. Do your research and organize your presentation. Keep your writing clear and simple. Make clear and reasoned arguments and anticipate the objections that your audience may raise. Above all, make sure that your title, front matter, back matter, and book cover tell the reader what your book is about and why it is worth reading.