I get that the title comes off as a little bit patronising, but obviously I don’t mean it in a literal sense, I’m sure you know how to read. In fact, my entire effort right now is predicated on such an assumption.
Rather, I am of course referring to how one will get the best use out of books, if we see them less as a piece of writing in some abstract vacuum, and more as a utility, which permits your mind to absorb words from people who might’ve been dead for thousands of years.
Sad truth is that functional illiteracy is very common. A lot of people know how to read the alphabet, but they struggle to read language, and longer works of writing.
So here’s a few things that help:
1. Be stubborn
If you read old or foreign books, you will be met with a foreign vernacular. A vernacular is like the language of language. Since part of my diaspora comes from being extraordinarily British, I can demonstrate this:
Where an American would say “I lost my money gambling.” A Brit would say “I’ve been skint by a fruity.”
Skint meaning broke, and fruity referring to the fruits on jackpot machines.
This is what a vernacular is, you know the words, but you’re not sure on their meaning. This exists in varied forms in all history and in all cultures. The trick to dealing with them is to be stubborn, if you don’t understand, then just keep reading. Eventually, it’ll start to make sense.
2. You don’t need to learn everything
The success of study is not about learning everything from a book, but from learning something. A lot of content in a book will simply be irrelevant to you, and that’s fine. Focus on what seems particularly important or interesting, and consider it carefully.
3. Think about what you read
Ever encounter one of those people who are really smart and really stupid at the same time? Who can quote all kinds of texts from memory, but seem incapable of grasping even very simple concepts? This is because they have read themselves stupid. Books produce thoughts, and if we do not maintain our own ability to think, then all we have is empty retention of text.
Figure out ways to consider the text, and the implications thereof, think in dialogues with yourself about how things work and how they make sense. Ask yourself questions about what you read, and then answer them, as to permit yourself the ability to formulate thoughts on the matter. Avoid the dangers of becoming a clever stupid person.
4. Lectures
A lot of books have accompanying lectures, this is a useful way to examine the author before reading a book. For one thing, it can help explain things about the book which makes it easier to understand, and for another, it will give you some idea of whether or not the book is worth your time, or if another book might be better. Youtube is actually full of university channels who upload these lectures for free, and most people don’t know about it. Some of the world’s most renowned experts provide their knowledge for free on Youtube in the form of recorded lectures. Take a look, it’s well worth it.
In fact here’s one of my favorites to get you started, it’s about evolutionary science:
5. Conciseness
Albert Einstein once said that if you cannot explain something in a simple manner, then you cannot understand it. Figure out how your studies provide you with core attributes that may explain the most important part of a work, and you will know precisely what the nature of such a work is.
And that is why I leave you with only 5 points. Hope you find this useful.
