Adler’s four levels of reading, from simplest to most complex:
elementary
inspectional
analytical
syntopical
set out by Mortimer Adler, philosoper and author of how to read a book.
Details
elementary reading: understanding the words and sentences
inspectional reading: skimming to understand the general outline of a book
analytical: slow and deliberate to grasp the details of the book. you ask questions and outline the main arguments and thoughts of the author
syntopical reading: reading multiple books on the same subject, forming an independent judgement, building your own framework. not studying a book, but a subject
Quotes
"Mortimer Adler, the American philosopher and author of How to Read a Book, argues that true reading is an art: a deliberate act of the mind that moves through distinct levels of depth." - culturalist