How to Read a Book
Charles Van Doren & Mortimer J. Adler
Originally written in 1940 by philosopher Mortimer J. Adler, “How to Read a Book” was substantially revised and expanded in 1972 with the help of Charles Van Doren, an American professor and quiz show contestant. It is still considered one of the best guides to actively and critically reading books – for understanding and gaining insight.
Listen to the intro
Who it is for
Best suited for readers of books – particularly those whose main purpose in reading books is to gain increased understanding.
About the Author
Charles Van Doren is an American academic and writer, a longtime vice president and editor of Encyclopedia Britannica, and author of “A History of Knowledge.” Early in his life, he became infamous due to his involvement in the 1950s quiz show scandals, but he successfully rebuilt his reputation through his later work. Co-written with Mortimer J. Adler, “How to Read a Book” is perhaps his best-known contribution.
View author profileLessons
- What the difference between reading for information and reading for understanding is.
- Why skimming is an important reading strategy – and how to do it right.
- Which the four levels of reading are – and how to reach the last one.
Key Takeaways
- Students from all areas need to learn to read better to retain more information
- Readers who seek to enhance this hobby
- All people who want to read more and better
More knowledge in less time
Listen to the key ideas
We offer various commission schemes from one-time payouts.
Find your next read
12Min is very popular among readers and lifelong learners.
Good Micropaths
12Min's browser-based app works for anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the 12min App, we extract the best ideas and insights from the world's best-selling non-fiction books and organize them into unique, self-contained narrative summaries that can be consumed in audio and/or text in about 12 minutes!
You can download our app and start enjoying our library. If for any reason you are not satisfied with our platform, simply contact our support team ([email protected]) within 7 days of purchase and request a refund. You will receive everything you paid for, without questions or bureaucracy.
Yes, but the change will only apply from the next billing period. For example, if you decide to change your monthly subscription to an annual one, after confirming the change to the annual plan, the new plan will only be applied and charged after that month's billing anniversary.
12min Premium is a plan that guarantees you access to our entire library of 2500+ titles available in 3 languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese) that you can read or listen to at any time through our app available for iOS, Android, and Computer. You can also read or listen to your favorite titles offline and challenge yourself with a quiz to help you retain the content at the end of each microbook.
Yes, if you decide not to renew your 12min subscription, you can cancel at any time and the next billing cycle will not occur.
Feel free to contact us at [email protected].