Asking the Right Questions

In1940 a man by the name of Mortimer J. Adler published a book called, wait for it….

How to Read a Book

As Mortimer puts it, your job as the reader is to strive for equality with the writer, who presumably knows more about the subject matter than you do.

He proposes asking 4 questions while reading in order to do this more effectively:

1. What is the book about as a whole?
2. What is being said in detail?
3. Is the book true in whole or part?
4. What of it?

In other words you’re trying to determine what the central theme of the book is, how the author is supporting his or her argument, whether or not you agree with the what is being said, and figure out why the book is important.

In short, Mortimer’s argument is that you have to fundamentally change the way you look at reading.

A good reader is a demanding reader. One who has his or her highlighter in hand and ready to strike.

Know What You're Looking for in a Book

The table of contents is more than just a list of title chapters.

It’s a map.

The table of contents is a guide designed to prepare you for the unchartered land you’re about to enter.

Let’s take a book by Greg McKeown called, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less as an example. (a terrific book by the way)

If I open up to the table of contents, I discover the second chapter is titled,CHOOSE: The Invincible Power of Choice.

Now, some titles are going to provide more clues than others, but I can glean from this heading the author may discuss how decision-making is a powerful tool.

By having a sense of what the chapter is about, even broadly, I’ve armed myself for greater inspection. I now have an idea of what I’m looking for.

This can be a very effective way of reading because just as facts can serve us in better understanding a topic, they can also inhibit our comprehension.

The truth is, not everything is important. Some ideas matter more than others. Not all books need to be read from cover to cover. Many manuscripts will take one idea and spend the next 200 pages harping on it with no original or distinctive insights. If you’ve already found what you’re looking for, sometimes it’s a better use of your time to move on before finishing the book.

Knowing what you’re looking for is the first step.

The Reason You Don't Know How to Read

Don’t gloss over the title or table of contents

Before picking up a book, it may help to think of yourself as a detective. Remember, reading is active. It’s a craft.

And being passive about reading is no different than being passive in any endeavor; its rewards are never reaped, the full experience never realized.

Your job as a reader actually begins the moment you pick up a book.

First, ask yourself what the title communicates.

You’d be surprised to discover the number people who can’t remember the title of a book they’ve devoted substantial amounts of their time and resources to reading.

It’s because most people don’t believe it matters.

It does.

The title can be a very helpful indication of the world you’re about to enter. Even the art work on the book’s cover shouldn’t be overlooked.

When I taught a group of 8th graders J.R.R. Tolkien’s, The Fellowship of the Ring we spent nearly 10 minutes on the image alone.

Not only did the students come up with predictions the story would entail scenes of adventure and peril, but it also stirred up a sense of excitement.

And rousing some enthusiasm before reading is not insignificant. It makes reading more fun, and a result more engaging.

The Key to My Transformation

The key to my transformation was first looking beyond my own needs.

I was seeking a way to approach each day with a heightened awareness of the world and what role I could effectively play in it.

The greatest revelation I stumbled upon, was every situation we face, both good and bad, is temporary. If you understand this, you can develop the resources to weather and thrive through the unexpected.

Rising above adversity is also a unique opportunity to reinvent yourself. You can begin to approach your life with a sense of creative artistry and self-mastery that will heighten the overall quality of your days, while deeply inspiring those around you.

The Trouble with Keeping up Appearances

When I was in graduate school studying acting, I felt I needed to outwork, outshine, and outhustle all of my classmates.

I’d arrive at the theater at 5:30 each morning to practice monologues, improve my diction, and strengthen my voice hours before anyone would straggle in.

And at the end of each long day, I made certain I was always the last to leave. But the need to keep the appearance of the hardest working actor often proved more exhausting than the work itself.

My routine eventually paid a handsome return on investment. I became a confident and skilled stage actor but it came at a great cost.

By choosing a culture of competition over cooperation I alienated myself, obstructing my ability to see the broader picture.

Uncertainty vs. Faith

Doubt is an integral part of pursuing an endeavor. Uncertainty in our ability to parent, find a good job, or put pen to paper can be crippling. 

But there's a difference between doubt and a lack of faith. 

You can lack faith that others will see the greatness in you that you see in you. That's not the same as having uncertainty in your abilities. 

Nonetheless, both require fortitude.  

How do I work through my fears?

Reframing fear as an asset rather than a liability is important. 

But it’s also crucial fear plays its role. It’s only a supporting character.

Fear is Cornelius.

Francisco at best.

It does not get to be Hamlet.

Because if fear takes center stage it stifles, then inhibits risk-taking, evolution of self, creativity, and a life fully realized.