How to Read a Book, first published in 1940, is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader—a living classic. Now it has been completely rewritten and updated.

This book will teach you about the various levels of reading and how to achieve them, from elementary reading and systematic skimming to inspectional reading and speed reading. Learn how to pigeonhole a book, x-ray it, extract the author's message, and criticize. The authors offer different reading techniques for various types of books, and finally, a recommended reading list and reading tests for measuring your own progress in reading skills, comprehension, and speed.