Sublime

Enlightenment is achieved only when, in addition to knowing what an author says, you know what he means and why he says it.

We are now ready to state the fifth rule of reading (an expository work). Stated roughly, it is this: You must spot the important words in a book and figure out how the author is using them.

2. WHAT IS BEING SAID IN DETAIL, AND HOW?

1. WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT AS A WHOLE?

If knowledge is the end-all and be-all, then we should expect the activity that is directed at knowledge—philosophical inquiry—to be how a person develops courage, justice, moderation, and so on.

1. LOOK AT THE TITLE PAGE AND, IF THE BOOK HAS ONE, AT ITS PREFACE.

As Pascal observed three hundred years ago, “When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing.”