The Book Blues

The Book Blues
or, How are We Supposed to Get out of this Text what We Need to Get out of It?*

Michael Trotti
History Department
412 Muller
(607)274-1591

"The professor says to stay on top of the reading, but I can't seem to figure out how much of this is vital information, and what is, well, detail that isn't as important."

"I just get lost in these chapters. History isn't really my "thing", and the textbook is just one thing after another. I'm hoping I can get by just listening to the lectures."

Perhaps you've said something like this yourself, or heard others with these laments. The study of history is not meant to be simple, and no advice will make it so. But reading history books need not lead to these sorts of frustrations, either. With a few adjustments in your style of reading and study, you should be able to learn from, comprehend, and - dare I say it? - enjoy your reading much more.

Here are a few simple techniques to help you profit from the readings in this course. Mastering any body of knowledge at the college level requires discipline, however. What is the pay off? I hope it will be in saved time - the time you spend frustrated, re-reading text passages that you did not fully comprehend - and in higher grades. Not to mention the increased knowledge base which is, ultimately, why you are in school.

But first,

How NOT to Profit from Your Reading:

This is easy!

Failing to profit from your texts is very simple and it comes naturally to all of us: Open the book, start at the beginning, read left to right, page after page, to the end of the chapter. Put the book down. Yawn.

No! That is how we typically read, letting the words wash over us, yielding to the author the power over our minds. Sitting passively watching the pages roll by. That does not use much of your brain, it is boring, and it too often accomplishes little intellectually.

How else CAN you read, you ask?

Here is a much better way to proceed.

AS YOU BEGIN:

LOOK at the title of the chapter, and the title of each of the chapter subdivisions. This very brief skim gives you the big picture, where the chapter is heading - it's the road map to your reading.

TELL yourself what you already know about this subject and DECIDE what you want to learn about it. This engages the brain with the material, gets you thinking about it all in a different way. Another tactic is to try to PREDICT what the author will argue. The key here is to TAKE CHARGE of the process -- don't be passive, BE ACTIVE in your reading!

WHILE YOU READ:

First read the preface and conclusion (of the book, article, or chapter). That gives you the overall perspective of the author and his major themes.
Then read the first sentence of every paragraph in the chapter. This is quick, and it gives you an idea of where the author takes her argument - the major examples she uses, the central concepts in play. With this skim, you erect a sort of frame for understanding what is important.
Finally, read the entire chapter or article. You will now have a terrific perspective on what is significant, where the work is going, and what examples/themes/events are particularly important to the author. You will probably read faster, and certainly with more comprehension - you already have the frame to make sense of what you read.

AFTER YOU READ:

PARAPHRASE the most important ideas in the chapter. You may even want to give one last quick SKIM to reinforce in your mind what ideas and events and themes are most vital here.

THINK about and DECIDE which ideas you agree and disagree with, which are most interesting to you. Key: stay in charge of the process, taking from the reading what you need.

This method is not a magic wand, but you should find your reading more gratifying, understandable, and efficient.

* Thanks to Peter Filene for the original idea (and the title) upon which this is based.

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This website is occasionally maintained by Michael Trotti.
(Last update: 6 August 2001).