How to Read: A Twenty-First-Century Guide

"profoundly relevant and accessible …. An insightful, valuable resource." — Kirkus Reviews

With reading having become more difficult for many than ever before, universities and colleges are focusing increasingly on the degree to which reading and writing skills are interconnected and are revising their curricula accordingly. This book aims to help.

Using examples from a wide range of academic disciplines and from literature, How to Read offers practical advice on how to pick up on cues, how to infer the meanings of words, how to cope with long sentences and archaic language, and how to read critically. The book helpfully addresses challenges arising from gaps in background knowledge, unfamiliar vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and difficulties in identifying tone or point of view. An online chapter focuses on “reading” visual material.

Throughout, How to Read prompts further thought and discussion with a wide range of questions.