How to Read a Book

See /books/how-to-read-a-book/

Questions to ask while reading

From Economist course on business writing

Here are some questions to ask when you read something:

• Where did the writer start and finish? Why?

• Can you see a structure? Was material organised chronologically, thematically, geographically or in some other way?

• Is there an executive summary and, if so, did it set you up to follow the rest of the piece as you were reading?

• How long are the paragraphs and sentences, and what effect did that have?

• Did the piece seem to twist and turn, or did each paragraph seem to move you forward in the same direction?

• Did it make an argument? Could you follow that argument, and could you now summarise it?

• Did the piece feel like a “journey” from a starting-point to a conclusion? If so, from whose point of view? Did it successfully bring you along?

• Was there much exposition, and if so did it slow things down?

• Or was providing this explanation the entire point of the document? If so, do you now understand whatever was being explained?

• Was there any point at which you got stuck? If so, why—did the writer make a sudden, unexplained leap, for example?

• Did the document feel leisurely or pacey? Serious or light? Formal or conversational? Intimate or lofty? Vague or precise? Curt or long-winded?

• How would you describe the vocabulary used? Long or short? Fancy or plain? Technical or everyday?

• Did it provoke an emotional reaction? If so, do you think that was the reaction the writer intended—if you were laughing, for example, were you “laughing at” or “laughing with”? And was that reaction appropriate to the message?

• Speaking of “message”, would you be able to say what you think the writer was trying to convey? Would you be able to give a summary, or at least say what the main points were?

• Was the writing memorable, and if so, what sticks in your mind?

• Did anything in it surprise you or make you want to laugh or cry?

• Did you learn anything from it, and if so, what?

• Think of some adjectives for it (smooth, pacey, funny, crisp, clear, concise) and see if you can identify why you picked them.

• What would have ruined the piece of writing?

• Can you think of anything the writer could have done differently to make it better?