"Methods for Reading" - Greg Bahnsen

Reading one book well seems to help more than reading several on a superficial level. Since retention is not my strength, I'm having to explore different ways to make reading worthwhile. The following is some advice from Greg Bahnsen on reading. Let me say I do not think every book should be read in this manner. Reading shouldn't always be a chore. However, if you aren't reading any books at this depth either 1) what you are reading isn't worthwhile or 2) you aren't concerned with getting anything worthwhile out of your reading. The first is unfortunate since there are so many good books. The latter is a flat transgression against the command to "make the most of the time" (Ephesians 5:16) - mv

Let me suggest a proven method of reading. Never plan to read an assignment only once; good readers will read at least twice and usually three times. The first time through should be a quick and casual reading to familiarize yourself with the material and find out the main point(s) the author intended to communicate. The second time through you should take notes for yourself, attempting to outline (roughly) the material presented so that the way in which the author gets to his conclusion is made clear; also write out important lists which may appear in the reading, along with key sentences which express important insights or necessary declarations (as far as the author is concerned).

Only after these two steps have been accomplished should you go through the assignment again the third time and underline (or highlight) the words, phrases, or sentences which will help you to review and recall the material later. Keep these underlinings to a minimum, for too many such markings will simply force you later to reread most of the assignment again – which defeats the purpose of underlining. By the time these three steps have been completed, the reading assignment will be clearly recorded in the mind.

HT:CMF