Crystal Stinson
Sharla Yates
English Composition
April 12th 2012
Summary of “How to mark a book”
How to mark a book by Mortimer J. Adler refers the way you are able to better understand
a book when making it your own, or “read between the lines” (pg 1). Adler believes that
when most people are reading a book they often read without truly taking in the knowledge
or the story the book has to offer. Reading is a form of learning and to understand the
words you are reading, he suggests that you should take notes and highlight points of
interest or statements. According to Adler, when you do so, you will be able to absorb
more information from the book that you are reading. He admits that not all books are read
the same, as the experience you take from each one is different. Some books need to be
read with great precession and require your full attention; others are merely for pleasure
and do not require such in depth perception. He believes that the reader will have a better
understanding of the book when taking notes and making the book their own.