How to Truly Understand the Book You're Reading

Have you ever read a passage in a book only to realize that you don't understand a single word? This is a common issue, but one that can easily be fixed. It's time to harness the full power of your focus!

Select the book you wish to read. If you choose a book that captures and sparks your interest, you've already completed half of the work.

Read the first chapter slowly. Don't rush. If you find a passage or a sentence you particularly enjoy, feel free to read it again. Take your time.

Make a comparison. Compare your understanding of the first chapter with a summary or an online analysis. Continue this process for the other chapters if desired.

Use notes to assist you. After reading several chapters, you should write down the names and characteristics of the main characters. If you understand the characters well, you will be able to connect and empathize with them. Use a notebook for this.

Keep reading the book. You should read at a pace that suits you and take breaks when you start feeling uncomfortable.

Reflect on your feelings. When you reach the end of a chapter or the book itself, spend a few minutes thinking about the emotions it evokes in you. Are you sad? Happy? Confused and dazed, or excited and enthusiastic? Frustrated? Annoyed? Think about these feelings and try to use as many adjectives as possible to express them. By doing this, you’re imprinting the book into your mind and activating your learning skills to help you absorb various meanings of the story.

Create a plot map. Summarize the key points of each chapter in a few sentences. This will help you grasp the entire storyline.

Use sound as a tool for support. If possible, it is recommended that you listen to the entire story on an audio recording. This is an engaging method and if you enjoy listening to sounds, this approach will help you decode and remember the meaning of the story more effectively. Try to link the themes or significant parts of the book to your own life. You can also apply the story to an essay you're writing.

Try starting from the middle of the book and return to the beginning if you encounter details you don't understand. For example, the first chapter of The Hobbit can be quite dull. From chapter 2 onwards, the story becomes fascinating, interconnected, and most importantly, features dragons, giant spiders, goblins, and a magical ring that makes its wearer invisible. If you begin with the first chapter, you may struggle to continue with the story.

• It’s important to read in a quiet and peaceful environment, unless you have excellent concentration skills. Reading in class or at a bus stop might make it difficult for you to comprehend what you are reading.
• Read slowly to savor the story.
• If a passage is hard to understand, reread it several times until you grasp the main idea.
• Some books may require more time than others. This often depends on personal preferences rather than the book's quality. Look for reasons why a particular book doesn't appeal to you. If it’s filled with descriptions and you prefer books with more characters and dialogue, feel free to skip those dull sections and come back to them later.
• If you want to explore deeper symbolic meanings, consider enrolling in a literature course or read How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster.
• The basic rule is this: if you've read about 10% of the book and it doesn’t engage you, consider choosing another book. However, if it’s for a class assignment, unfortunately, you may have to push through that 10%!
• Read in a distraction-free environment.
• There’s likely a reason you are reading this book. Focus or pay closer attention to the details of the book you are currently reading.
• If you don’t fully understand the story, just keep reading it over and over until it clicks!

• Your preferences are yours alone. Don’t feel obligated to finish a book just because someone else enjoys it. Keep the 10% rule in mind and you’ll do just fine.

• A book that you think will spark your interest
• A calm and peaceful space
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• The most important: a receptive mindset