Allows for look at the author’s blueprint and for the judgment as to whether the book is worth a deeper dive.
Systematic skimming involves reading the preface & inside jacket, studying the table of contents, and checking the index.
Superficial reading is a quick read through most of the text to see if it merits more time.
Analytical reading
A thorough reading of the entire book.
Use of marginalia is advised.
After reading, the book should be classified according to subject matter, summarised with the utmost brevity, broken up into core parts & enumerated, and the problems being solved should be defined.
Syntopical reading
This is comparative reading wherein one contrasts a book against others on the same subject.
Identify the relevant passages.
Classify keywords, make note of how they are used by each author, and now establish the terms in your own words.
Clarify the questions being asked and answered.
Bring a spotlight to the ways in which the answers to these questions differ and order them in relation to one another.
Analyse the resultant discussion now that the conflict of opposing answers has been absorbed.
Taking Notes
Circle important words, star critical points, underline interesting sentences, and use marginalia so as to almost converse with the author.
After at least a week return to the book and read through all of the notes. What still strikes your interest? Write about it in the first few pages of the book and index it to the relevant page.
Wait another few days and then copy out entire excerpts which you found poignant, well written, or rich in information.