Discussion How Do You Start Reading Hard Books?

[deaf_judger]

5 minute video.




Story

• Sylvan tried to read 'Notes on the synthesis of form'. He noted the dry, 'precise' prose.
  
• He also read Jung's "Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious". The words were at a "higher reading level". He understood them, but the definitions were used differently. He felt he needed to be older or more experience.
  
• Sylvan is a naturally impatient person and wants to get more out of life--He wants to read it now. He is practicing on improving his reading level
  
• "To extract all the wisdom in a book, the time spent reading has to be equal with the time spent writing."-Someone? He forgot.
  
• He is interesting in tips to read better.
  
• He thinks you just have to practice more.
  

Analysis
There are three different difficulties:




Dry Technical Prose
Notes on the Synthesis of Form is hard because of compressed and formal writing.




Conceptual redefinition of words
Jung uses words like archetype, unconscious, and symbol in unfamiliar ways.




Impatience vs maturation
Sylvan knows he can read it now, but the book is indexed to life experience he hasnt had yet.




My Thoughts

• Read multiple times. One time, for understanding what the author is doing? What is the book focused on? What problem are they trying to solve? What do they keep returning to?
  
• Write down what confused you
  
• Rewrite in your old terms
  

But how do YOU read "hard books?"
Discuss reading methods. Post your ideas on this thread!




References

Sylvan Franklin, ed. 2026. How Do You Start Reading Hard Books?
Directed by Sylvan
Franklin. <>.

 

[Memento Mori]

It's beneficial to consult with others, especially those with 'expert-level' knowledge. The internet can be useful towards this end.

 

[ZZEBRA813]

It's beneficial to consult with others, especially those with 'expert-level' knowledge. The internet can be useful towards this end.

 

[Schwarzwald]

5 minute video.




Story

• Sylvan tried to read 'Notes on the synthesis of form'. He noted the dry, 'precise' prose.
  
  
• He also read Jung's "Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious". The words were at a "higher reading level". He understood them, but the definitions were used differently. He felt he needed to be older or more experience.
  
  
• Sylvan is a naturally impatient person and wants to get more out of life--He wants to read it now. He is practicing on improving his reading level
  
  
• "To extract all the wisdom in a book, the time spent reading has to be equal with the time spent writing."-Someone? He forgot.
  
  
• He is interesting in tips to read better.
  
  
• He thinks you just have to practice more.
  
  

Analysis
There are three different difficulties:




Dry Technical Prose
Notes on the Synthesis of Form is hard because of compressed and formal writing.




Conceptual redefinition of words
Jung uses words like archetype, unconscious, and symbol in unfamiliar ways.




Impatience vs maturation
Sylvan knows he can read it now, but the book is indexed to life experience he hasnt had yet.




My Thoughts

• Read multiple times. One time, for understanding what the author is doing? What is the book focused on? What problem are they trying to solve? What do they keep returning to?
  
  
• Write down what confused you
  
  
• Rewrite in your old terms
  
  

But how do YOU read "hard books?"
Discuss reading methods. Post your ideas on this thread!




References

Sylvan Franklin, ed. 2026. How Do You Start Reading Hard Books?
Directed by Sylvan
Franklin. <>.

Meth.

 

[Schwarzwald]

5 minute video.




Story

• Sylvan tried to read 'Notes on the synthesis of form'. He noted the dry, 'precise' prose.
  
  
• He also read Jung's "Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious". The words were at a "higher reading level". He understood them, but the definitions were used differently. He felt he needed to be older or more experience.
  
  
• Sylvan is a naturally impatient person and wants to get more out of life--He wants to read it now. He is practicing on improving his reading level
  
  
• "To extract all the wisdom in a book, the time spent reading has to be equal with the time spent writing."-Someone? He forgot.
  
  
• He is interesting in tips to read better.
  
  
• He thinks you just have to practice more.
  
  

Analysis
There are three different difficulties:




Dry Technical Prose
Notes on the Synthesis of Form is hard because of compressed and formal writing.




Conceptual redefinition of words
Jung uses words like archetype, unconscious, and symbol in unfamiliar ways.




Impatience vs maturation
Sylvan knows he can read it now, but the book is indexed to life experience he hasnt had yet.




My Thoughts

• Read multiple times. One time, for understanding what the author is doing? What is the book focused on? What problem are they trying to solve? What do they keep returning to?
  
  
• Write down what confused you
  
  
• Rewrite in your old terms
  
  

But how do YOU read "hard books?"
Discuss reading methods. Post your ideas on this thread!




References

Sylvan Franklin, ed. 2026. How Do You Start Reading Hard Books?
Directed by Sylvan
Franklin. <>.

But honestly Anna Karenina was really hard for me to get into, but it's worth it. It's like working out or anything that can be hard, if you value the end product you'll do it.

 

[porco-dddio]

I tend to tackle books "easy to read". But one time I didnt. And I picked adorno philosophy of modern music. It was hardcore. I didnt get it, every single page was hard core level.

The way I think of myself is I can grasp intuitive meaning usually, and I can easily learn new words. But with adorno, something else entirely. I thought he was writing garbage. Ended up I was right but I took 4 months to discover I was right.

Its a situation where you read complex terminology, but if the terminology refers to something real, and is not put there just to confuse you, then you can derive some sense out of it, like in biology classes you hear lots new words, but once understood they finally make sense.

Other times, yes you really do get filled with complexity that is there simply to trick you.

Edit. What Im sayin has been observed thru all my school career startin from kindergarten, where I understood leopardi poetry "snap" instantly. And I understand what I read. Anything. Read and comprehension, i think im good at it. Internet makes it a bit worse. Even old language, not a problem, machiavelli is italian from the 500, i can read it. No problem. Dante, is a bit hard, but I can read it, maybe need a bit of help but it can be done.

So usually I trust myself above the status of the author. If i dont understand or "makes no sense" probably indeed is bullshit.