Why people recommend it
How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Lincoln Van Doren is a classic, enduring guide that teaches readers how to master different levels of reading comprehension, from basic inspectional reading up to deep analytical and comparative study. On an episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast titled Russ Tedrake: Underactuated Robotics, Control, Dynamics and Touch, roboticist Russ Tedrake brought up the classic text during their conversation. Tedrake acknowledged that referencing such a foundational manual might seem a bit surprising given the advanced technical nature of his own field, but he enthusiastically shared that he had recently read Mortimer Adler's famous work. He noted how much he valued the insights contained within its pages, highlighting the timeless utility of learning how to properly engage with complex texts, absorb dense material effectively, and extract profound understanding across various academic and professional disciplines.
Who recommended it
- Russ Tedrake Recommended
Russ Tedrake — 1 mention
“sure in some sense it's it's so classical it might surprise you but i actually recently read um mortimer adler's how to read a book”