In this post, I talk about the four stages of reading, as elaborated by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren in their seminal book, “How to Read a Book“. Initially introduced in 1940, this influential text has been re-released in multiple editions, standing the test of time with its valuable insights.
Within the pages of “How to Read a Book”, Adler and Van Doren illustrate the four pivotal stages of reading: elementary reading, inspectional reading, analytical reading, and syntopical reading. It’s worth noting the authors’ intentional use of the term ‘levels’ rather than ‘types’ or ‘kinds’.
In the view of Adler and Van Doren, ‘kinds’ suggests individual and independent entities, whereas ‘levels’ embody a sense of interconnection and progression. Hence, the levels of reading are not isolated, but rather symbiotically related, each stage building upon the last.
To facilitate understanding, I’ve designed a visual representation of Adler and Van Doren’s insightful four levels of reading. You are welcome to download and share this graphic, as long as you kindly credit us as the original source.
What are the four levels of reading?
Mortimer and Charles Doren’s landmark book outlines four distinct stages of reading, each one building upon the skills of the previous stage:
1- The Foundation Level of Reading
Also known as initial, rudimentary, or basic reading, this is the stage where one first learns to read. Here, readers begin their journey from illiteracy to literacy, learning the essential skills and techniques of reading. As readers master this level, they focus on answering one core question: “What is the sentence saying?” (p. 16)
2- The Survey Level of Reading
Referred to as pre-reading or skimming, this stage places particular importance on time. In this stage, the reader is given a specific time limit to go through an assigned section of reading. As Mortimer and Charles Doren put it, this level’s aim “is to get the most out of a book within a given time – usually a relatively short time, and always (by definition) too short a time to get out of the book everything that can be gotten.” (p. 18) Upon completing this level, the reader should be able to answer: What is the book’s genre? What is its central theme? What is its structure? (pp. 18-19)
3- The In-depth Reading Level
Analytical reading, as it’s often called, is a much more demanding stage that requires a greater level of complexity. This stage is not about reading for mere information or entertainment; it’s about reading for understanding. It’s a deep and comprehensive form of reading that requires the reader to truly engage with the text. (p. 19)
4- The Comparative Reading Level
Also known as syntopical reading, this stage represents the highest level of reading complexity. Here, the reader is required to read multiple texts on the same subject and compare and contrast them. This process helps the reader gain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the subject matter. It involves a sophisticated level of critical thinking and analysis.
