A quick little read that I picked up in Chicago at the Levenger shop in Macy's on Michigan Ave... There is some great advice in here, though I felt like the overall volume was a little too simplistic, but perfect for it's target audience, I guess.I love books about books and books about reading and I was hoping for more proper essays. I would consider this a great little "getting started" guide. ( )

This is a fun book about books, reading about reading. Three great pieces of advice: don't feel you have to finish every book. If in 50 pages you aren't hooked, put it down and try another. Listen to audio books. They recapture some of the time lost in our busy, mobile society. Join a book group. Fellowship in books broadens our understanding and perspective. Each of these bits of advice are covered in chapters all their own, which is fine, but a bit of overkill. On the whole, I found the Little Guide more encouragement than enlightenment, which is fine. I think that's all it was meant to be. I am newly emersed in a desire to read more and get more out of it. I feel my life is impoverished when I am not reading several books at once. This, as I take it from Leveen, is a good thing. Finally, I appreciate his perspective on my library full of unread books. It is a kitchen full of food, at hand when I am hungry. By all means read this book if you find yourself under-understood by those who do not delight in books. ( )

I really didn't like this book that much, but I want to be fair to it: if you are a middle-aged rich person who hasn't read much in the past, really wants to read more, and likes a lot of hand-holding advice, then this is the book for you! Okay, that sounded snotty. Here are some things about the book that I liked:

1. The quotes from other authors who have written about reading were extensive and nicely chosen.

2. It reminded me of the SQ3R method for reading comprehension, which gave me some nostalgic glee (although I have never ever had the patience to apply this method to anything).

3. He has some interesting hints here and there, particularly about annotating your books.

4. The idea is good, and Leveen is obviously an earnest guy who really is excited about reading -- and if it gets other people to read more, then I'm all for it.

[full review here: http://spacebeer.blogspot.com/2009/03...] ( )

Delightful ( )

Do you remember the Levenger Catalog of tools for readers? This small book by the co-founder of Levenger is what in 2006 started me keeping a journal of my reading. The sub-title is "How to get more books in your life and more life from your books" and his mission is to help readers get more from their passion and help lapsed readers rediscover that passion. He talks about a wide range of reading selections, including fiction and non fiction, classics and the latest best seller and books about books. He discusses how to discover the books that will be meaningful to you, how to get the most from your reading including summarizing books when you’ve finished them (hence the journal), and how to share with others your passion for books. He encourages you to keep the books that “spoke” to you so you can refer to them again. He also allows you to consider your "junk reading" (for me that would be mysteries and Georgette Heyer) as legitimate which really helps my yearly book total!

I love to read books about books and books that suggest other books to read. This one fits both categories so made a good first entry in my Reading Journal. I refer to it periodically, especially during “dry” periods, as I progress with this very personal and not very well organized adventure journaling my reading. ( )

What sounded like a nice little how-to turned out to be a source for truly new insights into my reading life. This book is a series of simple ideas to help the avid reader make decisions on what to read, what not to read, when to give up on a book, and how to retain more of what you read.

I read this book three years ago, and have employed many of the ideas in my everyday reading, including a reading journal. I don't write in my books, but now I createa page or three of notes as I read each book. This alone has really added to my enjoyment, retention, and ability to find the common threads in what I am reading.

highly recommended for any serious, lifetime reader.

Os. ( )

A short book about creating a thoughtful reading list. This book reinvigorated my interest in reading. ( )

Pros: a few simple points
Cons: No serious treatment of how to select books and the intricate landscape of books, which should be the meaty part. Using audio books and book clubs to simply increase the quantity are very marginal points, but were treated as the only points.
A big disappointment. ( )

If you have a library that doesn't just exist online (!) then this book is a must read. I loved it - it was such fun to use the tools he talks about to organize my many paged live! Fall in Book Love! ( )

For a serious reader, this little book doesn't contain too much of interest. For a neophyte, it is a treasure-trove. The problem is envisioning such a novice reader interested in learning to read! HOWEVER, it contains a gem of a study method I wish I had known of during my undergraduate days: A page of a book has four margins. On the outer margin, summarize the paragraphs, define terms. On the upper margin, jot down thoughts that have occurred to you as you read. On the lower margin, jot down unanswered questions. On the inner margin, compose a question or two the page answers. When studying for the quiz or exam, cover all margins except the questions and see how well you have retained the contents. Look at the unanswered questions at the bottom and see if they are still unanswered: do some research if they are. Indexed. Bibliography.

http://community.livejournal.com/50bo... ( )

http://talesofarampaginglibrarian.blo... ( )

http://dhamel.typepad.com/book_blog/2...
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Summary:
A guide for improving your approach to reading. It makes a case for maintaining a reading list, having a library, writing your thoughts in your books, joining a reading group, audiobooks, and more. It makes recommendations for how to improve retention, when to stop a book that isn't drawing you in, and more. It's a handbook to more pleasurable reading.

Thoughts:
Loved it. It's a terrific little guide and I'll follow many of its suggestions (hence writing a review/keeping a log). I'm not big on audiobooks though. I was swayed by many of his thoughts.

I bought and mailed copies to mom, my brother, and bought a third to loan out to friends. I intend to write the author a note of thanks (did and received a response and gifts).

A favorite quote:
"Your studying your own topics for your own reasons now. With some, you reach in for a single piece of fruit. With others, you shake the tree with gusto." ( )

Leveen is, as far as I am concerned, a demi-god. This book gave me a LOT of ideas as to how to organize my library (he suggests some sort of system, whether paper or online), as well as how to slow down in my reading, and just get more out of the book.

From this book alone, I have pulled out at least a dozen MORE books that he either quoted, suggested, or mentioned as being good. Figures. A reader's work is never done. ( )

I bought two copies of this book, kept one and sent the other to my son, who aspires to be a well-read literary snob, who will quote obscure passages from books nobody has ever heard about, let alone read. I told him to read this book first (part of a 20 pound box of books I mailed to him) and said to read it first. Hopefully he will pick up a few pointers on how to carve out more time to achieve his life-goal. A great little book, highly recommended. (Although I am more of a preservationist type of reader, I can't stand the thought of writing in the books as the author recommends.) ( )