The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-01
A Timely Editorial
Reading Books Through
From the Christian Science Mo

From the Christian Science Monl-
 tor.
 There is common assertion to the effect that reviewers never read books through. Granting that this extreme statement contains a meas ure of truth, might it not be profit able to consider as well the prac- tices of readers? Pick up volume which a friend has handed on with his personal recommendation-like- ly enough you will find many of the leaves uncut; press another as. to precisely why he has felt the de- velopment of the plot or the argu- ment of the subject matter uncon- vincing-probably he will show himself unable to offer a coherent explanation. Can you believe that any book worth reading at all should be finished in an hour or two? Boswell has proved to us that the habit of "skimming' book is not modern one. For he records a conversation in which a certain MT. .phinston asked Dr. Johnson whether or not he had read book then under discussion.
 JOHNSON: q have looked
 into it." What" said Elphin-
 ston. ''have you not read it
 through" Johnson, offended at
 being thus pressed, and so obliged
 to his own cursory mode of read
 ing. answered tartly, "No, sir;
 do YOU read books through!'
 It seems that, even in the year 1773, when books were compara- lively few and Hisure abundant. the temptations to Hook into" them were identical with those today.
 Now books are read under thou sand conditions and for as many purposes. Often the college under graduate forms the habit of dipping into a preface, fhcking over the leaves, studying the last few pages, and reporting nonchalantly that he has mastered a piece of required reading. Perhaps he is thus enabled to pass his examination, though he can scarcely have gained any lasting mental stimulus. But what may be the dire effects of this sys- tenn upon his later reading? Re- viewers, though they should and or dinarily do, read at least a fair DOT tiion of the books entrusted to them, hold a brief for their obligation to handle a huge mass of material m limited time. The modern mode of reviewing offers no escape. But the great majority who are guilty of not reading books through are those seeking entertainment in form al most as frothy and effortless as that furnished by the movies" The business man, travelling man or woman, anyone craving relaxation for it's own sake, wants merely something to read" They do more justice to their detective stories and sentimental novels than do many more discriminating persons to higher grade of literature.
 Our complaint is launched against the cultured reader who selects his books thoughtfully, yet falls into the way of plunging through book fancying he is touching upon the high spots and extracting the plums. In the midst of the great company of such readers, it Is refreshing. to come upon one who confesses that he cannot read rapidly, because he "reads for pleasure" Is not this the key to the whole problem! Reading is for pleasure and profit To do justice to the authors and to ourselves, we shall be wise to pro. ceed slowly, choosing for the most | part only such books as merit 2 thorough reading. The more of this we do. the more shall we find the reward far greater than IS promised by the slight effort involved. Ever the irascible Dr. Johnson knew he was pleading guilty to a shortcom- ing in presence of critical MT. FL phinston.