On The Art of Reading

"On The Art of Reading" by Arthur Quiller-Couch is a collection of early 20th-century talks that looks into how we read, especially when it comes to English books, and how to really get involved with what we're reading. The author mixes his own thoughts with ideas about learning and thinking about how important books are for growing as a person. It all begins with a look at what reading really means, comparing it to writing, which the author has spoken about before. The writing starts by asking questions about reading and why it matters in school, explaining that truly understanding books is more than just memorizing facts for a test. The author thinks about the problems at Cambridge University in how English books are taught, arguing that the secret to reading well is to grow your own natural interest and love for literature. As he shares his starting points, he wants to help readers enjoy books in a way that grows their minds and feelings.