How to read books on humanities and social sciences?

I'm very interested in professional books on humanities and social sciences, but after reading more, I gradually realized that my reading method needs to be improved. 1. I often read every book carefully, afraid that I would miss out on any valuable points or wonderful arguments, so my reading efficiency was relatively low. Reading notes tended to be copied from the original text, which was a waste of time! He saw that many outstanding students abroad could read and filter a large amount of information in a very short period of time (it was said that Harvard students read nearly 100 pages of information every day). How did they do it? 2. I often can't make a clear summary and logical structure of the book as a whole after reading it. I only have a vague feeling and an impression of certain points. How can I practice and improve my relevant abilities? Combing the author's main points, sub-points, and their own arguments? 3. I don't think my critical thinking is very good. Often, after reading a book, one would be completely convinced by the author's point of view (like being brainwashed...). It was rare to find the author's own limitations and loopholes, unless one saw other books that directly or indirectly refuted the author's views. How could this situation be improved? P.S. Recently, I've been watching Derek Bok's The Way Back to College. Please, 3Q

Answer 1

When reading humanities and social science books, you can follow the following steps:

1 Know the author and publication information: Before you start reading, first understand the author's background, major works, and publication information. This way, he could better understand the content and style of the book and find the content that interested him faster.

2. Decide on your reading purpose: Before reading, you must first determine your reading purpose. Was it to learn new knowledge or for entertainment? Different reading purposes would affect the reading speed and reading method.

3. Take notes: Record important ideas, concepts, conclusions, and examples while reading. This way, he could deepen his understanding of the book's content and also help him review and summarize what he had learned.

4. Do a good job of critical thinking: Humanities and social sciences professional books often involve complex concepts and perspectives that require critical thinking. He could ask questions and compare the contents and perspectives of different books to see if they were accurate.

5. Make a good summary and induction: After reading, you can summarize and summarize what you have learned. This way, he could organize the content into his own knowledge framework and help himself better remember and master the content.

6. Practice and discuss more: Practice and discuss more while reading. This way, he could deepen his understanding and grasp of the book's content, and at the same time, it could help him better communicate and discuss with other readers.