Many people shrink at the idea of reading literature that exceeds 200 or 300 pages. I’m guilty of looking at page count when I’m thinking of what books I want to buy. It’s normal to want to know how much time you might invest in a story. If you never stop reading a book regardless of how much you hate it, a longer page count can deter you. In this blog, I show you that you CAN read difficult books and there’s a huge payoff for conquering them.
Why Should I Learn How to Read Difficult Books?
There is some subjectivity to what makes a book difficult to read. People are at different reading levels. Some prefer reading a certain type of fiction that might be considered easy for some, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Gatekeeping books and reading habits with notions of superiority take away the joy of reading, which is for everyone. That said, there are benefits to stepping outside your comfort zone.
1. Develop critical thinking skills
Developing your critical thinking skills can help in many aspects of life. Interpreting difficult texts, referring to secondary sources, rereading, and other strategies you might have to help you understand what you’ve read all contribute to this. Then you can apply it to your job or school or anything that requires it.
2. Experience a fulfilling reading experience
This is one of those subjective things, but for many people, reading something that challenges them is more fulfilling. Getting through a difficult or long text can feel like an achievement. For me, I like to have a balance between challenging literature and easier-to-read literature. For a more philosophical text, I might expect to have to read more secondary material or spend more time interpreting a paragraph. I know it might take a few weeks to finish, and because it takes more energy and focus, I will have to set aside time to spend on it. For an easier text, I can just pick it up on the bus or while I’m waiting at the dentist.
3. Diversify your reading experience
Diversifying your reading experience is something I advocate when I can. We all like certain authors, genres, or styles, to the extent that we don’t always want to step outside our comfort zone. However, once in a while, I think it’s a good thing to try something different. Something more challenging, for example, might even enhance your reading experience with books/authors you normally read. And who knows, you might discover a new book or genre that you enjoy.
How to Read Difficult Books
Now that you’ve seen how learning how to read difficult books has some benefits, let’s take a closer look at some strategies that can help you get through them. These can apply to any books you subjectively consider challenging.
1. Use secondary sources
There are lots of secondary sources online. Many of the classics, books that people have been reading and studying for a long time, will have plenty of hermeneutical material from a variety of authors. For example, a book like The Republic by Plato or Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky will have lots of interpretive tools for you to take advantage of. Things like chapter summaries, character or theme analyses, hidden meanings, and so on. Besides scholarly articles, you can also search online forums for opinions and analyses, especially when the book you’re reading doesn’t have much of an interpretive history.
2. Take your time
Don’t rush through difficult novels. I would also go as far as to say don’t rush through any novels, but especially for more difficult ones. Don’t put a timeline on it. Expect it to take a little bit longer to finish it. Forget about the page you’re on and just focus on having an experience with the text. If you’re reading more classic literature, consider the fact that you have in your hands something that was written so long ago and yet, survives to this day. There are lots of allegories and lessons you can learn from an author and a work of art with such distinction.
3. Takes notes/write in the margins
If you’re not worried about marking up your book, then go for it. For a long time, I never wanted so much as a bend or crinkle in the paper of a book I was reading. But I’ve since forgotten all about that. I underline, highlight, and write notes in the margins. I think of it like this: if it enhances my reading experience, who cares? What’s the point in having a book in perfect condition anyway? If you don’t want to write directly on the book, then I would suggest taking notes in a journal or on a word processor. Just make sure you record the page you were on and the date, which can help you refer back to it later on.
4. Read something else on the side
Some people are determined to read only one book or story at a time. This is fair and understandable. For me, I have a sort of rule, which isn’t a rule but more something I’ve discovered about how to enjoy my reading better, which is that if I’m reading something difficult, or if it’s non-fiction, I will often read something “easier” on the side. For example, right now I’m reading The Illiad, but I also just finished The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector. I was reading both at the same time. It can be a nice refreshing change to be reading something different or more standard for you while you tackle a more difficult text.
5. Set goals
For longer texts, this tip can go a long way. If I’m reading The Brothers Karamazov, I’m going to have to break the text up into smaller pieces in my head to not get intimidated by it. Especially when you’re just starting, the book is heavy and the ratio of pages read versus pages not read is way off balance, it helps to just focus on your goal of reading ten or twenty pages at a time. Customize it to your liking. If you’re capable of reading fifty pages or more without losing your mind, then go for it.
Conclusion
Don’t let long or difficult texts intimidate you. If you’re afraid of not understanding, that’s a fear that can only be overcome if you dive into the deep end. You’ll have to look things up and sometimes you won’t understand everything, but if you move on and do the best you can, completing more challenging books can enhance your reading comprehension and lead to a more fulfilling reading experience overall.
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