THE ART OF READING - NEEDED FOR LIVING TODAY AND TOMORROW

THE ART OF LIVING

NEEDED FOR LIVING TODAY AND TOMORROW

by Wm Henry Cash, Jr  1949

                I.  Find the Purpose of the Book.

                      A.    Discover the author's past experience.

                      B.    Find the purpose in order to make progress.

                      C.    Find the purpose in order to increase my interest.

                      D.    Find the purpose in order to have a source of  

                              consolation.

                      E.    Find the purpose in order to compare with other

                              books.

                 II.  How To Read The Book

                        A.   Rid myself of the idea that reading is a 

                               strenuous exercise.

                        B.   Cultivate myself in reading habits.

                        C.   Begin reading, and keep on reading until

                               my interest is motivated.

                        D.   I should only read books that I enjoy.

                        E.   In reading, I should advance step by step.

                        F.   It is better to read twenty good books 

                                twice than to read one hundred so called

                                good books once.

                        G.   It is a mistake to toil through masterpieces,

                               unless they can be understood and enjoyed.

                        H.   To understand masterpieces, one must be 

                               educated into the appreciation of what is good.

                        I.    I should keep my heart and my mind close to 

                               the heart and mind of great men and women 

                               in the past.

                         J.   When I begin to read, do it slowly and carefully,

                                deliberately.   

                         K.   I should have an imagination when I read.

                         L.   How I should select my literature:  

                                    1.   Consider reasons for subject matter.

                                    2.   Consider element of form and the 

                                          pleasure attained from it.

                                    3.   Literature is the expression of life 

                                          through the medium of language, and 

                                          lives by virtue of life which it embodies.

                                     4.  Literature is an interpretation of life.

                         M.    I must understand individuals in the book.

                         N.     A book is great in that it has something to say

                                  that is fresh and original.

                          O.    I must see and feel with the author.

                          P.    I must throw open my whole nature to the

                                  quickening influence of a good book.    

                          Q.   I should always listen attentively to what 
                                 the author has to say.
                          R.   I should observe how the world of experience
                                 impresses the author.
                          S.    I should establish  personal relationship to the
                                 characters in the book.
                          T.    I should study the Author's books in the order
                                  that he produced them.
                          U.    I should compare and contrast the author 
                                  not only with himself, but with other authors.
                          V.    I should try to learn the personality of the 
                                   author.
                           W.   I ought to cultivate a spirit of sympathy for 
                                   an author.
                            X.   I ought to read only what is interesting to me.   
             III.    RAPID READING
                            A.    Rapid readers remember more than slow 
                                    readers.
                            B.    Rapid reading tends to make the reader more
                                    alert.
                            C.    Rapid reading can only be attained after
                                    much practice.  

             IV.    READING ALOUD.
                             A.  Reading aloud adds charm and music to
                                   my speaking.
                             B.  Reading aloud helps my mind not to wander.
                             C.  Begin reading after a long breath. 

               V.   MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS by Henry Cash.
                             We should read books for ourselves.
                              Every good book is better the second
                                   time than the first.
                              In reading, read each line straight through
                                   to the end.
                              Pictures and illustrations should be set aside
                                   until after the text is read.
                              

Note by June E Cash, widow of deceased author Henry Cash

      In a Book, I can make friends that I never will lose.

      In a Book, I can acquaint myself with wisdom and knowledge

            how to use that wisdom.   
      Henry often commented that READING IS TO BE ENJOYED.