Francis Bacon’s Rules For Intelligent Reading

If you pick up a book with the intent to read it, chances are you will. But if you pick up a book with the intent to taste it, chances are you will not.

Tasting a book is more of an aesthetic experience than a reading experience. You are simply taking in words on the page and enjoying their beauty without necessarily absorbing them into your understanding.

Reading a great book can be a thoroughly engaging experience, but it can quickly become a chore if you don’t choose your books carefully.

Francis Bacon was an English philosopher, scientist, statesman, lawyer and essayist. He is often regarded as the father of empiricism and the modern scientific method. Bacon wrote extensively on science, philosophy and the human condition.

One of the things that makes him so interesting to study is his ability to break down complex subjects into easily understood concepts that are easy to convey and apply in real life.

This is called ‘transmuting’ or ‘dissecting’ a subject, and it’s something that all great thinkers do when they want to make their ideas more accessible to people who aren’t necessarily trained in their field.

Bacon has a lot to say about reading intelligently. Reading is underrated as an intelligence test. It’s not a test of how many books you can read or even necessarily how fast you can read. It’s a test of your ability to understand what the author meant and not just what they said.

Be more mindful

The first rule of intelligent reading is to read with your mind. As you read, take in everything, from the words on the page to the author’s tone and style. Pay attention to what you see and hear, as well as what you feel — what the author’s words mean, how they make you feel, and whether they grab or hold your attention.

This kind of active reading is called “mindful reading.” It involves paying attention to every detail — the words on the page, the paragraph structure, the punctuation, and so on.

Mindful reading can help you connect with the author and understand their intentions and point of view. It also allows you to learn to interpret what you’re reading by actively decoding it and putting it into context.

Mindful reading takes time and effort. But if you put in the work, you will become an intelligent and analytical reader.

Start with a?goal

“If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.” — Francis Bacon

Why did you buy the book? What do you hope to achieve after the reading experience? Do you want to solve a specific problem?

To become a more intelligent reader and learner, start with purpose and choose your reading carefully. You have to be selective about what you read, because it will change how you think and what you know.

There are many ways to read a book, but only a few are beneficial. Francis Bacon thought intelligent and effective reading is essential to extract the most knowledge from your readings. He observed constant inquiry — embracing lifelong learning was key to success.

Bacon was an avid reader who once said, “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not.”

Reading was the foundation for his learning and thinking process. “Knowledge is power, ”is one of Bacon’s most famous quotes. It captures the essential importance of reading. It’s true that knowledge is power, and reading can help you gain a wide range of valuable experiences and perspectives.

However, it’s equally important to be thoughtful when you read. As you explore the ideas and concepts behind your favourite books, don’t forget to apply the actionable ideas in your own life.

Read to weigh and consider realities

Try not to take everything at face value. Instead, be critical and mindful of how the ideas you’re reading relate to your own reality. This can help you make critical connections between the world around you and what you’re reading. With this vital approach in mind, knowledge has the power to change your life for good.

Francis Bacon was right when he said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”

Every book you pick requires a different reading skill. If you start with a goal in mind, it will inform your choice of reading strategy.

Intelligent reading is a skill that helps you make sense of what you’re reading. It involves understanding the author’s main point, determining the context of the text, and recognizing key ideas and details.

All of these skills are important for understanding what you’re reading and for making sense of the information. When you read, your goal should be to become more knowledgeable about the subject matter and to understand how it relates to other topics or, most importantly, your life.

You don’t have to digest every book you?read

“Wonder is the seed of knowledge” ― Francis Bacon

There are several different ways to approach intelligent reading. You can focus on understanding sentences, key phrases, paragraphs, or chapters. And making notes as you read.

You can also focus on analytical reading — digesting almost every page and looking for key knowledge to specific problems in your life. Whatever approach you choose, one thing is clear: You must be smart when reading to learn effectively.

When you read intelligently, you’re digging deeper and exploring the hidden meanings at play in the author’s work. You’re digesting the words and experiencing their true impact on your psyche.

This is how books should be consumed: with care and attention. Devouring a book is another story altogether; devouring a book can be an emotional experience as much as an intellectual one. On the other hand, chewing a book is about consuming it in bite-sized chunks; each bite-sized chunk is intended to be an immersive experience into a specific idea.

“Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider,” Bacon said. A great book has the power to transform and upgrade your reality. It can take you anywhere and introduce you to new ideas and worlds you never knew existed. Choose to read them intelligently.

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To our common journey,

Until Next Week,

Be Epic!

Thomas