Nonfiction Book Study Chapter Notes | Language Arts for Grade 9 PDF Download

How to Read a Non-Fiction Book

Recently, during a dinner with close friends from our neighborhood, my wife, Gail, sparked a conversation about our reading habits. She asked, “How do you all approach reading a book? What’s your method?” The discussion that followed was engaging, lasting an hour as each person shared their unique approach. I learned several useful tips from their insights. When it was my turn, I shared a few strategies I find effective. After reflecting further, I’ve expanded my list. 

Below are the ten practices I follow when reading a non-fiction book:

1. Don’t Feel Obligated to Finish

• I don’t believe every book deserves to be finished. If a book no longer holds my interest, I move on to another. This approach allows me to read more books overall.
• I also pay attention to recommendations from trusted friends, as their suggestions often align with my tastes, increasing the likelihood I’ll enjoy and complete the book.

2. Begin with the Author’s Bio

• A book reflects the author’s perspective and experiences. 
• Before diving in, I like to learn about the person whose ideas I’ll be engaging with for hours. 
• Usually, the bio inside the book suffices, but I may also look up the author online for more context.

3. Review the Table of Contents

• Understanding the structure of a book helps me learn better. 
• I view the table of contents as a roadmap, showing me the starting point, destination, and path of the book’s argument. 
• I particularly appreciate detailed tables of contents that include descriptions beyond just chapter titles.

4. Skim the Entire Book First

• Before reading deeply, I do a quick overview of the book. 
• I assess the chapter lengths, structure, and the author’s writing style. 
• I glance at pull quotes, subheadings, or visuals like lists and diagrams to get a sense of what to expect.

5. Highlight Key Passages

• I always read non-fiction with a highlighter in hand (or use the Kindle’s highlighting feature). 
• I mark passages that resonate with me, typically using yellow, though I’ve used pink when necessary. 
• The more compelling the book, the more I highlight. I keep plenty of highlighters in my desk and briefcase.

6. Take Notes in the Front or Margins

• I jot down notes in the front of the book to summarize key points. 
• I also write in the margins to engage with the text. 
• My wife, Gail, often fills the margins with her thoughts, almost like a dialogue with the author. 
• While I seldom revisit these notes, writing them helps me process the material as I read.

7. Use Consistent Note-Taking Symbols

I use a standardized set of symbols for note-taking:

• A star marks especially significant or insightful points.
• A question mark indicates something that needs further exploration or clarification.
• An open square (ballot box) denotes an action item or follow-up task, which I check off once completed.

8. Dog-Ear Pages for Later Review

• For passages I find particularly valuable, I fold down the page corner to bookmark them. 
• These are often quotes I want to reference later for writing or speaking.

9. Review the Book and Transfer Tasks to a To-Do List

• After finishing, I skim the book again, focusing on starred passages, question marks, action items, or dog-eared pages. 
• Any tasks I’ve noted are added to my to-do list, along with the book’s title and relevant page numbers for reference.

10. Share the Book’s Insights

• Great books inspire sharing. 
• I discuss them on my blog, teach their concepts to others, or purchase copies to give to friends and colleagues. 
• This helps spread the book’s message and keeps its ideas alive.

Note on Fiction: I approach fiction differently, reading purely for enjoyment. I don’t highlight or take notes, as my goal is simply to immerse myself in the story.