Reading Strategies?

[Henoch]

Guys so if you're reading a 600-800 page commentary as I'm doing now(Charles Bridges on Proverbs)
What would your guys approach be to read the book? Would you just continuously read as much as you can in a sitting or split the reading into several sittings(like the comments for a whole chapter/set of verses in one sitting)? Are there tips you'd suggest to read such huge tomes as quickly as possible

 

[CasualWestminsterEnjoyer]

Guys so if you're reading a 600-800 page commentary as I'm doing now(Charles Bridges on Proverbs)
What would your guys approach be to read the book? Would you just continuously read as much as you can in a sitting or split the reading into several sittings(like the comments for a whole chapter/set of verses in one sitting)? Are there tips you'd suggest to read such huge tomes as quickly as possible

If your goal is to finish the book quickly, consistency is better than speed. Aim to read 10 pages per day, or 15, whatever works for you.

Although with Scripture commentaries, unless the commentary isn't very good, it's usually more edifying to slow down, meditate on the text, and consider whether the commentator's views are correct and why.

 

[J.L. Allen]

Reading commentaries is quite different from anything else, at least for me. If I had to tally up my weekly reading, I'm largely reading commentaries. However, I'm doing so for sermon preparation, so it really doesn't feel like "reading." That is, I have goals for reading during the week, and I don't typically think of commentaries as counting towards that reading.

In general, Charles is right. You can knock out books in no time by reading 10-15 pages a day. The same thing would go for commentaries, if you are trying to read them from cover to cover.

 

[Andres]

I agree with Mr. Johnson. Aim for chunks at a time. I find I lose my focus if I read for extended periods so usually my sweet spot is around 15-20 mins of reading. I can read longer if I switch books, for example, 20 mins in one and then 15 mins in another for a total of 35 mins. This is why I usually read multiple books at a time. If one looks for opportunities to read it's pretty easy to carve out 10-15 mins here and there throughout the day and then you will have read 40 mins total a day and then 280 mins (4.5 hours) a week.
I also try to divide up books when I am beginning them to determine how long I'd like to take to read them. If a book has 200 pages and I decide I want to finish it in two weeks, I will set a goal to read 17 pages a day (assuming taking off reading on the Lord's Day but a commentary would certainly be appropriate LD reading). Then just endeavor to stick to that goal.

 

[RamistThomist]

Charles has the right idea, but if you aren't pressed for time, aim to get a few hours in each Lord's Day. You can finish a lot of sets that way.