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Why Mark a Book
Adler begins his essay with the assertion that all his readers know to “read between the lines” (p.1). He claims that it is just as important to “write between the lines” (p.1). Marking a book is the most effective form of reading, according to Adler. He uses logic to explain the two ways a person can own a book. “The first is the property right you establish by paying for it” (p.1). Adler claims “full ownership comes only when you have made it apart of yourself” (p.2).
Adler uses facts to stress the need to mark in books. He states that “First, it keeps you awake” (p.2). Active reading is thinking. Adler states that “the marked through book, is the thought through book” (p.2). Reading must be active, or else it is just merely passing time. Writing in a book, “brings the words more sharply into your mind and preserves them better in your memory” (p.2). He uses loges effectively by listing the devices that could be used to mark in a book. He lists seven ways to effectively mark a book; underlining, vertical lines, stars or asterisks, numbers in the margin, numbers of other pages, circling key words, and writing in the margin .
Adler made an excellent comparison to his point. He compared owning a book like purchasing a beefsteak. He states “You buy a beefsteak and transfer it from the butcher’s icebox to your own. But you do not own the beefsteak in the most important sense until you consume it and get it into your bloodstream” (p.1). This makes a great appeal to logic. Adler also compares a book to a score of music. “No great musician confuses a symphony with the printed sheets of music” (p.2). A musician will mark the score and take notes, in doing so become part of the music, he or she plays.
Adler also effectively uses ethos to persuade his readers. His credentials gives him a valid claim to his thesis. He was the founder of the Great Books foundation, and also edited Encyclopedia Britannica. He promoted good literature most of his adult life. Adler also supports the ethos of his paper by reinforcing etiquette towards borrowed books. He states “You shouldn’t mark up a book which isn’t yours” (p.1). Alder makes it clear that a person should only mark in a book that he or she already owns, thus proving his credibility to his claim. He continues to persuade his readers by encouraging them to purchase their own books instead of borrowing. “If you decide that I am right about the usefulness of marking books, you will have to buy them” (p.1). He leaves the decision to the reader to decide if it is worth buying the book in the first place.
He continues his persuasion by supplying evidence. Adler uses the example of President Hutchins, of the University of Chicago to prove the usefulness of note taking in books. Adler comments “He invariably reads with a pencil” (p.2). His example gives evidence of others following his philosophy, and thus Adler once again strengthens his ethos. Adler even gives an alternative form to mark up books for the anti-book marker. He suggests “using a scratch pad slightly smaller than the page-size of the book—so that the edges of the sheets won’t protrude” (p.4). He recognized the opposing view, but in a way that strengthened his own thesis, Adler uses ethos to persuade effectively.
Of all the persuasive methods used, Adler’s essay used pathos the best. For someone who loves books, they might be hesitant to mark up a book, feeling that it will mutilate and destroy the beloved piece. Adler’s choice of words stirs in the reader a love of literature. He claims “that marking up a book is not an act of mutilation but of love” (p.1). He helps the reader to understand that if you truly love a book, mark it up. It stirs in the reader a feeling of realization that their misguided reverence for books needs to be clarified. He even speaks about the false reverence for the written word. He states, “confusion about what it means to own a book leads people to a false reverence for paper, binding, and type—a respect for the physical thing—the craft of the printer rather than the genius of the author” (p.1). To truly be reverent of a masterpiece, the reader must make notes, consume the piece and become part of it.
Adler speaks of books with a “soul” (p.2). This choice of words stirs in the reader the feeling that literature is alive. This is an excellent use of pathos to persuade the reader. By comparing literature to a musical score, Adler once again uses pathos to make his point. “No great musician confuses a symphony with the printed sheets of music. Arturo Toscanini reveres Brahms, but Toscanini’s score of the C-minor Symphony is so thoroughly marked up that no one but the maestro himself can read it. The reason why a great conductor makes notations on his musical scores—marks them up again and again each time he returns to study them—is the reason why you should mark your books” (p.2). Adler stirs up feelings of ownership towards a book to stress his thesis. Like a great conductor of a symphony, a reader needs to become part of the book, just as the book becomes part of the reader, by marking it up.
The time has come to consume the newly purchased novel. With a pencil in hand, the process begins. According to Adler, to consume a book it must be marked up. In his essay “How to Mark a Book”, Adler effectively uses logic, credibility and emotion to persuade his readers that a book needs to be marked in. He wants his readers to not only read between the lines of literature, but to also write between the lines. It’s time to pick up a pencil and get reading.
Reference
Adler, M. (n.d/2012). How to Mark a Book. In R. Seamons (Ed.) The way of wisdom (1-2).
Rexburg, ID: BYU–Idaho. Retrieved from http://ilearn.byui.edu
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