Inspectional reading is skimming that allows us to understand the author’s blueprint before further reading. There are two subtypes: systematic skimming and superficial reading1.
Systematic skimming1
Goal here is to understand the argument and determine if the book is worth reading.
- Read the preface
- Study the table of contents
- Check the index
- Read the inside jacket
Superficial reading1
Read quickly, don’t ponder the argument or delve into details, just keep going. Goal here is to get a surface understanding to decide if you want to delve deeper into the book.
1. Parrish, S. How to Read a Book: The Ultimate Guide by Mortimer Adler. (2014).