Reading Guide

1.Be Present to the Book: We want to encourage you to see reading as a practice that you can build into your day. When you sit down to read, give yourself enough time to sink into the text. Find a comfortable posture, gentle lighting, make a cup of tea, and try, as best as you can, put your devices out of reach for 15, 30, 45 minutes. 

2.Take Notes: Note-taking styles are based on personal preferences: there is no right or wrong way to show up the text. Some of us like to create elaborate color-coded systems and others prefer to have a simple notebook by our side. Whatever works for you, the goal is that you can make your way back into your copy of the book to easily navigate it during dialogue. 

3.Ask Questions: Notice when questions arise as you read—even if they seem obvious or strange! When they arise, jot them down in the margin, in your notebook, or on a sticky note. At the end of your study times, try to write down three to five questions in your notes. 

4.Be Prepared: Always come into each session having read the assigned portion. It is okay if the reading is still fresh; the goal is that you have completed it.

As much as possible, give yourself time to recall what you just read, reread sections that stood out, take notes, and articulate a few of your key observations.

5.Embrace the Challenge: Some days, it will be hard to show up to the book. Keep in mind that if you’ve done the reading, you’ve done your job! As much as you can, find ways to build it into your day and week. You can even create a reading schedule, and reward yourself for making it through a tough section. 

6.Secondary Sources: Feel free to deepen your understanding of the text through research. Preferably, start with the introduction and footnotes. Wikipedia and Sparknotes are acceptable for finding background information on the text, but don’t use them to replace the reading itself! A good practice is to keep track of your sources, especially if they helped you arrive at an opinion or comment you would like to bring. 

7.Audiobooks: You are welcome to use Audiobooks to assist your reading journey. We also want you to be able to easily find your way back into the physical copy of the text. Please still purchase a copy of the book and follow along as you read, taking notes as you go.