Apparently the best way to do this is to keep a journal of what you read.
She spends several pages going over the history of reading journals, or commonplace books. She makes it quite clear that it is NOT a "subjective, intensively inwardly-focused collection of thoughts and musings". No, you're supposed to put down quotes from the book, then a summary of the book, and lastly your own personal reflections about the book. To master the content of what you read, summarize.
She then uses E. F. Forester as an example, even though much of what he wrote in his journal was exactly the collection of thoughts and musings she railed against, along with a handful of other examples.
None of those examples are very clear or good, unfortunately. It rather feels like we've been left to muddle it out on our own. Hopefully the next chapter will clear it up for us.
The reason why this entry has been so late in coming is because I've been trying to nail down my purpose in taking on a great books course. Why on earth does it matter for a 42 year old woman with no children to educate? The answer is that I honestly believe I missed out on much of my education. I got by with a knack for test taking, as opposed to any actual learning. What mental space I had for taking in and digesting information was eaten up by surviving in an abusive household with a number of mentally ill relatives, and rather ill health. Now that I am healthier in body and in a healthy space and relationship I'd like to try to reclaim some of what has been lost if I can, including my much vaunted prep school education.
Knowing that, that my goal is to know each book deeply and well will, I believe, help inform my journey.
The question of which books, or why I've chosen the list that I have, will come up in the next chapter. It won't take me as long to get to it as this one has.
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