Catching and Reading

Mortimer J. Adler, the author of How to Read a Book, has the perfect metaphor for reading: baseball.

How does the baseball metaphor work?

Reader = catcher

Author = pitcher

Information = ball

When you read anything piece of text, you are trying to understand what the author is trying to say. When an author writes, she is trying to communicate knowledge in a way that her audience will understand. Both parties are vested in the successful transfer of knowledge.

In baseball, catchers are trying to catch the balls thrown by the pitcher and the pitcher is trying to get the ball into the catchers gloves. Both players want the successful passing of the ball.

See how perfect it is?

Both activities are active. Although you may be sitting still while reading, the mind is active. There is no such thing as passive reading because the very act of trying to read is an activity.

Pitchers have different styles of throwing. Authors have different styles of communicating information. Some authors communicate succinctly, others more verbosely. Catchers need to both be skilled and on their toes if they want to catch the ball thrown by the pitcher. They need to have the ability to catch the ball and do their best to get it. Being lazy won't cut it.

The same is true for readers. If a reader wants to understand what the author is trying to say, they must also be skilled enough to understand the contents of the message and exert the necessary mental effort to do so.

How do you become a more skilled catcher?

By practicing.