How to Read Literature Like a Professor

A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines

By: Thomas C. Foster

Narrated by: David de Vries

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

What does it mean when a fictional hero takes a journey? Shares a meal? Gets drenched in a sudden rain shower? Often, there is much more going on in a novel or poem than is readily visible on the surface - a symbol, maybe, that remains elusive, or an unexpected twist on a character - and there's that sneaking suspicion that the deeper meaning of a literary text keeps escaping you.

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2003 Thomas C. Foster (P)2012 HarperCollins Pubishers

Good introduction to literature for beginners

I picked this up because I've always regretted not having paid more attention in English class. This book is well written, well organized, and a great introduction to how literature is structured between the lines. What's better is that each chapter is largely inclusive in itself, so don't be afraid to skip around lol

Wish I had this for HS English class

Where does How to Read Literature Like a Professor rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Enjoyable book. Explains a lot of the stuff that I never understood in high school English class

Fun and informative

Wow, what a great primer for understanding the stories that we read. This book has been invaluable as it has caused me to see and read with new eyes. I am confident that what I've learned through this book will yield dividends from the many books I will read hereafter.

Ok "read below"

If you enjoy reading then you will love this book! Though if you are like me and you are forced to read a selection of "long" books for high school and you will be thoroughly tested on it throughout ninth grade then you just hate reading!

Needed Help with Understanding Literature

My son struggles with literature so I decided to listen to this book to support him. I encourage both parents and students to read this. Professor Foster helped me to understand the richness and depth in literature.

informative helpful

i'll be reading books more closely now that i've listened to Thomas Foster's advice. i'm not fooling myself that the task is easy, but Foster has convinced me to try.

Lives Up to Its Claims

I had included this book in my Wish List based on both the sample narration and the publisher’s summary and was meaning to purchase it, if it ever went on sale. However, I went ahead and used a credit when I saw it listed as part of my son’s AP Literature summer reading. From the start the book “read” like a novel, so its claim of being “lively and entertaining” was definitely achieved especially in the capable hands of David de Vries. The other half of Thomas C. Foster’s stated goal of being a guide to reading between the lines, I believe was also achieved. Well at least, for someone like me, who is a wannabe comprehend-er of more than the obvious story-line. Even though I knew I was to be looking for symbols , themes and the like, I had no overall understanding of why they would be there and their significance to that particular story and their continuation from prior stories. BEWARE, however, and read at your own risk! The knowledge this book imparts requires action, so like me, you may be concerned that your shallow-surface reading days are numbered, but is this not the plan of the author all along.

Okay

The audiobook is missing a few chapters and cuts off the beginnings of some sentences and paragraphs.

A student's best friend

after being assigned this book, I was able to confidently read and write to my heart's content

The main problems I have in this are the audible version not the actual book.

The reader doesn’t line up with the chapter numbers when he says what chapter it is and the chapter numbers on the app don’t line up with the actual book. There were chapters removed from when the audible version came out and when the most recent version of the books came out. I don’t think this chapter should be removed from the audiobook but I wish the numbers would all line up.