Rating: 
Summary: More a motivation for reading....
Review: Most bibliophiles will pick up this exegesis from the renowned literary critic, Harold Bloom, simply on the inherent challenge in the title. For those of us who profess as much a desire and self-improving drive through the written word as Bloom does then this book will either confirm our own decisive belief in how to read and the reasons why we do it, or irritatingly deny and confound them. In some respects it can be seen as a marker, an attempt for the avid reader to classify how we should read the great texts and confirm to ourselves that 'yes, we do understand them'. What Bloom, therefore, must hold himself up to, by publishing his theory, is whether his own form of literature accurately describes how the populace should read any great literary work. By the end I found it ended up with an answer to a rather different question.
Without going through the entire text there are three sections that leap out: Short stories, Novels Part I and Poetry.
Bloom opens his critical work with short story specialists. His own work reflects the genre, with short one-two pages discussions on each, their salient work(s) and the contribution to the art form. We move from Turganev and Chekov to Maupassant and Hemingway, touching through Nabokov, Borges and Calvino, all the while relating them back to Bloom's idolised literary figurehead, Shakespeare. Of particular interest is the note on Landolfi, highlighting as it does a great work, inspired by another great author, Gogol, that parodies its inspiration. Indeed, the entire concept of 'Gogol's wife' takes the real and criticizes it with the absurd, yet an oddly perceptive absurd that echoes Ionesco.
In Bloom's section on poetry he is forced to follow the well-trodden path that any literary critic must do with this format: quote large tracts of various poems in order to get his meaning across, in sharp contrast to those sections ion the short story and novel. He does acknowledge this when he realises that each single word in a poem comprises far more imagery and emotion than is worth explaining or describing. Whereas the novel dictates the scene precisely, the poem offers a tantalisingly liminal nudge to the senses that the reader can allow to bloom in their own mind. As such, the section on poetry becomes more a classification of which of the great poets are in each poetical sub-genre. More a reason on why to read these poets, than how to read them. The section itself deals with Dickinson, Coleridge, Blake, Browning, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and the inevitable Shakespearian sonnets, amongst many others. The most interesting detail is perhaps on the Ballard of Sir Patrick Spence with its "tragic comedy almost unique in its stoic heroism", the most exhilarating the seventeenth century ballard, 'Tom O'Bedlam'
Bloom's section on the novels (in two parts) opens with Cervantes' 'Don'Quixote' which he professes the greatest of all novels, swiftly moving onto the incomparable Austen who's novels rely so much on society but never a justification for them and Dickens, picking firstly, Emma, then Great Expectations as their benchmarks. There is an interesting comparison between the first and revised versions of James' 'Portrait' which serves to emphasize the growth of the author's vast (as Bloom would have us believe) consciousness.
So, by the end we don't feel that Bloom has given us satisfactory explanation of 'how' to read and 'why', more that his precis of what he considers the greatest of our literary artists suggests why we must read them specifically and (in an even more limited attempt) some pointers as to how to read them. For example, his explanation of Shakespearian vernacular does attempt to satisfy the 'how to read' as it imparts different and more clear meaning to the poetry . By the end, we are left not with an answer to his titular concept, but a rather disparate reason for our 'motives' to read, best given in his summation on poetry:
"Poetry...does...startle us out of our sleep-of-death into a more capricious sense of life. There is no better motive for reading...."
Rating:
Summary: thoughtful, provocative, a little arbitrary
Review: Distinguished literary scholar Harold Bloom writes of the joy of reading, which he perceives as a deeper, wider way of understanding, not limited as is our own experience, or our friendships however diverse they may be Since we are limited in space and time to read, he presents us with his selection of short stories,poems, plays, and novels which merit our careful reading. Along the way, he subtly jabs "political correctness", and its humorless polemic which has warped the literary canon as he sees it. For the most part I agree with him, that many lauded works today are simply not worth the time it takes to read them, however earnest the authors, however solemn their causes. Bloom may oversimplify when he classifies modern writers by those authors of the past who seem to influence their works, whether Shakespeare, Cervantes, or others. His selection of novels especially, seems to me to be subjective and arbitrary;
other scholars would list other works, and you will probably have a list of your own that differs from Bloom's. Thoughtful, written with a courteous, balanced tone, "How to Read and Why" deserves a place on your shelf. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Mainstream Highbrow
Review: Professor Bloom is sometimes pooh-poohed for his support of the Western Canon, but for those not immersed in the humanities, the book is likely to be a signpost to a deeper understanding of literature. Bloom's explanation of Borges illuminated the latters author's fantastic twists, and I was impressed enough to decide to reach much of Bloom's other favorites, including Pynchon, McDonald, Morrison, and West.
Rating: 
Summary: Wish I Hadn't Bought the Hardcover
Review: This is the last time I buy one of Bloom's new books in hardcover. The slim volume is attractively packaged but it wasn't worth the price. In interviews Bloom has claimed that he intended the book to introduce great literature to a general audience. That's a laudable intention, but one Bloom is ill-suited to fulfill. The tone of the book, like the selections in it, is an awkward mixture of the dumbed-down and the pedantic. Bloom is trying to express his feelings for literature and his ideas about it simply and straightforwardly. The problem is, he doesn't actually have any insight into life to impart, so his "simple" statements are no better than platitudes. One can't fault a literary critic for not being a fountain of wisdom; it's surely enough to ask that they have insights into literature, and Bloom often does. But even his readings of literature here are marred by platitudes. Bloom, at least in his later years, succeeds best as a Wildean critic, making grand, fantastic, tongue-in-cheek overstatements, as in "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human." Here, where he tries to be more intimate, he loses his glamour. It's pretty disappointing to encounters truisms like we read for self-knowledge and self-improvement after being obscurely excited by all that talk about the "cosmological abyss" of Hamlet's selfhood. My advice is that instead of reading this book, the ambitious beginning reader of literature should go to the library and read, one by one, the introductory essays Bloom wrote on every important writer and work under the sun for the Modern Critical Series, where you'll find many of the same arguments with a somewhat fuller development. That's what I did as a teenager, and although I found him impenetrable at first, as I continued reading the essays while also reading more and more literature, gradually Bloom began to make sense, and to be a great companion in my exploration of literature--infuriating but addictive.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Be Put Off by Harold Bloom's Style
Review: I can't help but compare Harold Bloom with the late Clifton Fadiman-another prolific reader and reviewer of great literature. I have used Clifton Fadiman's "The Lifetime Reading Plan" as a reference book for years and thoroughly enjoy his insight and crisp writing style. In my humble opinion, Mr. Fadiman was at least as well read and erudite as Mr. Bloom. The difference between the two is that Mr. Fadiman 's writing is all about the literature (not about Mr. Fadiman) while Mr. Bloom keeps getting in his own way-he can't seem get over himself. My husband gave up reading "How to Read and Why" in disgust after the first five pages. That's really a shame because, despite his self-absorption, Mr. Bloom has a lot to say, and his pompous pedantry does calm down quite a bit after the prologue. I was fascinated with Mr. Bloom's thought process and his love for his subject matter is absolutely contagious. I was even enthralled by the chapter on poetry. I had never given any thought as to why (for me) poetry is so difficult to absorb and therefore, to appreciate. His advice to read, reread and memorize came to me as a revelation (despite my grade-school exercises memorizing poems). The chapter on short stories was enlightening-I never understood the difference between a short story and a novel, aside from the length. I'm still not sure I have a perfect grasp of the difference, but I know it's more than just the length of the work... It'll be fun to start reading short stories looking for short story attributes. Mr. Bloom's analysis of Hamlet was also enlightening (a gross understatement). It reminded me of a college lecture-an enjoyable college lecture-and made me hungry for more. My advice is, don't be put off by Mr. Bloom's style. He has much to offer. You may not agree with everything he has to say (or how he says it), but he'll sure make you think and probably learn something about yourself, and that's one of the best reasons to read!
Rating:
Summary: It's certainly how I read and why
Review: It's not that I think the arguements of those who hate this book are wrong, it's just that I drew something entirely different, and valuable, from this book. I'm thrilled when Bloom expresses more exactly than I can why I read. He champions the aesthetic appreciation of literature, a search for "transcendence of limits" (Western Canon), rather than treating literature as of value only as an ideological tool or a self-help program. The second reason I appreciate this book is because Bloom inspired me to read several works I wouldn't have read otherwise. For an introduction to The Crying of Lot 49, Miss Lonelyhearts, and the astounding Blood Meridian, I will always thank him.
Rating:
Summary: Passionate and Comprehensive
Review: Bloom once again informs the American public on the importance of a reading aesthetic. With passion and incredible insight America's foremost literary scholar will take the avid reader to new heights in how they approch literature. If you consider yourself one who searches for more in lit than mere plot this book will give you new perspectives on what many consider to be some of history's greatest literary works. I highly recommend it
Rating: 
Summary: Why you can read Shakespeare and skip the rest
Review: This book is a prime example of the Emperor not having any clothes. If you read this book not knowing who the author was, you would throw it across the room in irritation: enough about Shakespeare, when are you going to talk about the novel (play, poem, etc) under discussion. When are you going to stop making emphatic superlative statements and then refuse to back them up with any evidence? When are you going to supply some evidence for any of your opinions and not expect the reader to take it on faith because so august a critic is saying it? (For this part, I guess you WOULD have to know the author). Probably the most annoying and egocentric book of lit crit I have ever read, saved somewhat by its brevity. Only the section on the Romantic poets was useful. As for the rest, might as well take Bloom's advice and read Shakespeare instead. Reading this book is a waste of time (and money).
Rating: 
Summary: A Blooming Waste
Review: I'm not much of a reviewer, but I do know how to warn people. If you get this book you will not find out how to read a book, you will not find out why to read a book, you will learn more than you want to know about the random blathering of an outdated, self-absorbed, academic eunich. The book appears to be Professor Bloom's chance to espouse every opinion he ever had and espouse them as gospel requiring no proof or support. He tells me that I should read to discover myself, then he gives a bunch of plot summaries and oblique references to Chekov or Borges. I don't know if I found myself in this book, but I came to my senses after about 80 pages.
Rating:
Summary: Harold Bloom: A great mind for our time.
Review: I was actually inspired to write this review after reading some of the other reviews that heavily critique this book. Harold Bloom is brilliant, there's no two ways about it. I even believe that some of the people who spoke harshly of this book would be forced to agree, on this point. I saw an interview with him on CSpan, and became fascinated with him and his work. He began reading the classics at age 7, and by the age of 15 had read almost every volume in the New York Public Library. Even if this does not impress you, (which it should), it is undeniable that Bloom is one of those figures in society whose opinions should be listened to, simply because they have intellectual worth. You don't need to agree with everything that Bloom has to say about the works that he discusses in "How to Read and Why," but it is necessary to listen to them. One review gives this book a mere 2 stars because it is meant for only English majors and professors. So what? Does this mean that the human mind can't be challenged from time to time? What we need is engaging, difficult reading to expand our minds. "How to Read and Why" quenches this thirst for a challenge. I don't even feel that it is even as challenging as some may think. It is in depth and detailed, but is not wordy or difficult writing. Bloom offers unique interpretations of many of society's favorite classics. "How to Read and Why" is a joy to read, and I felt truly privelaged that Bloom would share his views on literature with society. If you love literature, read this. If you simply love knowledge, as I do, then read this. If it's too difficult, then put it down and try again later in life, but don't rush on to Amazon to condemn Harold Bloom and his writing. Authors write at different levels. Know thyself.
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