In her previous landmark book, The Well-Trained Mind, the author provided a road map of classical education for parents home-schooling their children. In her new book, Bauer takes the same elements and techniques, applying and adapting them to adult readers, who want both enjoyment and intellectual self-improvement from their reading time.

Very instructive and useful tools are given to gain the most from reading in five major genres: history, autobiography, fiction, drama, and poetry, which detailed instructions on how to read each type. Following the counsels in this book will greatly enhance your pleasure in reading.